Gorgonzola Truffles

With November underway, it is time to start thinking about upcoming holiday menus. I already have my menu planned and will be sharing it soon, but for now, I’d like to share a tasty amuse-bouche that you might want to feature on your menu in the weeks to come. 

We enjoyed these savory truffles this past Sunday, and they were well received by everyone, including some who are not big fans of the pungent blue-veined cheese. They are simply small balls of cream cheese and Gorgonzola cheese rolled in cooked bacon —how can that be bad?! They are delicious just to pop in your mouth, but I like to serve them on a cutting board with pears to slice and small crackers. Then top each cracker with a slice of pear, a truffle, and a wee drizzle of honey. The flavors are perfect for the season.

The score factor in this appetizer is that the cheese mixture can be made up to three days in advance. In fact, you can even take it one step further and roll the mixture into balls, place them between sheets of parchment, and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. That way, all you have to do before serving is to roll the balls in crumbled bacon. Serve alongside a good red wine, and your guests will be coming back for more.

Other holiday appetizers you might enjoy…

Baked Brie with Caramelized Onions

Caramelized Pear and Gruyère Torta

Italian Stuffed Mushrooms

Pancetta Cups with Goat Cheese and Pear

Parmesan Cream Cheese Ball

Pepperoni and Asiago Pinwheel

Salmon Rilletes

Shrimp and Sherry Cheese Spread

Sweet Onion and Cheddar Spread

Gorgonzola Truffles

By Nicole Prep: 15 minsRefrigeration Time: 1 hrTotal: 1 hr 15 mins Servings: 24 Bacon and Blue cheese? These savory truffles are party perfect!

Equipment

• Hand mixer with flex beaters

Ingredients 

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 4 ounces Gorgonzola or a good blue cheese, crumbled
• 1 tablespoon minced sweet onion
• ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 12 slices bacon, cooked and finely chopped

Accompaniments

• Crackers
• Pears
• Honey

Instructions 

1. In a bowl using a hand held mixer, beat the cream cheese, Gorgonzola, onion, Worcestershire, lemon juice, and pepper until smooth and combined. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour or until firm. Mixture can be stored in an airtight container for up to three days.
2. Roll the cheese mixture into 3/4-inch balls. Roll each ball in the chopped bacon. Serve immediately or cover and chill until ready to serve. Allow the truffles to sit out at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. Serve with crackers, pear slices, and honey. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 52kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 12mg, Sodium: 138mg, Potassium: 40mg, Fiber: 0.01g, Sugar: 0.2g, Vitamin A: 101IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 30mg, Iron: 0.1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.