Derby Party Olive Cheese Balls (Printable version)

Bite-sized cheddar dough pockets hugging green olives, baked and served on skewers for festive, crowd-friendly 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

# Directions:

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.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It turns humble ingredients into the kind of party snack people hover over and sneak extras of.
  • Once you try baking cheese into dough with olives, you’ll crave that briny, cheesy snap every time friends visit.
02 -
  • If you rush the softening of butter, the dough turns out crumbly and hard to shape.
  • Chilling the assembled balls stops cheese from running and gives tidier results.
03 -
  • Letting the dough rest in the fridge makes assembly easier and keeps the texture light.
  • Always taste your cheese before mixing—sharper is better for a pronounced flavor punch.
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