Cheese Bites (Totally Addictive)

Kitsune's Note:

Ridiculously addictive appetizers. I brought them to a party and everyone attacked them like starving piranha on a cow. I included them in a tin of cookies for my hubby's co-workers and one of them ate all of them before anyone else could try them. She also demanded the recipe. From the cookbook "Fix, Freeze, Feast" by Katie Neville and Lindsey Tkacsik. Make them ahead of time, keep in your freezer and bake what you need. I plan to have these on hand all the time.

• Total Time: 45 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 16

Yield: 8.0 dozen

• 2 lbs sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 2 cups unsalted butter, softened
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 (8 ounce) jar small pimento-stuffed green olives, well drained (optional)
• raw pecan halves (optional)

Directions:

1. Combine cheese, butter, flour, salt, and cayenne in a large bowl: knead into a dough.
2. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place on an un-greased baking sheet.
3. If using olives, form each ball around 1 olive.
4. If using pecans, press 1 pecan half onto each ball.
5. Can bake them right now (see instructions below) or freeze for later.
6. Place in trays in freezer for 30 minutes.
7. Remove from freezer and place in freezer bags or container.
8. Seal and freeze.
9. Can bake them straight from freezer.
10. Preheat oven to 425°F.
11. Place cheese balls 3 inches apart on an un-greased baking sheet.
12. Bake 15-17 minutes if frozen, 13-15 minutes if thawed.

Reviews

[Amandala]

Made these for a big group and they were very popular. I split the recipe in half and there was plenty for everyone. Though initially skeptical of the olives, they turned out really well. The second time I made them, I quadrupled the cayenne pepper and they were nice and spicy. Also tried them with some jalapenos, which were good as well!

[alligirl]

OK, so, no time for freezing here, these babies went straight into the oven! I did reduce the recipe to 'only' make 2 dozen, for a get together, and these vanished! DH said I could make them again, anytime! High praise, indeed! I used small pimento-stuffed manzanilla olives, and after making 24, still had some dough left. I just tucked it into the fridge, and will finish it off, as directed, shortly. I did give an extra sprinkle of cayenne, as I love it so...Thanks for sharing this great recipe, Kitsune.

[flower7]

Yummy! I made these per the recipe (with the olives but no pecans) but used extra sharp cheddar. Mine weren't nearly as pretty as the ones in diner524's picture (they got pretty flat on the bottoms) but they are still tasty! I didn't freeze them so maybe that's the difference? Thanks for sharing Kitsune!