All it took was four white cloud kissed sapphire blue sky days of hiking in the mountains in Colorado to bring some much needed joy to my soul and spirit. Never underestimate the healing powers of nature as some say. After periodically returning back to the Rocky Mountains for more than two decades, its views and aura will never get old for me. Especially in the fall when the landscape is a tapestry of rich autumnal colors. While I am drawn to both the water and the mountains, I think my body craves and my heart longs for spending time in the soul-awakening, renewing, refreshing beauty and grandeur of the mountains. And as John Muir once said "Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity." So yes, I am a mountain girl.
While Cheese Balls may not be as old as the mountains, they certainly have endured over time. They gained popularity in the mid-1940s when a published recipe led to many in the Midwest and South making it the obligatory holiday and party snack. Although there was a period of time where cheese balls went out of fashion, cheese balls have again been making their reappearance at all sorts of gatherings.
There are cheese balls and then there are great cheese balls. The difference depends on your choice of cheeses and the ingredients chosen for flavor and texture. There are almost an unlimited number of cheese and ingredient combinations in the making a great cheese ball. In this one, goat cheese, shredded white cheddar cheese, thinly sliced green onions, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce and black pepper are mixed in with the cream cheese. The finishing touch is the Everything Bagel Seasoning.
If you have never tried the Trader Joe's Unexpected Cheddar, you should. It's nutty, complex flavor works incredibly well in this cheese ball. However, if you don't happen to live near a Trader Joe's, Tillamook's White Cheddar Cheese (sharp or extra sharp) would be your next best option!
Besides the cheeses and ingredients selected, the key to a great cheese ball is letting it chill for a period of time. At least 8 hours or preferably overnight. The chill time allows the flavors to blend, thus creating an even more delectable, slightly addictive cheese ball. To enhance the cheese ball's spreadability, I highly recommend taking it out of the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before serving.
Serve the cheese ball with your favorite crackers, toasted baguette slices, bagel slices, and/or pretzels. If the cheese ball is the only appetizer you are serving, surround it with some freshly sliced veggies. Your platter will then have all of the makings of 'girl dinner'.
Make this easy to put together Retro Cheese Ball for your next movie night in, game night, or your next gathering. Not to sound cheesy, but this classic, timeless appetizer is bound to be a huge hit with your family and friends!
Recipe
Retro Cheese Ball
Ingredients
1/4 generous cup everything bagel seasoning
8 ounces (227g) cream cheese, slightly softened
5 ounces (141g) goat cheese, slightly softened
2 cups (8 ounces/227g) shredded white cheddar cheese (See Notes)
4 scallions, green and white parts, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 to 1 teaspoon hot sauce (I used 1/2 teaspoon)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Assorted crackers, sliced bagels, toasted/grilled baguette slices, pretzel thins
Directions
1. In a medium sized mixing bowl, cream together the cream cheese and goat cheese.
2. Add in the shredded cheddar cheese, scallions, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce and black pepper. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to blend well. Form into a ball.
3. In a shallow bowl, pour in the everything bagel seasoning.
4. Roll the cheese ball into the cheese ball, cover completely.
5. Place the cheese ball in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Chill for at least 8 hours or overnight.
6. Remove cheese ball from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before serving.
7. Serve with assorted crackers, sliced bagels, toasted/grilled baguette slices and some sliced veggies.
Notes: (1) I used the Trader Joe's Unexpected Cheddar, but would also recommend Tillamook's White Cheddar (sharp or extra sharp). Always recommend grating your own cheese, but if you are in a hurry use a preshredded cheese. (2) If you like a little more heat to cheese ball use up to 1 teaspoon of your favorite hot sauce. I used a little more than 1/2 teaspoon. My favorite hot sauce is Tapatio Hot Sauce.
Rocky Mountain National Park, October 2025
