Manchego & Marcona Almond Cheese Balls

By á-4084

What a clever and tasty appetizer! Using pretzel sticks for the handle is a great idea, just make sure to insert them right before serving for the best crunch.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 cup Manchego cheese, shredded
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly cracked
• 1 cup Marcona almonds, finely chopped
• 36 pretzel sticks

Preparation

Step 1

Combine first 4 ingredients in a bowl with a spatula.

Scoop out 36 generous teaspoonfuls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Form into balls, then roll in almonds. Insert a pretzel stick in center of each ball. Refrigerate 1 hour before serving.

These can be made up to two days ahead, but save the pretzels for just before serving.