Habanero Cheese Ball
Simple and Spicy Appetizer!
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese $1
- 4 oz extra sharp white cheddar (Tillamook preferred) $1
- 5 fresh habanero peppers, stems removed, reserve half of one for garnish. $1
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
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In a food processor, pulse cream cheese, habaneros, and salt until habanero pieces are finely minced.
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Using a Microplane, grate the cheese into the food processor.
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Pulse until mixed; scrape the sides of the food processor as needed.
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Transfer the Habanero Cheese onto a square of plastic wrap, pull up the ends and twist into a ball, and refrigerate for at least one hour.
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Shape into a football, unwrap from plastic wrap, and transfer to a serving platter.
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Use strips of habanero peppers for the football laces.
Recipe Notes
Serve with crackers (Chicken in a Biskit and original Ritz are the best). Serve with celery, bell pepper strips, etc. for a gluten free or Keto appetizer.
Here’s an easy recipe for a football party appetizer you can make in 2 minutes with 3 ingredients—for less than $5 including the crackers! Football Shaped Cheese Ball! Habanero Cheese Ball: it’s spicy!
Serve the football cheese ball with crackers, or celery and red peppers for a Keto appetizer option.
Habanero Cheese Ball recipe right at the top! Scroll down for the cost breakdown.
Habanero Cheese Ball Football Recipe
This post includes affiliate links.
Easier prep method: Use my food processor to mix the cheese mixture and grate the cheese at the same time so you can mix everything at once and be done in two minutes! Most food processors only work with one blade at a time, but this food processor works using two blades (grate and puree) at the same time! It’s cheap, and it is the best food processor I’ve ever used! Note that the texture will not be perfect if you make the Habanero Cheese with the food processor blade. For the perfect Habanero Cheese Ball, use a Microplane for the cheese.
Habanero Cheese Ball Appetizer Cost Breakdown
OK, inflation is killing my recipe cost calculations, but if you watch the sales, you can still make Habanero Cheese for less than $5, including the crackers! I’ll list out the prices (purchased on sale) for each ingredient in Phoenix, AZ as of September, 2023.
Pre-2020 Grocery Prices:
- $0.68 cream cheese brick, 8 oz. (Winco) or $0.87 cream cheese brick (Walmart brand)
- $1.12 for 4 oz extra sharp Tillamook (cheaper at Walmart than at Costco by 30 cents a pound.)
- $0.25 ***Try to buy habaneros by the pound instead of “deals” like 6 for $1, which would cost 83 cents for 5 habaneros. Even at $6 per pound, a handful of habaneros costs less than 25 cents.
- Total for cheese ball is $2.24
- Plus:
- Crackers ($1 on sale)
- Half a bunch of celery ($.50)
- 1 red pepper ($1)
- Equals a great party appetizer for $4.74!
September, 2023 Grocery Prices:
- $0.97 cream cheese brick, 8 oz. (Safeway/Albertson’s sale this week). It looks like cream cheese prices are finally coming down; Walmart’s brand is currently $1.47.
- $1.12 Tillamook extra sharp white cheddar, 4 oz (Safeway/Albertson’s sale last week—$2.25 for 8 oz).
- $0.40 habaneros, 5 ($8 per pound, Winco) or $1.25 ($0.25 each, Fry’s).
- Total for cheese ball is $2.49
- Plus:
- $1.74 for Chicken in a Biskit crackers (Fry’s sale this week, $2.99 for 12 oz family size box; $0.25 per ounce, this recipe works with a 7 oz normal size box.)
- $0.49 half a bunch of celery (Winco, $0.98 per bunch)
- $0.98 red bell pepper (Winco)
- This equals $5.75, so to keep it under $5, you’ll have to choose between crackers and veggies to serve with the Habanero Cheese Ball. (Choose crackers.)
Shopping total for this recipe: $7.59. You’ll have leftovers: 4 oz cheese, 5 oz crackers, half a bunch of celery.
Another version of this Habanero Cheese Ball:
Halloween Cheese Ball Devil and Habanero Cheese Recipe
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