Great Balls of Cheese

by Michelle Buffardi

Remember the nut-covered, pink-colored cheese balls served at grandma’s house for the holidays? Well, these are not your grandma’s cheese balls.

Updated for contemporary tastes, Michelle Buffardi’s cheese balls come in both savory and sweet flavors, like

cheddarblue cheeseBuffalo wing sauceBing cherryrumpecanAnd cheese balls are just part of the story. Many of the recipes, photographed in gorgeous full color, are in adorable shapes for all kinds of occasions, such as

Easter eggThanksgiving turkey Christmas ornamenta football for a Super Bowl party. Other designs are just plain fun, like the

Nacho CatWise and Cheesy Owlone that looks like a pizza fresh from the ovenThere is so much interest in bringing old-fashioned foods back into style, and this is no exception. Perfect for food lovers with crafty flair or anyone who loves to entertain, this book, with more than fifty inventive recipes and designs, is sure to be turned to again and again.

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction, Cooking, Food, How To

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

MICHELLE BUFFARDI previously worked at MarthaStewart.com programming and writing crafts, holiday, and food content, and currently works at FoodNetwork.com and CookingChannel.com as a writer and editor.

Reviews

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Balls of Cheese
By Michelle Buffardi
Oh, I came across this delightful book with the cutest cover and had to get it! Fortunately it was on sale! Well worth the money! Wonderful recipes for unique cheese balls and they are so cute and clever! The majority have close up pictures too! They all sound delicious, but of course they ARE made of cheese! How could they not be delicious? Check out the cover!

[Beth Cato · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun no-cook cookbook with innovative approaches to one of my favorite things: cheese! Buffardi takes the standard old cheeseball and mixes things up with sweet and savory variations on flavor and also appearance. The cover's adorable owl is enticing, but inside there are cheese balls coated with herbs, fruit, and nuts, plus creatures such as caterpillars and penguins. I also loved the idea of using cheap sand molds, like would be found in a kid's beach play set, to form shapes like starfishes and pyramids.

[Maddy Tessmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Making themed cheese balls may *possibly* be my life's greatest passion. This book was full of helpful tips and had so many creative ideas that I'm excited to try!

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 stars for the fun shapes and decorations that she has come up with.
3 stars for the actual recipes for the cheese mixtures, which are uninspiring and underseasoned. I think that I will use the Cook's Country Bacon-Ranch Cheese Ball recipe which is my go-to when making any of the savory cheese ball shapes in this book.

[Liz De Coster · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little surprised by how interested I was in these recipes. I wish they had done a little more discussion of possible dippers/spreaders, but if cheese balls are one of your standard, go-to party snacks, I recommend this book.

[Shana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute photos and kitschy cheese ball ideas. The recipes often use 3x more liquid/wine than I’ve seen in other recipes, making the texture too soft and runny for my taste. The port wine cheeseball, for example, was more like delicious cheese soup. It makes we wonder if these recipes were tested.

[Melissa B · Rating 5 out of 5]

What fun! I can't wait to have occasion to make some of these delicious-sounding recipes! I never would have thought of making anything but balls and logs, now I have all sorts of ideas now!

[Mahafuz]

★★★★★

**A Fun and Flavorful Cookbook for Every Cheese Lover**

Great Balls of Cheese sounds like a delightful cookbook for anyone who loves creative appetizers and enjoys bringing people together over delicious food. With more than 50 cheese ball creations, this book offers plenty of inspiration for turning a familiar party favorite into something exciting and memorable.

What I particularly love about this concept is its versatility. Cheese balls can be adapted with different herbs, spices, nuts, and other flavorful ingredients, making it easy to create combinations for a variety of tastes and occasions. Whether preparing snacks for a holiday celebration, hosting a casual get-together, or contributing a dish to a potluck, having so many ideas in one place is incredibly appealing.

Another great feature is the opportunity to make entertaining more creative without adding unnecessary complexity. Cheese balls can be served with crackers, fresh vegetables, bread, and other accompaniments to create an inviting appetizer spread. Their attractive presentation also makes them a fun centerpiece for a party table.

I appreciate cookbooks that take a simple idea and explore its possibilities in unexpected ways. This collection sounds like an excellent source of inspiration for experimenting with flavors, discovering new favorites, and adding variety to familiar gatherings.

Overall, Great Balls of Cheese sounds like a wonderful addition to any home cook's collection. I would recommend it to cheese enthusiasts, creative cooks, and anyone who enjoys preparing easy, crowd-pleasing appetizers that make celebrations and everyday gatherings feel a little more special.

[Zihad · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

**A Fun and Delicious Cookbook for Cheese Lovers**

*Great Balls of Cheese: More Than 50 Irresistible Cheese Ball Creations for Any Occasion* is a delightful cookbook that makes entertaining and party preparation more exciting. I love the creative approach to transforming simple cheese into attractive, flavorful appetizers that are perfect for sharing.

The variety of cheese ball ideas makes this book especially appealing. Whether preparing snacks for a holiday gathering, family celebration, game night, or casual get-together, there is plenty of inspiration to make the occasion more memorable. The combinations encourage creativity and show how a simple appetizer can become the highlight of a party table.

I especially appreciate the fun concept and practical focus of this cookbook. It offers an enjoyable way to experiment with different flavors, ingredients, and presentations. Both beginners and experienced home cooks can find inspiration for making something special without complicated preparation.

Overall, this is a charming cookbook that deserves a place in any appetizer lover's collection. Anyone who enjoys cheese, entertaining, and creative party food will appreciate the inspiration found in these pages. Highly recommended!

[Katra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A recipe book that doubles as art inspiration.

[Evanston Public Library]

Did you know that according to legend, the first cheese ball in recorded history was made for Thomas Jefferson in 1801 and weighed 1,235 pounds? Scholars agree that the second cheese ball (and probably all subsequent ones) was made for some unknown cocktail party and weighed considerably less. OK, I'm pulling your leg a little here by way of introducing this clever book. 'Tis the season to bring something to the party, and just about every cheese ball recipe here will produce oohs and aahs and maybe a few laughs. They all look delicious, and the adorably anthropomorphic ones display a kitschy creativity that's sure to please. A colleague of mine made the sweet almond hedgehog (pg. 98) and another colleague attested to its cuteness and yummy-ness. Alas, it was all gone by the time I got to work [sigh].

(Barbara L., Reader's Services)

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this little cookbook! Most recipes are accompanied by a gorgeous photo. The cheese balls seem simple to make with readily available ingredients. I only wish I had come across this gem before the holidays!

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little book that was filled with easy, clever and yummy ideas. Several of my classes made some of the cheeseballs and entered them into an edible book fair.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

great ideas for holiday cheese balls

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun recipes with lots of photos on how to do it! N

[William Mego · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet Cheese Balls. As in for dessert. Genius! Also, "Sweet Cheese Balls!" is my new tag line/exclamation.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Animal shaped cheese balls are my new favorite :)