COURSE Appetizer, Snack, Kids Friendly
SERVES 8 (About 25 balls)
TIME About 20 minutes
Cooking Tips: I use dried pitted dates, which is naturally sweet. If using something less sweet (e.g., cranberry), you can consider adding some maple syrup.
Ingredients:
16 oz (450g) cream cheese
1 Tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 cups nuts (e.g., walnut, almond, pecan), chopped and divided
1 cup chopped dried pitted dates, chopped and divided
1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
1 Tbsp dried chive (optional)
Directions:
Blend the cream cheese together with half of the chopped nuts and dates.
Add cinnamon to the cream cheese mixture and continue blending until the mixture becomes creamy and smooth.
Mix the parsley, chive, rest of the chopped nuts and dates on a plate.
Scoop up the cream cheese mixture with a spoon and shape into little cheese balls, about 1 inch diameter. Roll the cheese balls on the plate with parsley, nuts, and dates until the cheese balls are covered as desired.
Recipe Inspiration:
This recipe is inspired by EatingWell101's "Cranberry Nut Cream Cheese Balls".
Other Tips:
Occasions: I made this appetizer for the New Year's eve dinner party. It was well received. It could work for a game day party small bite as well.
Extra cream cheese mixture: Sometimes I have left over cream cheese mixture after used up all the nuts and dates. The cream cheese mixture can be use as a spread for the breakfast bagels, bread, or crackers. My little ones loves the cream cheese on the cracker, which is actually a very nice snack.
The Back Story:
Pitted dates is almost a stable in my pantry. It is known to my children as "mommy's candy". I did lead my preschool aged children to believe that dates are a type of candy. The idea came about as they started to binge on birthday cakes and candies at their friends' parties, I decided to provide them something sweet and healthy at home. So far, it is working well. I always try to pick up a bag of pitted dates when I go to Costco.
I made the cheese ball as an appetizer for a New Year's eve family gathering. Due to health concerns, the food offerings must be low in salt. Salt is a great flavor enhancer, which helps bring out the natural flavors in other foods. Without it, many things taste very bland. However, this dish is an exception. The dates, almonds, and parsley mixed very nicely with the cream cheese, which became very well received by the kids and the family member who much limit salt intake. However, because of the almond, this dish will not work as a school snack.
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