A pineapple cheese ball is a spherical cream cheese ball that has been flavored with pineapple and other ingredients. Cheese balls are a type of spread that is commonly used in party platters and snack trays for gatherings, and can also be served as appetizers. Pineapple cheese balls have a sweeter flavor than many other types of cheese balls.
Pineapple cheese ball recipes are simple to make and have little variation. Canned pineapple, either unsweetened or sweetened, is used. It’s critical to drain the pineapple thoroughly because too much liquid will make the cheese ball runny and difficult to shape.
Typically, plain cream cheese, green bell peppers, onions, and seasoned salt are included. Instead of red and green bell peppers, use a mix of red and green bell peppers, and yellow or green onions. When using yellow onions, you can chop or grate them, whereas green onions are always chopped.
The cream cheese must first be softened before making the pineapple cheese ball. Cream cheese can be softened by simply leaving it on the counter to warm to near room temperature before mixing it with other ingredients. Unlike butter, which can be softened in the microwave, cream cheese should not be microwaved.
All of the ingredients are beaten or mixed together in a bowl after the cream cheese has softened. The mixture is then formed into a sphere. If the mixture appears to be too soft to shape, chill it for half an hour or an hour to firm it up enough to shape into the desired ball. The finished cheese ball should be refrigerated overnight or for at least eight hours.
These cheese balls also include finely chopped nuts. Pecans are commonly used, but walnuts can also be used. Some nuts may be included in the cheese ball, depending on the version. To coat the finished pineapple cheese ball, most versions roll it in chopped nuts. This rolling can be done either before or after the ball has chilled.
Depending on how it’s presented, a pineapple cheese ball can be simple or fancy. They can be garnished with sliced pineapple or maraschino cherries and used as a centerpiece for trays of crackers. The crackers can also be stacked or arranged in an artistic manner around the ball. If you’re adding a garnish to the ball, do so right before serving.