Ree Drummond's Top Tip For Making Retro Hors D'oeuvre Cheese Balls

Anyone hosting a party is liable to feel a certain amount of stress. Figuring out the right amount of seating, planning the beverage options, and deciding which appetizers to serve is truly an entire job in itself. Beyond homemade potato chips and classic spinach and artichoke dip, you may be considering an iconic favorite for your next get-together. Even though cheese balls may seem like a food of the past, Betty Crocker claims a creamy hand-formed ball of cheese is still an appetizer a lot of people rely on: Cheese balls are extremely versatile and can accommodate a vast array of mix-ins depending on what specific flavor profile you're after.

According to The Word On Cheese Culture, the first cheese ball happened to be a 1,200-pound gift to President Thomas Jefferson in the early 1800s over religious freedom. Cheese Market News claims the practice of forming pieces of cheese mixed with spices without heat was introduced as "cold-pack cheese" in Wisconsin in the early 20th century so naturally, cheese balls have become synonymous with the Midwest. If you're familiar with Ree Drummond, star of "The Pioneer Woman," then you know the popular Food Network chef is all about showcasing her down-to-earth lifestyle not only on her Oklahoma ranch but in her country cooking as well. When it comes to cheese balls specifically, Drummond believes there is one key ingredient that makes this retro appetizer a fan-favorite.

According to Proudly Wisconsin Cheese, a typical cheese ball contains cream cheese mixed with a blend of different hard and soft cheeses, mixed with the seasoning of your choice and then formed into a ball, rolled in a crunchy topping, and then refrigerated until ready to serve. Among the variations, you can add to any cheese ball, whether you're making one of the iconic recipes from the 1970s (via Click Americana), or The Pioneer Woman's cranberry-pecan cheese ball, whichever cheese ball you decide to go with, Ree Drummond considers cream cheese a must.

In the second episode of season 24 of "The Pioneer Woman," the country chef details vintage holiday foods. Besides making classic cheese fondue and Mexican wedding cookies, Drummond shares her method of making a Christmas tree cheese ball (per Food Network). In the episode, Drummond states "any kind of cheese ball has a cream cheese base, then you can have some fun with the other cheeses you want to add." The New York Times claims December is the Olympics for cheese ball lovers and while you can always find a packaged option or two featuring the popular flavors of port wine and cheddar at your nearest grocery store, why not attempt a homemade version and cater this retro appetizer to your specific taste preferences?

If you're taking the plunge in making your own vintage cheese ball you're in luck since Ree Drummond has more than a Christmas tree version tucked up her proverbial sleeve. Just one quick search on The Pioneer Woman's website for "cheese ball" rewards you with six different variations on the iconic party food. One of the listed recipes is for fried mac and cheese balls which isn't necessarily a cream cheese-filled appetizer. However, if you're familiar with the popular chef, then you already know she has a deep love for cheese. For example, in episode 11 of season 30 of her popular Food Network show, Drummond showcases over six different kinds of cheese and how to use them in some of her most popular recipes.

For cheese balls, you could just go ahead and attempt Drummond's classic Christmas tree cheese ball which contains only the addition of sharp cheddar, then mixed with various herbs and adorned with pomegranate seeds. Or you can take a deeper dive and try the star chef's festive goat cheese balls or her latest recipe which includes bacon, white cheddar cheese, sour cream, and powdered ranch reasoning (via The Pioneer Woman). Although Drummond believes cream cheese is a must, FoodServiceNews claims ricotta and Chèvre work as great substitutes. Whether you use cream cheese or not, take Drummond's advice and get creative with additional cheeses to craft a flavorful cheese ball you're sure to enjoy.