Olive Cheese Balls With Cheese Spread

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 06/1/24
Olive Cheese Balls With Cheese Spread

The Spruce Eats / Abby Mercer

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 25 mins
Servings: 48 servings

This is an easy cheese snack. The little cheese balls are made with a surprise olive center. The cheese dough is shaped around pimiento-stuffed olives. The cheese balls are chilled and then baked to perfection.

They make a great party snack!

Ingredients

  • 48 medium pimento-stuffed olives, well-drained

  • 1 stick unsalted butter, softened

  • 1 (5-ounce) jar Kraft Old English Cheddar Cheese Spread

  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 dash salt

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Olive Cheese Balls With Cheese Spread ingredients

    The Spruce / Abby Mercer

  2. Pat olives with paper towels to dry thoroughly.

    Pat olives with paper towels

    The Spruce / Abby Mercer

  3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or leave it ungreased.

    parchment paper lined baking sheet

    The Spruce / Abby Mercer

  4. In a medium bowl, cut the butter and cheese into the flour. Add salt.

    flour, butter and cheese in a bowl

    The Spruce / Abby Mercer

  5. Form into small balls around olives; seal well.

    Form into small balls around olives

    The Spruce / Abby Mercer

  6. Arrange the cheese balls on the prepared baking sheet and chill for at least 1 hour,  or chill overnight in the refrigerator.

    Olive Cheese Balls With Cheese Spread on a baking sheet

    The Spruce / Abby Mercer

  7. Heat the oven to 400 F/200 C/Gas 6. Bake the cheese balls in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes, or until lightly browned.

    Olive Cheese Balls With Cheese Spread on a baking sheet

    The Spruce / Abby Mercer

Tips

  • Use ripe or kalamata olives in the cheese balls.
  • Arrange the unbaked cheese balls on the baking sheet. Freeze and then transfer the frozen cheese balls to food storage bags. Label with the name and date. Keep them in the freezer for up to 3 months. To bake, place the frozen cheese balls on an un-greased or parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 400 F oven for about 20 minutes, or until hot.

Recipe Variations

  • Roll the cheese balls in finely chopped walnuts or pecans before chilling and baking.
  • Add 2 teaspoons of chopped fresh parsley or chives to the dough.
  • Add 1/2 teaspoon of ground sweet paprika to the dough.
  • Replace the cheese spread with 1 1/2 to 2 cups of sharp cheddar cheese.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
39 Calories
3g Fat
3g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 48
Amount per serving
Calories 39
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g 4%
Saturated Fat 1g 7%
Cholesterol 6mg 2%
Sodium 60mg 3%
Total Carbohydrate 3g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 10mg 1%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 5mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)