Learn how to make a Port Wine Cheese Ball.
This swanky retro Port Wine Cheese Ball recipe was featured in City View Magazine. It has a sneaky heat balanced with the sweet port wine. Spread the cheese on crackers or apple slices for a fun party appetizer idea.
Retro Port Wine Cheeseball
This little Port Wine Cheese Ball was popular in the 70s. It was served at all of the dinner parties as a holiday appetizer. And why not? Wine + Cheese= Perfection. They were on to something back then.
My grandmother kept a container of the Wisconsin made version in her fridge that she bought at the store. As a child, I would break into the port wine cheese spread when I came to visit and spread that cheese all over a ritz cracker. You can still find a store version at all your local grocery stores, but…..
the homemade version is so much better!!!!! Especially because this is such an easy cheese ball recipe.
Cheese ball with Almonds
I make this cheese ball with almonds. Some people like to roll it in pecans. That is good also. I also like to mix a bit of cayenne pepper to balance the sweet and salty with a bit of heat. It doesn’t make it hot, it just makes your taste buds POP with each little bite.
Port Wine Cheese is a super easy appetizer recipe to make, perfect for the upcoming holidays. You should give it a try.
If you like this wine recipe, check out my other recipes featured in the Food & Wine Issue in City View Magazine: Best Crockpot Beer, Brats, & Onions Recipe, and Easy Cheesy Jalapeño Beer Bread Recipe.
Port Wine Cheese Ball Recipe
This swanky retro Port Wine Cheese Ball with almonds has a sneaky heat balanced with the sweet port wine. It makes a lovely holiday appetizer but is delicious enough to eat all year.
Ingredients
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- 8 oz fine grated sharp cheddar freshly shredded
- 8 oz cream cheese
- ¼ cup port wine
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- ½ tsp seasoned salt
- parchment paper
- crackers or apple slices to serve with
Instructions
- Set oven to 350 degrees. Bake almond slices on baking dish for 5 minutes or until toasted. Set aside.
- In a food processor, add cheddar, cream cheese, port wine, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper, and seasoned salt. Pulse until completely mixed and smooth.
- Using a spatula, transfer cheese mixture into a food storage container for 2 or more hours for the cheese to firm.
- Once firm, cut a piece of parchment paper and empty the mixture in center of parchment paper. Form into a ball. You can use the parchment paper to help you form the ball.
- Cut an additional piece of parchment paper. Place toasted almond slices on parchment paper.
- Roll the cheese ball in the toasted almonds until it is completely covered with the toasted almonds.
- Serve with sliced apples or your favorite crackers.
karrie @ Tasty Ever After says
I freaking LOVE port wine cheese balls. Every holiday season, my family would have cheese balls and I could literally sit down and eat a half of one all by myself. Love the sharp cheese and bold wine flavors. Totally making this recipe over the holidays 🙂
Kathleen @ CakesPrices says
This is definitely a recipe you can try if you want to impress your guests. I’ve done something similar last year for Christmas and there were no leftovers! It is on my to-do list for this winter, thank you for sharing!