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Cheesecake balls with dried fruits

Valentine's Day Appetizers 60 min Easy 5 wyświetleń ~22.65 PLN - (0)
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Description

Delicate cheesecake balls with finely chopped dried fruits — a sweet, creamy snack perfect for Valentine's Day. The balls combine velvety cream cheese with crunchy biscuit crumbs and sweet-tart pieces of apricots, cranberries, and raisins. Served on a small plate, rolled in cocoa or chopped pistachios, they look elegant and romantic; they are great as an appetizer at a party or a sweet addition to coffee or a glass of wine. The dish has a distinct creamy texture with a subtle tartness from the lemon and pleasant textures from the dried fruits and biscuits.

Ingredients (11)

Servings:
12
  • Cream cheese 400 g
  • Powdered sugar 80 g
  • Biscuits (crackers, shortbread cookies) 150 g
  • Butter 50 g
  • Dried fruits (mix: apricots, cranberries, raisins) 120 g
  • Lemon juice 20 ml
  • Lemon zest (grated) 2.5 łyżeczki
  • Vanilla extract 1 łyżeczka
  • 🌿 Przyprawy
  • Salt 0.0 szczypt
  • ✨ Opcjonalne
  • Cocoa powder for coating 30 g
  • Chopped pistachios 30 g
💰 Szacowany koszt dania: ~22.65 PLN (1.89 PLN/porcję)

💡 Kliknij na składnik aby oznaczyć jako użyty

Preparation steps

Preparation of ingredients

1

Prepare all the ingredients and tools: take the cream cheese and butter out of the fridge 20–30 minutes beforehand to soften. Chop the dried fruits into small pieces (about 3–5 mm) — for large apricots, lay them on a cutting board and use a sharp knife before chopping. Weigh the dried fruits on a kitchen scale (120 g). Place the biscuits (150 g) in a ziplock bag and crush them with a rolling pin or use a food processor (in pulses) until you achieve fine crumbs with some larger pieces.

Ingredients: Dried fruits (mix: apricots, cranberries, raisins), Biscuits (crackers, shortbread cookies), Butter
Tools: cutting board, sharp knife, kitchen scale, ziplock bag or blender/food processor. Make sure the butter and cheese are soft — too cold ingredients will cause lumps. Time: 10 minutes.

Preparing the base (crumble)

2

Melt the butter: in a small saucepan, heat the butter over low heat, just until it completely melts (do not boil). Pour the melted butter into a bowl with the crushed biscuits and mix vigorously with a spoon until the mixture resembles damp sand (all the crumbs stick together slightly but do not form a uniform paste). Leave to cool down (2–3 minutes).

Ingredients: Biscuits (crackers, shortbread cookies), Butter
Tools: small saucepan, large bowl, wooden spoon. If the mixture is too dry, add an additional 5–10 g of butter. Do not overheat the butter — it should only be melted. Time: 5 minutes.

Cheese mixture

3

In a large bowl, place the soft cream cheese (400 g). Add the sifted powdered sugar (80 g), vanilla extract (5 ml), grated lemon zest (5 g), lemon juice (20 ml), and a pinch of salt (1 g). Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer on low speed, mix the ingredients for 1–2 minutes until combined, then increase the speed to medium and beat for 2–3 minutes until the mixture is smooth, uniform, and slightly fluffy — there should be no lumps. Add the finely chopped dried fruits (120 g) to the mixture and gently fold them in with a spoon until evenly distributed. Finally, gradually add the prepared biscuit crumble (from step 2) — first half, mix, assess the consistency; if the mixture is too loose, add the remaining crumble. The consistency should be firm enough to form balls (slightly pliable, not wet).

Ingredients: Cream cheese, Powdered sugar, Vanilla extract, Lemon zest (grated), Lemon juice, Salt, Dried fruits (mix: apricots, cranberries, raisins), Biscuits (crackers, shortbread cookies)
Tools: hand or stand mixer with a flat beater, large bowl, spatula. If you don't have a mixer, mix vigorously with a wooden spoon for 4–5 minutes until the mixture becomes smooth. Key: the mixture is ready when it is uniform, easy to shape, and does not spill off the spoon (about 4–6 minutes of mixing in total). This is a key step.

Cooling the mixture

4

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for 20–30 minutes to firm up the mixture, making it easier to form balls. After chilling, the mixture should be firm, cool, and pleasant to the touch — if it is still too soft, chill for an additional 10–15 minutes.

Ingredients: Cream cheese
Tools: plastic wrap, refrigerator. Do not skip the chilling — it makes shaping the balls easier. Time: 20–30 minutes.

Shaping the balls

5

Remove the chilled mixture. Prepare a tray lined with baking paper. Use a small ice cream scoop or a tablespoon to take portions of the mixture (each portion should weigh about 60–70 g to make 12 balls). Place the scooped portion in your hand and roll it between your palms in a circular motion, applying slight pressure until a smooth ball forms. If the mixture sticks to your hands, wet your hands with cold water or dust them with a little powdered sugar. Arrange the finished balls on the prepared tray with space in between so they do not touch.

Ingredients: Cream cheese, Biscuits (crackers, shortbread cookies), Dried fruits (mix: apricots, cranberries, raisins)
Tools: kitchen scale (for precise portioning), ice cream scoop, hands or disposable gloves. Common mistake: too large portions result in uneven balls — weighing helps with even portioning. Time: shaping 12 balls takes about 12–15 minutes.

Coating and decoration

6

Prepare three small bowls with coatings: cocoa (30 g) in one, chopped pistachios (30 g) in the second. Roll each ball thoroughly in the chosen coating: dip the ball in cocoa and gently rotate it with a spoon to evenly cover the surface; for the pistachios, lightly press the chopped nuts onto the surface of the ball. You can also decorate a few balls with whole dried cranberries or a bit of lemon zest on top. After coating, place the balls back on the tray.

Ingredients: Cocoa powder for coating, Chopped pistachios
Tools: 3 small bowls, spoons, parchment paper. Additionally, you can add a topping of coconut flakes or melted chocolate as a variation. Time: coating and decorating 8–10 minutes.

Final cooling and serving

7

Place the tray with the coated balls in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the balls to firm up and the flavors to meld. Once removed, serve chilled on a small plate — for Valentine's Day, you can use a heart-shaped plate or decorate the plate with a few dried rose petals and fresh mint leaves. The balls taste best when cold (around 8–10°C).

Ingredients: Cocoa powder for coating, Chopped pistachios
Tools: refrigerator, serving plate. Common mistake: serving the balls too warm (they will be soft and fall apart) — always chill for at least 30 minutes. Time: 30 minutes.

Portioning and storage

8

Before serving, take the balls out of the fridge for 5–10 minutes so that their texture is not too hard. Serve 2 balls per person as an elegant appetizer or dessert. Store the remaining balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Ingredients: Cream cheese
Tools: airtight container, paper towel (optional). Do not leave the balls at room temperature for longer than 2 hours (due to the cheese content, they spoil easily). Time: preparation for serving 5–10 minutes.

Fun Fact

💡

Cheesecake bites in the form of balls are a miniature version of the traditional cheesecake — the ball shape has its roots in the European practice of creating whipped cheese mixtures with additions and serving them as desserts or appetizers at parties.

Best for

Walentynki Romantyczna kolacja Przyjęcie koktajlowe Deser po obiedzie

Tips

🍽️ Serving

Serve the balls slightly chilled (8–10°C) on small plates with a few dried fruits and a mint leaf. A great pairing drink is aromatic coffee, bergamot tea, or lightly sparkling wine/Prosecco. For visual effect, arrange the balls in the shape of a heart on the plate.

🥡 Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Do not freeze the prepared balls (texture of the cheese will change). If you want to prepare the mixture in advance, keep it in the fridge for up to 48 hours before shaping. After taking it out of the fridge, wait a few minutes before serving so that the balls are not too hard.

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