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It's Game Time my friends and these Mini Sweet and Spicy Cheese Balls are the perfect combination of flavors in an individual appetizer.

Mini Sweet and Spicy Cheese Balls

Course Appetizer
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 24
Author Quinn Caudill

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 Tbsp El Yucateco® Caribbean Habanero Hot Sauce, divided
  • 2 cups walnuts halves or pecans
  • 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 2 cups finely shredded hot pepper cheese
  • 3 green onions, thinly sliced. green parts only
  • 3 slices of cooked bacon, finely crumbled
  • Pretzel sticks

Instructions

Sweet Spicy Walnuts:

  1. Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.
  2. In a 1 quart microwave safe bowl; combine butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, 1 tablespoonEl Yucateco® Caribbean Habanero Hot Sauce and 1 tablespoon water.
  3. Microwave on high setting for 1 minute. Stir and microwave for another 30 seconds.
  4. Stir in walnut pieces to coat.
  5. Microwave on high setting for another 5 minute, stirring after each minute.
  6. Pour out onto prepared baking sheet, and separate into pieces.
  7. Let cool completely.
  8. When cooled, chop into small pieces.

Mini Cheese Balls:

  1. In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese and remaining El Yucateco® Caribbean Habanero Hot Sauce. Mix until thoroughly combined.
  2. Mix in hot pepper cheese, green onions and bacon, until combined.
  3. Cover and place mixture into the refrigerator for about one hour.
  4. Use a small scoop to portion the cream cheese mixture and then roll into small balls
  5. Immediately roll into the chopped walnuts.
  6. Cover mini cheese balls and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  7. When ready to serve insert one pretzel into each mini cheese ball.

Recipe Notes

-First published by Quinn Caudill for DadWhats4Dinner.com ©2017

-To allow the flavor to combine, refrigerate the mini cheese balls for at least 6 hours before serving.