Derby Party Olive Cheese Balls (Printable)

Bite-sized cheddar dough encasing green olives, baked until golden and served on skewers for festive party bites.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheese Dough

01 - 1 cup (120 g) all-purpose flour
02 - 2 cups (200 g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
03 - 1/2 cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
04 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
05 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
06 - 1/4 tsp salt

→ Filling

07 - 24 large green olives, pitted (such as Spanish Manzanilla)

→ Assembly

08 - 24 appetizer-sized skewers or toothpicks

# How to make it:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine flour, cheddar cheese, butter, cayenne (if using), paprika, and salt. Mix with your hands until a soft dough forms.
03 - Pat dough into a rough rectangle and cut into 24 even pieces (about 1 tablespoon each).
04 - Flatten each piece of dough in your palm, place one olive in the center, and wrap the dough around to seal it completely. Roll into balls.
05 - Arrange balls on the prepared baking sheet. Optionally, chill for 10 minutes for neater results.
06 - Bake for 16–18 minutes until golden and firm. Let cool for 5 minutes.
07 - Thread each warm cheese ball onto a skewer or toothpick. Serve immediately, warm or at room temperature.

# Recipe Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Your guests will never guess how easy these crowd-pleasers are to make—they taste much fancier than the effort involved.
  • The sharp cheese and warm spice with a salty olive punch are perfectly designed for mingling and celebration.
02 -
  • Once, I rushed and forgot to soften the butter—my dough crumbled and didn't seal well, so always give it enough time.
  • Chilling the shaped balls, even briefly, makes a huge difference for that picture-perfect, tidy finish you see in photos.
03 -
  • Grate the cheese yourself for better melting and more even dough.
  • Letting the dough chill before baking keeps the shape round and the texture just right.
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