The Ultimate Holiday Appetizer: Irresistible Crab and Everything Bagel Cheese Ball
This post reflects my personal opinions and experiences. I am grateful to Collective Bias, Inc. and Louis Kemp, the advertiser, for compensating me for this collaboration. #CrabDelightfulHoliday #CollectiveBias
Prepare to dazzle your guests this holiday season with an appetizer that’s as effortless as it is exquisite: the Crab and Everything Bagel Cheese Ball. This crowd-pleasing delight is generously packed with succulent crab, vibrant fresh herbs, and rolled to perfection in the universally adored everything bagel seasoning. It’s the quintessential centerpiece for your festive gatherings, guaranteed to spark joy and compliments from every guest.
The holiday season, with its twinkling lights and festive cheer, often comes hand-in-hand with an overwhelming to-do list. From meticulously selecting the perfect gifts to ensuring every corner of your home sparkles, and planning that show-stopping Christmas dinner, it’s easy to feel a surge of pressure. The demands of entertaining can sometimes overshadow the very joy we seek to create.
But what if there was a way to simplify your holiday hosting without compromising on flavor or elegance? What if you could present an appetizer that looks incredibly impressive but takes minimal effort to prepare? That’s precisely where this delightful Crab and Everything Bagel Cheese Ball comes in. It’s designed to be your secret weapon against holiday stress, offering a gourmet experience that allows you more time to cherish moments with loved ones rather than being confined to the kitchen.
Imagine serving a dish bursting with the savory taste of crab, brightened by a medley of fresh herbs, and encased in the crunchy, aromatic embrace of everything bagel seasoning. This cheese ball isn’t just an appetizer; it’s a conversation starter, a focal point that will have everyone reaching for another bite. Its irresistible combination of creamy texture and bold flavors makes it an absolute must-have for any festive party, office potluck, or intimate family gathering this season.
The Heart of Holiday Entertaining: Why Appetizers Matter
For many, the planning for Christmas dinner kicks off almost immediately after the Thanksgiving feast concludes. While the main course often takes center stage – whether it’s a traditional ham or a more adventurous beef Wellington, as I’m preparing this year – I firmly believe that appetizers are the true stars of any holiday gathering. They set the tone for the entire meal and provide the perfect opportunity for everyone to unwind and connect.
There’s a unique charm in the pre-dinner mingling, where friends and family gather in the kitchen or living room, happily snacking on delicious bites, sipping on their favorite holiday beverages, and sharing stories or excitedly discussing their newest gadgets. Appetizers facilitate these precious moments of connection, creating a relaxed and convivial atmosphere before the formal dinner begins. They are more than just food; they are catalysts for warmth, laughter, and lasting memories, making them an essential part of any successful holiday celebration.
Discovering the Secret Ingredient: Louis Kemp® Crab Delights®
My inspiration for this particular holiday appetizer struck while I was browsing the refrigerated seafood section at Meijer. It was there that I discovered the versatile Louis Kemp® Crab Delights® Flake Style. The memory of a magazine feature, showcasing how seafood could be transformed into a delectable cheese ball and coated in everything bagel seasoning, immediately came to mind. This fusion of ideas sparked an exciting culinary experiment, promising a unique and delicious twist on a classic party favorite.
Louis Kemp Crab Delights offer an incredibly convenient and delicious way to incorporate the taste of seafood into your dishes without the fuss of cooking fresh crab. Their flake style makes them ideal for blending into creamy mixtures like this cheese ball, providing a subtle sweetness and tender texture that perfectly complements the other ingredients. This discovery was a game-changer for my holiday menu planning, promising both gourmet flavor and unparalleled ease, which is exactly what every busy host needs during the festive rush.
As an added bonus for your holiday cooking, you can currently save $1.00 OFF Louis Kemp® Crab Delights® by clicking this exclusive coupon link. It’s a wonderful opportunity to experience the quality and convenience of this fantastic product for less!
And speaking of the magic of Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend, if you’re as obsessed as I am, you absolutely must check out my other creation: Everything Bagel Squash Egg in the Hole. It’s another simple yet incredibly flavorful dish that highlights this popular seasoning, perfect for a quick breakfast or a light lunch.
Perfecting Your Holiday Cheese Ball Before the Big Day
With the holidays rapidly approaching, I was eager to get into the kitchen and test out this Crab and Everything Bagel Cheese Ball recipe. The idea of combining the rich, savory notes of crab with the zesty cream cheese and the distinctive crunch of everything bagel seasoning was simply too tempting to wait. I wanted to ensure it was absolutely perfect before it made its grand debut at our Christmas dinner, striving for that ideal balance of flavors and textures.
The trial run proved to be a resounding success! The flavors married beautifully, and the texture was exactly what I had envisioned – creamy, yet firm enough to hold its shape, with that delightful outer coating. This preliminary testing phase not only solidified my confidence in the recipe but also allowed me to anticipate how well it would be received by our holiday guests. It truly is a simple recipe with maximum impact, ideal for impressing without the stress, and leaving you more time to enjoy the festivities.
Why Louis Kemp® Crab Delights® Are a Smart Choice for Holiday Meals
Beyond their convenience and great taste, Louis Kemp Crab Delights are an excellent choice for health-conscious hosts and guests. Crafted from premium Wild Alaskan Pollock fillets, they offer a lean and delicious protein source that fits well into a balanced diet. What’s more, they are naturally gluten-free, making them a safe and inclusive option for guests with dietary restrictions, ensuring everyone can enjoy your holiday spread without worry. This thoughtfulness adds an extra layer of hospitality to your festive table.
During a season often associated with indulgence, it’s refreshing to find ingredients that help us maintain a sense of balance. Louis Kemp Crab Delights are remarkably low in calories and cholesterol, a welcome feature for those of us trying to enjoy the festive period without completely abandoning our healthy eating habits. Opting for smarter, lighter ingredients like these allows for guilt-free enjoyment, letting you focus on the joy of the season rather than calorie counting. They are a testament to how healthy choices can still be incredibly flavorful and satisfying.
Effortless Elegance: The Simple Process of Making Your Cheese Ball
If you’re looking for a recipe that delivers big on flavor with minimal fuss, you’ve found it. This Crab and Everything Bagel Cheese Ball epitomizes effortless elegance. The preparation is so straightforward, it barely qualifies as cooking! It truly is a matter of combining ingredients, shaping, chilling, and coating – a process so simple, anyone can master it, regardless of their culinary experience. You’ll be amazed at how such a simple method can yield such a sophisticated result.
The magic begins in your stand mixer. You simply combine the softened cream cheese, the finely chopped Louis Kemp Crab Delights, minced shallot, fresh dill, fresh flat-leaf parsley, a touch of heavy whipping cream, garlic powder, and the bright zest and juice of a lemon. Let your mixer do all the work, blending these ingredients into a smooth, cohesive, and incredibly aromatic mixture. No complicated steps, no endless chopping – just pure, simple assembly that comes together in minutes.
Once mixed, the transformation is almost instant. Shape the mixture into a festive ball, wrap it snugly in plastic wrap, and a brief stint in the freezer helps it firm up perfectly for easy handling. The final touch, rolling it generously in Everything but the Bagel Seasoning, creates that stunning, flavorful crust that makes this appetizer so unique and visually appealing. The result? A show-stopping dish that tastes like it took hours, but only demanded minutes of your time. It’s the ultimate win-win for holiday entertaining!
Serving Your Masterpiece: Perfect Pairings
The Crab and Everything Bagel Cheese Ball is incredibly versatile when it comes to serving. While I love pairing it with crisp garlic-flavored cracker toasts for an extra layer of savory crunch, its flavor profile makes it compatible with a wide array of dippers. Think classic bagel chips – a perfect complement to the everything bagel seasoning theme – or an assortment of artisan crackers, melba toast, or even warm, soft pita chips. The crunchy texture of these dippers beautifully contrasts the creamy cheese ball.
For a lighter option, consider serving it with fresh vegetable sticks like crisp cucumber slices, vibrant carrot sticks, colorful bell pepper strips, or refreshing celery. The cool crispness of the vegetables offers a delightful contrast to the creamy cheese ball, making it a more balanced and equally delicious option. You can also elevate your presentation by arranging the cheese ball on a beautiful platter surrounded by a colorful selection of these dippers and a few sprigs of fresh parsley or dill for garnish. This ensures not only a delicious experience but also a visually appealing one that will impress your guests.
Embrace the Holiday Cheer, Stress-Free!
This holiday season, give yourself the gift of an easy, yet undeniably elegant, appetizer. With this Crab and Everything Bagel Cheese Ball, you can create a culinary sensation that leaves you with more time to relax, kick up your feet, and truly immerse yourself in the laughter and joy of your friends and family. You’ve worked hard all year, and you deserve to savor every festive moment without the added pressure of complex cooking. Enjoy the simple pleasures and the wonderful memories you’ll create!
1 vote
Crab and Everything Bagel Cheese Ball
Prep
Inactive
Total
Author Megan | Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
Yield 8 servings
This Crab and Everything Bagel Cheese Ball is packed with crab, fresh herbs and rolled in everything bagel seasoning. An appetizer worthy of your next get together!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces Louis Kemp® Crab Delights® Flake Style, chopped
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature, I used fat free
- 1 shallot, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons Everything but the Bagel Seasoning
- Bagel chips, melba toast, crackers, pita chips for serving
Instructions
- In the bowl of your stand mixer, place cream cheese, chopped Louis Kemp Crab Delights, shallot, dill, parsley, heavy whipping cream, garlic powder, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Mix until all ingredients are well combined and smooth.
- Lay out a piece of plastic wrap and transfer the mixture to the center. Form the mixture into a compact ball and wrap it tightly in the plastic wrap. Place into the freezer for 30 minutes to firm up.
- Sprinkle the Everything but the Bagel Seasoning generously onto a plate. Remove the cheese ball from the freezer and unwrap it. Roll the ball thoroughly in the seasoning mixture, ensuring it is completely coated on all sides.
- Place the coated cheese ball into a new piece of plastic wrap and return it to the refrigerator until you are ready to serve. This allows the flavors to meld and the cheese ball to maintain its shape.
Courses Appetizer
Cuisine Seafood
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 8 servings
Amount Per Serving | ||
|---|---|---|
Calories 74 | ||
% Daily Value | ||
Total Fat 1 g | 2% | |
Cholesterol 9 mg | 3% | |
Sodium 554 mg | 23% | |
Dietary Fiber 1 g | 4% | |
Sugars 3 g | ||
Protein 5 g | 10% | |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Let’s reiterate: the Crab and Everything Bagel Cheese Ball is more than just delicious; it’s a symphony of flavors and textures. The delicate, savory notes of the crab are beautifully balanced by the tangy cream cheese, while the fresh herbs add a bright, aromatic lift. Then comes the everything bagel seasoning – a glorious medley of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic, dried onion, and salt – providing that irresistible crunch and depth of flavor. This combination is wonderfully fresh, surprisingly sophisticated, and unequivocally a holiday crowd-pleaser. After all, who can resist a perfectly crafted cheese ball during the festive season?
Explore More Holiday Culinary Inspiration
Looking for even more brilliant ideas to elevate your holiday parties? Be sure to visit the official Louis Kemp website. You’ll find a treasure trove of inspiring recipes, creative serving suggestions, and innovative ways to incorporate their delicious Crab Delights into your festive menu, making every gathering truly special and memorable. Discover new ways to enjoy seafood during the holidays!
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