Did you grow up making this Old English cheese ball over the holidays? My family has made this recipe for years. Indeed, I’m sure your family will love this appetizer as much as mine! Over the past few weeks, I’ve been focused on writing posts outlining some fun foods to enjoy with friends and family, especially during this fun holiday season.
Cheese balls have been on my mind as I contemplate what I should fix for holiday meals. This recipe calls for cream cheese with Old English cheese spread, green onions, Worcestershire Sauce, and garlic powder. It’s super easy to make, and can be done in 30 minutes or less.
If you love appetizers, this special cheese ball is for you! You can take it to your next holiday get-together or New Year’s Day party! But remember, you don’t need a special occasion to gather and enjoy quality food. Bring on the football games, right? I enjoy parties where the hostess or host has a table full of finger foods, and this cheese ball is considered just that!
If you grew up attending holiday parties, church gatherings, or family potlucks, chances are you’ve seen an Old English Cheese Ball sitting proudly in the center of the table. This retro appetizer has been around for decades, and it continues to be a crowd favorite thanks to its creamy texture, nostalgic flavor, and simple ingredient list. Whether you’re preparing snacks for Thanksgiving, Christmas, game night, or a weekend get-together, this cheese ball delivers every single time.
In this post, you’ll learn how to make an Old English Cheese Ball, the ingredients that give it that familiar vintage taste, plus serving ideas, variations, and make-ahead tips. This recipe is quick, affordable, and perfect for anyone who wants an easy appetizer with maximum flavor.
What Is an Old English Cheese Ball?
The Old English Cheese Ball is a rich, creamy blend of Kraft Old English cheese spread, cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce, and simple spices, shaped into a round ball and rolled in chopped pecans. It’s the kind of appetizer that has stood the test of time—partly because it tastes fantastic, and partly because it sparks memories of holiday tables and family gatherings.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Variations to Try
- Nut-Free: Replace pecans with crushed crackers or dried parsley.
- Spicy: Add a pinch of cayenne, a dash of paprika, or a few dashes of hot sauce.
- Cranberry Pecan: Mix dried cranberries into the pecans for a festive look.
- Everything Bagel Cheese Ball: Roll in Everything Bagel seasoning instead of nuts.
Make-Ahead & Storage Tips
- Make the cheese ball up to 3 days in advance.
- Keep it wrapped tightly in plastic wrap.
- Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
- Leftovers keep for 3–4 days when refrigerated properly.
My Other Cheese Ball Recipes
Items You May Need In The Kitchen
- Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer
- A Good Knife
- Cutting Board
- Spatula
- Measuring Spoons
Ingredients
- Cream Cheese: A soft, smooth, mild-tasting cheese made from milk and cream containing protein and calcium.
- Garlic Powder: A spice created from dehydrated garlic. It is used to enhance the other flavors of the recipe’s ingredients.
- Old English Cheese Spread: A tangy, savory, sharp, pasteurized process cheese spread. It’s typically made with cheddar cheese, water, salt, lactic acid, and sorbic acid. I use Kraft Old English Cheese Spread.
- Green Onions: Green onions, or “scallions,” are typically named for a long, thin, tubular edible plant with an oniony flavor.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Typically made with vinegar, anchovies, molasses, onion powder, garlic powder, tamarind extract, chili pepper extract, and salt. It provides a savory, sweet, sour, and spicy addition to the cheese ball.
- Nuts: Finely chopped nuts work best to roll the cheese ball in. Pecans or walnuts work great!
- Dried Cranberries: A delicious topping to roll the cheese ball in, adding a sweet-and-sour flavor to this appetizer.
Old English Cheese Ball
Step One: Gather the Ingredients
Gather the ingredients. As you can see, most items are probably in your pantry or refrigerator. I love the convenience of the Old English Cheese Spread in the resealable jars!
Step Two: Soften The Cream Cheese
Next, soften the cream cheese. This makes it easier to work with when blending the other ingredients.
Step Three: Combine the Ingredients
In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, garlic powder, the 2- to 5-ounce glass jar(s) of Old English Classic Cheddar Cheese Spread, the green onions, and the Worcestershire Sauce.
Step Four: Use Your Mixer
Mix thoroughly. Mound the mixture into a ball, place it in a bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm. When you’re ready to remove it from the fridge, take off the plastic wrap and roll the cheese ball in finely chopped Craisins, pecans, and bacon bits or green onions. Depending on the taste you are going for, choose the topping you would like the cheese ball rolled in.
Finished Product
Old English Cheese Ball Recipe
Old English Cheese Ball
Ingredients
- 2 – 8 ounce packages of cream cheese softened
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 – 5 ounce glass jars of Old English Cheese Spread
- 6 green onions, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- Roll in: finely Chopped Craisins, finely Chopped Pecans, finely Chopped Bacon Bits, or finely Chopped Green Onions.
Instructions
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Gather all of your ingredients.
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Soften the cream cheese, so that it is easier to work with when you blend in the other ingredients.
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Combine the cream cheese, garlic powder, the 2 – 5 ounce glass jars of Old English Cheese Spread, green onions, and the Worcestershire Sauce.
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Mix thoroughly.
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Mound the mixture into a ball and place it in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and place it in the refrigerator for 2 hours or until firm.
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When you are ready to remove it from the fridge, take off the plastic wrap and to start to roll the cheese ball in finely Chopped Craisins, finely Chopped Pecans, finely Chopped Bacon Bits, or finely Chopped Green Onions. Serve with crackers, and enjoy.
How do I store this
Old English Cheese Ball?I store mine in the refrigerator covered with plastic wrap or in a Tupperware-type container for 2-3 weeks. The storage time will depend on how fresh the ingredients are when you make the cheese ball.
Can I freeze it after I make it?
A reader mentioned that she made several cheese balls for a wedding and froze them. She indicated all went well when she took them out of the freezer. Isn’t this awesome to know?
Does Old English Cheese Spread contain cheese?
Here’s the deal: some people may argue that since it’s a cheese “spread,” it may not even have cheese. Well, yes, it does. I thought you might be interested in the ingredients posted on the back of the jar. So here they are: cheddar cheese, milk, cheese culture, salt (enzymes), water, sodium phosphate, sorbic acid as a preservative, etc.
Best Ways to Serve an Old English Cheese Ball
- Ritz Crackers, Chicken in a Biskit, and/or Wheat Thins
- Celery Sticks
- Carrot Sticks
- Apple Slices
- Mini Bagels
- Pita Triangles
- Macaroni and Cheese
- As a sandwich spread – with fresh bread and a variety of lunch meats
- Any other veggies your family loves!
- Pretzel chips
- Sliced baguette
- Apple slices for a fun sweet-savory combo
Are there any variations I can make to this cheese ball?
I love this cheese ball recipe as is! The taste is out of this world!
If you want to make any variations, the most straightforward change would be rolling the cheese ball in the topping your family would love. I have suggested Craisins, chopped pecans, or any other desired nut, as well as finely chopped bacon bits or green onions.
Some may like the taste of added dried parsley flakes or fresh parsley, freshly squeezed lemon juice, a dash of paprika, garlic salt, mayonnaise, or a Kraft Roka Blue Cheese Spread jar. This recipe is so great because you can tailor it to your family’s liking! Go ahead and try what works for you!
Are you interested in other savory appetizer and dip recipes? Check these out!
- 5 Ingredient Pineapple Cream Cheese Dip
- Easy-To-Make Spinach Dip
- Easy Hot Chip Beef Dip
- Spinach Artichoke Dip
- Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts
- Quick And Easy Spicy Meatball Appetizer Recipe
Final Word
This Old English Cheese Ball is truly timeless, a creamy, savory, nostalgic appetizer that brings people together. Whether you’re hosting a holiday gathering or want a simple snack that feels special, this recipe deserves a permanent place in your recipe box.
I hope you try making my Old English Cheese Ball. This is one of my favorite recipes! I love to serve this homemade cheese ball at Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas brunch, Easter lunch, or any other friend or family get-together. It’s an excellent addition to any meal!
I love the delicious flavor of combining cream cheese, green onions, Old English Sharp Cheese Spread, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and various savory toppings. It is a tasty spread on crackers, veggies, or sandwiches.
Having easy dinner-party appetizers to share when we gather is the best, in my opinion! You can call them finger foods, and I remember back in the 1970s, we called just about every appetizer a finger food! Life is good when we teach our kids and grandkids how to cook from scratch. May God bless this world, Linda
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