• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About me
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Breakfast
    • Burgers and Sandwiches
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Pasta
    • Salads
    • Sauces and Seasonings
    • Sides
    • Soups and Stews
    • Vegetarian
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Contact

Burrata and Bubbles logo

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
×

Home » Recipes » Appetizers

Published: Jan 9, 2020 · Modified: Aug 29, 2022 by Amanda McGrory-Dixon

Bourbon Bacon Jam Cheese Ball

Jump to Recipe

All your cheesy, bacon-filled dreams are about to come true. Made from three cheeses and covered in fragrant toasted pecans, this ultra creamy bourbon bacon jam cheese ball instantly elevates any charcuterie platter. Each decadent bite is full of savory, smoky bacon with the perfect hint of sweetness for just the right balance.

A bourbon bacon jam cheese ball with a bottle of bourbon in the background.
Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Step-by-Step Instructions
  • How to Shape
  • How to Serve
  • Can I Make the Cheese Ball Ahead of Time?
  • Perfect Pairing
  • Need More Party Food?
  • 📖 Recipe

Look, I'm not here to hate on other cheese balls. We're talking a ball of creamy, cheesy goodness. I can't get mad at that.

But a cheese ball flavored with bourbon bacon jam? Oh, my. Forget everything you thought you knew about cheese balls because you've never tasted one this good.

That sweet and savory bacon jam with the smooth bourbon takes this cheese ball to a whole other level. Honestly, after one bite, you won't need another cheese ball recipe again. I served this bacon jam cheese ball on both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, and after seeing how quickly and happily people gobbled it up, I consider this recipe cheese ball perfection.

Bold statement? Maybe. But it's true.

Bonus: If you adore this bacon cheese ball, you'll also love my smoked jalapeño poppers.

Ingredients

And now to gather our ingredients. Here's what we need.

  • Cream cheese
  • Mascarpone
  • Shredded Gouda (preferably smoked but the unsmoked variety is also tasty)
  • Bourbon bacon jam
  • Chopped pecans

Some cheese balls use just cream cheese, but I love the extra decadent, rich touch that the mascarpone adds. Mascarpone is even creamier, despite cream cheese's namesake, so it gives our cheesy snack the perfect texture.

While I highly recommend making my bourbon bacon jam for this cheese ball, you can find bacon jam at some speciality stores. I actually first fell in love with bacon jam when I picked up a jar at a local cheese shop, so you can definitely scoop up some high-quality bacon jams out there. If you find a good store-bought bacon jam without bourbon, you can always stir in some to taste.

The bourbon bacon cheese ball on a white plate with pita chips surrounding it.

Step-by-Step Instructions

This process couldn’t be easier. We take our softened cream cheese and mascarpone, add them to a mixing bowl, beat until light and fluffy, and then add our shredded Gouda and bacon jam. The bacon jam already comes with all the flavor we need, so we don’t have to worry about extra ingredients.

I used my stand mixer for this, but you can also use a sturdy wooden spoon to mix the cheeses and bacon jam. While I prefer to throw it in the mixer and let the machine do the work, it's certainly not necessary.

Mixing the three cheeses until they're combined and fluffy in a mixing bowl.

How to Shape

Now that you have this big blob of cheesy, bacony goodness, you might wonder how in the world do you make this into a ball. We take a large piece of plastic wrap and plop the cheese mixture on top. Try your best to spoon it on in a ball-like shape.

You don’t need to perfectly shape your cheese at this point. Something like this will do.

The bacon-cheese mixture on plastic wrap before shaping.

Now we wrap the cheese mixture in the plastic and roll it around and shape with our hands like so.

The cheese mixture wrapped in plastic and shaped.

From here, we pop the cheese ball in the refrigerator for a few hours to allow it to firm. After it has time to firm, we roll it in toasted pecans and serve. It doesn't get much easier than that, huh?

How to Serve

Cheese ball spreads are thick and hearty, so we want a serving vessel that can hold the weight. Sturdy crackers, crostini, bagel crisps or mini toasts are all good options. In the photos, I used pita chips, which were perfect.

If you’re looking for a healthier dipper to balance all that decadent cheese and bacon, you could smear it onto carrot sticks, celery or broccoli. I get it. Life is about balance, right?

The bacon cheese ball with a chunk taken out of it.

Can I Make the Cheese Ball Ahead of Time?

You sure can! That's one of the reasons cheese balls are great for entertaining. You know, besides that creamy deliciousness.

Simply shape your cheese ball and keep it in plastic wrap for about four to five days. When you're ready to serve, remove it from the refrigerator about 30 minutes prior to guests arriving to allow the cheese ball to soften for easy spreading and roll it in toasted pecans. You're now ready to go.

Perfect Pairing

Do I even need to say it? Bourbon is the obvious choice here. Any of these options are delicious: peach-maple bourbon smash, chai-cranberry bourbon smash, apple cider old fashioned, gingered bourbon-apple cider cocktail or cherry bourbon smash.

Looking for a beer instead? No problem. A coffee stout is always tasty with bacon to play up that classic breakfast combo, especially if you're serving this with brunch, or you can go with a doppelbock. The sweet malt matches nicely with the maple and brown sugar in the bacon jam.

If wine is your go-to drink of choice, you'll love a pinot noir with this bacon cheese ball. Earthy pinot noir is one of my favorite go-to wines when bacon is involved, and while it's a light red, it can still stand up to our Gouda.

When you need a guaranteed crowd-pleasing snack, I hope you try this bourbon bacon jam cheese ball. I promise this is unlike any other cheese ball you've ever tried.

Cheers!

Looking down on the bourbon bacon jam cheese ball with fresh thyme and pita chips.

Need More Party Food?

  • Ahi nachos with wasabi crema
  • Crab cake sliders with basil-avocado aioli
  • Whipped ricotta dip
  • Beer mussels in chorizo-tomato sauce
  • Baked Brie with fig and Kahlua sauce
  • Gouda and chorizo pretzel bombs with bourbon honey-mustard

If you love this recipe, please leave a comment with a five-star rating — or simply hit the five-star button in the recipe card. Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter, and you can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok.

📖 Recipe

The bacon jam cheese ball after a cracker has taken a scoop out.

Bourbon Bacon Jam Cheese Ball

All your cheesy, bacon-filled dreams are about to come true. Made from three cheeses and covered in fragrant toasted pecans, this ultra creamy bourbon bacon jam cheese ball instantly elevates any charcuterie platter. Each decadent bite is full of savory, smoky bacon with the perfect hint of sweetness for just the right balance.
5 from 6 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 24 people
Calories: 106kcal
Author: Amanda McGrory-Dixon

Equipment

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Plastic wrap

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 8 ounces mascarpone softened
  • 1 ½ cups shredded smoked Gouda
  • 1 cup bourbon bacon jam preferably homemade
  • 1 cup finely chopped pecans

Instructions

  • In a mixing bowl, beat or stir the cream cheese and mascarpone until combined. Scrape any cheese off the side of the bowl and stir in the shredded Gouda and bourbon bacon jam.
  • Lay a large piece of plastic wrap on the counter. In the center, spoon the cheese mixture into a rough ball shape. Wrap the plastic wrap over the cheese mixture so that it's completely covered. Shape into a ball with your hands. Place in the refrigerator for several hours or up to four to five days.
  • While the cheese ball chills, heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the pecans and toast until fragrant. This should only take two to three minutes. Remove the pecans from heat and set aside.
  • Before serving, roll the cheese ball in the pecans to coat. Allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Notes

  • If you can't find smoked Gouda, regular Gouda will work as well.
  • Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 106kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 112mg | Sugar: 2g
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @BurrataandBubbles or tag #burratandbubbles!

More Appetizer Recipes

  • Easy Smoked Cream Cheese
  • Everything Bagel Hummus Recipe
  • Crispy Mango-Habanero Wings
  • The Best Smoked Jalapeño Poppers
335 shares
  • Share
  • Yummly
  • Mix
  • Twitter

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Liz @ Books n' Cooks says

    December 03, 2020 at 8:44 am

    This sounds incredible. I wish I was entertaining so that I had an excuse to make it (and so that I don't indulge in the whole thing!)

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      December 07, 2020 at 9:21 am

      I don’t blame you! That’s definitely the challenge. You can always cut the recipe if need be. ?

      Reply
  2. Erika says

    January 20, 2020 at 3:53 pm

    5 stars
    This combination sounds amazing. I can't wait to try it.

    Reply
  3. Jen says

    January 20, 2020 at 3:51 pm

    5 stars
    This really is a game changer when it comes to cheeseballs. It's so good, I'm not sure if I really want to share, haha!

    Reply
  4. Ashley says

    January 20, 2020 at 3:44 pm

    5 stars
    Um, these are all my favorite things!!! I'm definitely making this for Super Bowl weekend!

    Reply
  5. Pam Greer says

    January 20, 2020 at 3:28 pm

    5 stars
    Bourbon, bacon and cheese - three of my most favorite words all together in one recipe! Soooo good!

    Reply
  6. Sherry Brubaker says

    January 20, 2020 at 2:46 pm

    5 stars
    This is totally happening next time I host! I know everyone will just love this recipe!

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      January 20, 2020 at 2:47 pm

      I bet they will! You can't go wrong with bacon and cheese.

      Reply
  7. Milena says

    January 10, 2020 at 9:57 pm

    Bourbon bacon jam folded into a cheese ball crusted with pecans... Sign me up, definitely trying this recipe - looks scrumptious and the ingredient line up is just too tempting to miss out on.

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      January 14, 2020 at 1:14 am

      Thanks, Milena! I think you'll love it!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

A headshot of Amanda, the owner of Burrata and Bubbles, holding a beer.

Hi, I'm Amanda, a Denver-based lady who believes life is best spent with comforting meals, tasty beverages and good company. When I'm not playing in the kitchen, I'm probably exploring new breweries with my husband, Matt, or obsessing over my adorable dog, Baylor.

More about me →

St. Patrick's Day Recipes

  • Slow Cooker Guinness Corned Beef
  • Baileys Ice Cream Recipe
  • Irish Mule
  • Irish Whiskey Chocolate Cake With Baileys Mousse

Trending Recipes

  • Smoked Queso Dip
  • The Best Smoked Jalapeño Poppers
  • Smoked Pellet Grill Brisket (Texas Style)
  • The Ultimate Smoked Mac and Cheese
A collection of black and white logos from publications that have featured Burrata and Bubbles

Copyright © 2023 Burrata and Bubbles on the Brunch Pro Theme

Privacy Policy