Vegan Jalapeño Popper Cheese Ball (30 Minutes)

This vegan jalapeño popper cheese ball is super easy: no soaking or blending required! Just 10 minutes of prep time, and it’s ready in about 30 minutes. Perfect for parties with veggies or crackers. (Gluten free, soy free option)

Five reasons you should make this jalapeño popper cheese ball:

1. No soaking the nuts overnight.
2. No blending the nuts.
3. No straining a blended mixture.
4. Just 10 minutes of active time in the kitchen.
5. Uses just a few everyday ingredients.

It is just mind-blowingly delicious for the small amount of effort this recipe needs. You just make this flavor mixture that’s like a jalapeño dip with non-dairy yogurt, some brine from pickled jalapeños, and some spices. Then, mix in some almond flour and fresh and pickled jalapeños to create a dough. Shape it into a ball, and bake. That’s it!

Baking this vegan cheese ball helps the flavors meld together and takes a little bit of the bite out of the jalapeños. It just enhances the overall flavor and texture. The result is this fantastically delicious vegan cheese ball to serve with some crackers, veggies, crudités, or however else you like. 

This is also such a versatile vegan cheese ball. There are lots of fun ways to serve it! You can make sandwiches with it by spreading it on some bread, and pairing it with some fresh tomatoes or other veggies or some crisp tofu. Or add dollops of this mixture to salads.

It also works great in mini quesadillas! Just spread some of the jalapeño popper cheese ball onto small tortillas with some grilled veggies, fold them over, and cook until crisp in the oven or on the stovetop.  If you’re going to use it to make quesadillas, you don’t even need to bake the cheese ball, because cooking the quesadillas will cook the cheese mixture then.

Ingredients

• non-dairy yogurt – Adds creaminess and tang. You can use vegan cream cheese instead, just thin it out with some water or broth to a yogurt-like texture first. Use soy-free, if needed.
• jalapeños – This recipes uses fresh jalapeños, pickled jalapeños, and some of the brine (pickling liquid) from the jar of pickled jalapeños. Use more or less, to taste.
• miso and nutritional yeast – These add a cheesy, umami flavor to the mixture. For soy-free, use chickpea miso.
• oil – Adds richness and helps the optional coating stick, if using.
• spices – Garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt add a ton of flavor!
• almond flour – Use blanched almond flour for the best results.
• coating – For extra flavor, you can brush or spray the cheese ball with a little bit of oil, then sprinkle on paprika or smoked paprika and some extra nutritional yeast. This is optional, but recommended!

How to Make a Jalapeño Popper Cheese Ball

In a shallow bowl, add the non-dairy yogurt, brine, miso, and oil. Mix really well until the miso fully mixes in. Then add the nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt, and mix again until well combined.

Mix in the fresh and pickled jalapeños. Then, add in the almond flour, and mix well, pressing to break down any lumps from the almond flour. The mixture should become nicely homogeneous and sticky. You don’t want it to be too dry. If it is, add a bit more brine from the jalapeño jar and another few teaspoons of non-dairy yogurt.

Mix everything well and let the mixture sit for a few minutes to allow the almond flour to absorb the moisture. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 225° F (108° C).

Wet or grease your hands, bring the dough together, and shape it into a ball. Place the ball on a parchment-lined baking sheet or small, lined baking dish. Brush the surface with a little oil and sprinkle with paprika and nutritional yeast. This is optional, but it adds nice flavor to the cheese ball. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until the outside of the ball feels dry. Remove from the oven, and your cheese ball is ready.

Make your platter, and place the warm cheese ball in the center. Top with fresh jalapeños or a drizzle of olive oil, if you like, and enjoy.

How to Serve Jalapeño Popper Cheese Ball

I like to serve this with extra fresh and pickled jalapeños on the side, along with veggies and crackers, so people can adjust the heat to their preference.

You can make sandwiches with it by spreading it on some bread, and pairing it with some fresh tomatoes or other veggies or some crisp tofu. Or add dollops of this mixture to salads.

It also works great in mini quesadillas! Just spread some of the jalapeño popper cheese ball onto small tortillas with some grilled veggies, fold them over, and cook until crisp in the oven or on the stovetop.  If you’re going to use it to make quesadillas, you don’t even need to bake the cheese ball, because cooking the quesadillas will cook the cheese mixture then.