If you’re looking for a unique and flavorful appetizer to add to serve at your next dinner party or family gathering, you’ve come to the right place! This almond crusted gorgonzola cheese ball is sure to be a hit with its creamy texture, crunchy coating, and medley of Italian flavors. It’s a great addition to any appetizer spread and best of all, it’s incredibly easy to make.

The cheese ball is made with a blend of creamy gorgonzola, smooth cream cheese, fresh lemon juice, and Italian salami. To finish it off, the cheese ball is coated in a layer of roasted almonds that gives it an extra crunch and a rich nutty flavor. Together, these ingredients create a delicious and sophisticated appetizer.

In addition, it’s also incredibly easy to make. You just mix together the ingredients, shape it into a ball, and then roll it in the crushed almonds. It’s a quick and easy way to add a gourmet touch to any appetizer spread. Plus, you can make it ahead of time and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. The cheese ball keeps about three days in the fridge.

This almond crusted gorgonzola cheese ball is sure to be a hit at your next party. So why not give it a try?

Below, I’ll be providing you with an ingredient checklist to ensure you have everything you need, along with a few key substitutions, and some serving suggestions. Now, let’s get to it.

Ingredient Checklist

Gorgonzola. We’re using gorgonzola for its creamy texture and pungent, tangy flavor. We’re using it as opposed to blue cheese as gorgonzola has much stronger, sharper flavor that cuts through the other ingredients in today’s recipe, whereas blue cheese would risk being overpowered.
Almonds. The crust of the cheese balls. Possible substitutes below.
Cream Cheese. Plain cream cheese forms the body of today’s cheese balls, blended with the gorgonzola.
Fresh Lemon Juice. Fresh is always better, especially in recipes where the juice is being consumed raw – as we’re doing to do. I’ll talk more about this below in the Substitutions area.
Salami. I’m using a decent quality Italian salami for today’s cheese balls. The rule of thumb here is that if you enjoy eating the salami on its own, you’ll enjoy it in today’s cheese balls.

Substitutions

The Almonds. Some possible substitutes for almonds in include walnuts, pignoli nuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, and hazelnuts. All of these options will, of course, alter the flavor of the recipe. The best substitutes for this particular recipe, in my opinion, are the pecans and pignoli nuts.
Fresh Lemon Juice Substitutes. Bottled lemon juice is the go-to substitute fresh. Yes, it is true that fresh lemon juice is the preferred choice, as it has a stronger flavor and aroma than bottled juice. The flavor and aroma of fresh lemon juice can add great depth to dishes in ways that bottled simply can’t. Bottled lemon juice, however, will work just fine in today’s recipe. As a nice bonus, bottled lemon juice is a convenient and shelf-stable option, but it does have a much weaker flavor and aroma.

Serving Suggestions

Consider serving today’s gorgonzola cheese balls with a side of marinara sauce for dipping, or perhaps a spicy salsa. Then consider slicing the cheese balls onto a piece of crusty Italian bread, topping the salsa. Delicious.
Serve them as an appetizer with a selection of crackers, crostini, fresh vegetables, and olives.
Place the cheese balls on a bed of baby spinach leaves, drizzle with a balsamic vinaigrette, and top with roasted nuts for a delicious salad.
Serve as a light lunch or dinner with a side of crusty bread, a simple green salad, and a glass of white wine.
If you’ve made them bite sized, consider placing the cheese balls on a skewer with cherry tomatoes and roasted vegetables for a creative twist on kabobs.
Present the cheese balls as part of an elegant cheese board, alongside other cheeses and accompaniments, such as sliced fresh mozzarella layered with basil and olive oil, charcuterie, and dried fruit such as figs and apricots.