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–+ servings
Pineapple Cheese Ball with some cheese spread missing
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Pineapple Cheese Ball

This Pineapple Cheese Ball is bursting with the flavors of Hawaii, takes just minutes to whip up, and is the ideal make ahead appetizer! It is is loaded with crushed pineapple, sweetened coconut, smoked ham, green onions and COATED in more cheese, macadamia nuts, green onions and coconut for a taste of Hawaii that is tropically delicious but EASY too!
Course Appetizer
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 50 servings

Ingredients

Cheese Ball

  • 2 (8 oz.) bricks cream cheese at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 2 8 oz. cans crushed pineapple very well drained
  • 1 cup finely grated sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup finely grated Pepper Jack cheese
  • 3/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut toasted
  • 1/2 cup chopped ham thick cut then chopped
  • 1/4 cup chopped green onions
  • 1 jalapeno seeded, deveined, minced
  • 1/4 tsp EACH ground ginger, paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper

Coating

  • 2/3 cup unsalted toasted macadamia nuts chopped
  • 1/3 cup sweetened shredded coconut toasted
  • 2 tablespoons finely grated sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 cup chopped green onions

Instructions

Cheese Ball

  • Add all of the Cheese Ball ingredients to a large bowl and mix until well combined.
  • Drop mixture onto a large piece of plastic wrap, cover tightly, and shape into a ball. Don’t worry about the shape being perfect – you can refine it later when you coat the cheese ball.
  • Chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours to firm but best if allowed to chill 24 hours so the flavors can meld. Roll in coating as close to serving as possible.

Coating

  • Add all of the Coating ingredients to a medium bowl and stir to combine.
  • Spread Coating in an even layer on cutting board/parchment lined counter. Remove cheese ball from refrigerator and roll in Coating mixture, pressing to adhere, until evenly coated. At this point you can refrigerate for 1-2 hours until ready to serve. Serve with crackers and/or bell peppers.

Video

Notes

Don't miss the "how to make" recipe video at the top of the post!
  • Cream Cheese.   You want cream cheese that is slightly softened and will soften further as you blend it with your wooden spoon.  If it is too soft then it will not hold its shape very well and will take longer to firm up in the refrigerator.   To prevent your cream cheese from being too soft, let it sit at room temperature to soften and never microwave it.
  • Crushed Pineapple.  Crushed pineapple is the pineapple in Pineapple Cheese Ball!  Take care that you drain your crushed pineapple very well.  To do this, add it to a fine mesh sieve and press down on it with the back of a spoon several times until no juices are released.
  • Ham.  Use thick cut ham from the deli counter and not thinly sliced sandwich ham.  I ask the deli counter to cut my ham into 1/4" thick slices which I then cut in the other direction at home to create cubes.  I prefer smoked ham but you can use your favorite cut.
  • Pepper Jack Cheese.  This cheese does not make the Hawaiian Cheese Ball hot, just flavorful.  You can substitute with Monterrey if that's what you have on hand, but I highly recommend the pepper jack.
  • Coconut.  To toast coconut,  spread it out in an even layer on a large baking sheet.  Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes, stirring after 5 minutes.  Watch closely towards the end because it can go from toasted to burnt very quickly.
  • Jalapeno.  The jalapeno gives a little kick but not enough to make the Pineapple Cheese Ball "spicy."  Its gentle heat cuts through the sweetness of the pineapple and coconut.
  • Macadamia Nuts.   I love the tropical crunch of Macadamia Nuts for the coating but because they are more expensive, feel free to substitute with pecans.  You can even use half pecans and half macadamia nuts.  I get my macadamia nuts at the bulk bins at sprouts.
  • Refrigerate!  This Pineapple Cheese ball tastes WAY better if allowed to chill in the refrigerator for 24 hours before rolling in the coating.   The flavors develop and meld into something truly paradisaical.
  • Coating.  You can mix all your Pineapple Cheese Ball Coating ingredients together (cheese, green onions, coconut) except the macadamia nuts ahead of time and refrigerate.  I like to do this while I make the cheese ball because then I don't have to get out the same ingredients twice and all that's left to do is to roll the cheese ball in the coating.  We wait to add the macadamia nuts until ready to coat the cheese ball so they don't loose any of their crunch.