Here’s a must-try recipe for your next dinner party! This autumnal cheese ball combines our savory 5 Year Aged Cheddar with the sweetness of grated apple and the earthy warmth of fresh sage. Rolled in crunchy pepitas and shaped like an apple, it’s as festive as it is delicious.

What You’ll Need:

• 8 oz package of cream cheese

• 2 cups 5 Year Aged Cheddar, finely shredded

• 1 large apple, grated with the skin on

  • Discard the apple core. After grating, press out the juice using your fingers and a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth.

• 1 tablespoon shallot, minced

• 1 tablespoon fresh sage, finely chopped

• 2 tablespoons pepitas, lightly crushed or chopped

  • You will also need extra pepitas to roll the cheese ball in once completed.

• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• Large pinch of salt, to taste

• Freshly ground pepper, to taste

To Garnish:

• 1 cinnamon stick for garnish

• Fresh sage leaves for garnish

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients together thoroughly.

2. Use a spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl and form the mixture roughly into a ball. Chill the mixture in a covered bowl in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

3. Once chilled and firm, shape the mixture into your desired shape. We chose to make ours look like an apple.

4. Roll the shaped ball in pepitas or place them individually on the surface to create a pattern.

5. Cover with plastic wrap and return to the fridge to chill and set before serving.

6. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and sage leaves. Serve with your preferred crackers or crisps (we used pita chips!).