Bacon Cheese Truffles & Chipped Beef Truffles

Cheese Truffles. My mouth is watering thinking about them! I saw a recipe in a Southern Living Magazine a while back for Gorgonzola Truffles but since we aren't crazy about blue cheese at our house, I changed up the recipe. These tasty little "truffles" are like little bite sized cheese balls...just perfect for the tongue! (And you don't "NEED" crackers) They are great for casual entertaining and you can make them days ahead if you need to which is great for holiday entertaining or if you are hosting football games at your house.

You can make these with ANY cheese ball recipe - including sweet dessert cheese balls. I took my dad's favorite chipped beef cheese ball recipe and made them into truffles also. I smile when we eat them because it brings back happy memories of time spent with him. I know he would have LOVED them! They look elegant and you don't have to worry about people "double dipping"! Let's face it...no one likes a double dipper!

I love appetizers that you can serve both at an elegant party (wedding, anniversary, holiday party, etc.) or for the casual BBQ. One of my favorite ways to serve these little guys for casual entertaining is on an untreated wooden plank of board - you can elevate the board on the table with wine glasses, bottles or whatever you want. How simple is that?

If we are having a large crowd of people over then I will sometimes make different varieties of cheese ball truffles but my "go to" recipe is the bacon cheese truffle because almost everyone will eat bacon & cheese. I like mine with a side of celery. Yummy! (There are great vegetarian cheese ball recipes - like the pineapple-green pepper version that can be substituted for the meat recipes).

Bacon Cheese Truffle Recipe:

• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened but not melted
• 8 oz. finely shredded cheddar cheese (or I have used the Mexican blend cheese)
• 2 tsp. finely minced or grated onion (I grate mine on a cheese grater)
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• 1 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce (the original Lea & Perrins brand is gluten free)
• 1 cup crispy cooked and crumbled bacon (or if you are feeling lazy...you can use the Hormel real bacon bits in a jar - just don't use the nasty fake ones...Yuck!)

Beat first 5 ingredients together well. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour or until firm. Roll cheese mixture into bite sized balls, approximately 1" each. Roll each ball in bacon. If you are not eating right away, refrigerate until ready to serve. Put wax paper between layers so they don't stick together. I generally serve solo or with celery but you can serve with fruit, veggies or crackers (there are a variety of gluten free crackers available at most grocery stores or specialty stores). 

Chipped Beef Truffle Recipe:

• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened but not melted
• 1 tbs. horseradish sauce (optional. My dad loved this in his cheese ball). 
• 1 tbs. onion finely minced or grated (I grate mine on cheese grater)
• 2 tbs. Worcestershire sauce (the original Lea & Perrins brand is gluten free)
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1 package of Buddig Chipped Beef or Amour dried beef, chopped fine
• 4 green onions, chopped

Mix the cream cheese, horseradish sauce (optional), onion, Worcestershire sauce & pepper until smooth. Stir in chipped beef. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or until firm. Roll into bite sized balls, about 1". Roll each ball into green onions or chipped beef.