Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Pepperoni Pizza Cheese Ball


This fun cheese ball comes from my Great Balls of Cheese cookbook by Michelle Buffardi.  This makes for a great appetizer for football season, or any time!  It looks like a long list of ingredients, but it goes together quickly.  I hope you try it for your next party.  Doesn't it look like real pizza??

16 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 1/2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup finely chopped pepperoni
1/4 cup crushed tomatoes
2 1/2 T. chopped bell pepper, any color
1 T. finely chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed through a garlic press
3/4 t. Italian seasoning
1/2 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs, for decorating
Pepperoni slices and black olives, for decorating

Crackers or baguette slices, for serving

Using a stand mixer or a bowl and spatula, mix together the cream cheese, 2 cups mozzarella (reserve the 1/2 cup for decorating), Parmesan, chopped pepperoni, tomatoes, 2 T. of bell pepper (reserve the 1/2 T. for decorating), onion, garlic, and Italian seasoning.  Form the mixture into a ball and loosely cover with plastic wrap.  Gently flatten the ball into a disk; refrigerate for at least 2  hours or overnight.  I actually made two disks.

Before serving, unwrap the disk and roll the edges in the breadcrumbs, pressing the middle in a bit as you roll.  Set the disk on a plate and top with the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella, pepperoni slices, the remaining bell pepper and olives.  I sprinkled a little oregano on top, too.

Serve with crackers or baguette slices.

I am sharing this with:




Thank you for your visit!  xo

21 comments:

  1. Right after desserts, I am addicted to appetizers. And anything cheesey is my favorite. This sounds fabulous for football parties and fall picnics and holiday parties too!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Kitty! I can always count on you to give something wonderful to eat. If only I could reach in and take a bite! :) Hope you're doing well and it was so nice to hear from you.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

    ReplyDelete
  3. That looks so good! I'll have to remember it when my son's birthday comes around.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Okay Kitty, I've already pinned this -- I think it looks yummy!! It does indeed look like a real pizza. :) This looks good to me because it doesn't have "strange" cheeses in it. I know that sounds funny; my family teases me because I'm picky about cheeses. I like so many kinds of cheese, but I don't like goat cheese, any kind of blue cheese, or feta either. Just my particular quirks, I guess. :) This would be perfect for Superbowl night -- thank you so much for sharing!!

    Have a wonderful day!

    Hugs,

    Denise at Forest Manor

    ReplyDelete
  5. Surely does look good...just pinned it

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a fun football munchie Kitty! I agree, it really does look like a pizza too:@)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Really looks like a pizza! Great idea for a crowd ~

    xo
    Pat

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oops! I should have pinned from BJ because I just pinned it, too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fixed! It looks so yummy and sounds like a fun party food.

      Delete
  9. This looks and sounds wonderful. It would be a hit of the party. Blessings, Catherine

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a fun idea...it really DOES look just like a pizza! So creative!
    I bet Ms. C. would get a kick out of making this with me.
    Thank you, again, Kitty, for a delightful recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a delicious idea and I love how different and unique it is :)

    Sending lots of love and hugs your way!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love the idea of putting pepperoni into a cheese ball! Thanks for the recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a fun cheese ball Kitty! I love that looks like a pizza and the addition of the pepperoni :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Kitty, I don't know why but I had to sign up as a follower for the THIRD time to your blog. What the heck is going on????

    Sorry I have been missing - here I thought you haven't been posting...........should have known better. Anyway, I will catch up on my back reading then. Sheesh.

    Hugs. ♥

    ReplyDelete
  15. oh, my boys (men now actually!) would love this! Looks delicious, and like you said, perfect for football season. Hope you're having a good weekend Kitty.

    ReplyDelete
  16. This really does look good Kitty! I am always looking for new appetizers to try. Thanks for sharing it with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

    ReplyDelete
  17. I did think it was a pizza when I first saw your photo! Oh, sounds so yummy too!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Never have seen a " pizza" this delicious, it sounds and looks amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Kitty,
    Sounds like we may get a little much needed rain on Thursday and I think we could just gather round and have you awesome Pepperoni Pizza Cheese Ball. This looks so good! This is a fantastic recipe and thanks so much for sharing it with us. Hope to see you again real soon at Full Plate Thursday!
    Miz Helen

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...