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Fall Cheese Platter with Mini Cheese Ball Bites

This striking fall cheese platter is sure to wow your guests and a perfect way to start your holiday with friends and family 

Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword cheeseboard

Ingredients

For the mini cheese ball bites:

  • 1 8 oz package of cream cheese, softened
  • 1 8 oz package of goat cheese log, softened
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1/2 tsp orange zest (from 1/2 medium orange)
  • 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans
  • 1 tsp minced rosemary leaves
  • 1/2 cup chopped toasted almonds
  • 1 tsp minced thyme leaves

For the cheese platter:

  • 6 oz blue cheese wedge
  • 6 oz semi-hard cheese wedge (such as gouda, cheddar, etc)
  • 6 oz goat's milk cheese (such as Humboldt fog, goat cheese log, etc)
  • 1/4 cup whole grain mustard
  • 1/4 cup fig spread
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 cup olives
  • 4 cups vegetables (such as carrots, radishes, bell pepper, etc), washed and cut into bite size pieces
  • 3 cups fresh or dried fruit (such as dried apricots, orange slices, grapes, etc), washed and cut into bite size pieces
  • 1 cup roasted nuts (such as pecans, almonds, etc)
  • 16 oz crackers
  • rosemary, for garnish

Instructions

For the mini cheese ball bites:

  1. Transfer the cream cheese, goat cheese, honey, and orange zest into a food processor with a blade attachment (alternatively you could blend this with a stand mixer if you don't have a food processor). Turn the food processor on and blend for 20 seconds or until everything is incorporated and the mixture is light and fluffy. Remove the blade, re-cover, and stick in the freezer to chill for at least 20 minutes.

  2. Meanwhile, transfer the pecans and rosemary to a small shallow bowl and toss to combine. In a separate small shallow bowl, add the almonds and thyme and toss to combine. Set aside.

  3. Once chilled, use a tsp measuring spoon to scoop out 2 tsp each of mixture so that you end up with about 35 balls. Use clean hands to roll the balls between your hands (wetting them if the cheese is sticking) to form circular balls. Roll half the balls in the pecan mixture and half in the almond one (you'll have one extra since it's an odd number - go ahead and roll the last one in whichever mixture sounds better to you).

  4. Serve right away or cover and chill until ready to serve.

To assemble the cheese platter:

  1. Place a large serving platter on your appetizer table or where ever you plan to serve it. Arrange the cheeses in different corners of the platter (you want to make sure none are touching so the flavors don't mingle).

  2. Place mustard, honey, fig spread, olives, and mini cheese bites onto their own small plates or bowls and then place in different areas on the platter.

  3. Use the vegetables, fruit, crackers, and nuts to fill out the rest of the platter. Add a few sprigs of the rosemary for garnish and then finish the platter off by adding cheese knives and spoons near foods that need utensils to serve.