These Olive Balls are a holiday entertaining MUST! Olives wrapped in a buttery cheddar cheese pastry…they couldn’t be easier or more delicious. Your guests will love them!
It’s just about a week until Christmas! Say what?! Honestly, I feel like Thanksgiving was yesterday. I’ve been so busy holed up in my kitchen cranking out cookies like a boss, December’s passing me by! Just like that….WHOOSHHH and it’ll be ovah!
Right now, I’m in full entertaining mode. YASSSS! My favorite part of the holiday season….well, besides the cookies. So to make things easier, I spent this past weekend making some of my favorite appetizers and throwing them in the freezer, so when I need ’em, I can pop ’em out, enjoy the party and still look like the hostess with the mostess!
Honestly, I can’t believe I haven’t shared these Olive Balls with you guys yet. I’ve been enjoying these since I was a kid. My mom, the original hostess with the mostess, made these every holiday season. She’d get all of us to help and we’d make dozens to throw in Ziplocs in the freezer, so when friends would drop by unexpected, we always had something to serve with cocktails.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
These are delicious little bites that are ideal for guests for the holidays or any time of year really.
6 ingredients and roughly 30 minutes of prep time.
These are perfect to keep in your freezer for unexpected company. I’ve always got a bag full.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- butter
- sharp white cheddar cheese
- all-purpose flour
- salt
- cayenne pepper
- pimento stuffed olives
Step-By-Step Instructions
These olives balls couldn’t be easier to make.
The first step is to drain your olives and place them on a paper towel on the kitchen counter. You’ll use another paper on top of them to roll them around and dry them as best you can.
The second step is to whisk together your flour, salt and cayenne until well combined and then set it aside.
The third step is to beat the butter until it’s soft and creamy and then add your shredded cheese. At this point you will add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture until a soft cohesive dough forms.
The last step is to wrap the dough in small portions around each olive until the olive is totally covered and place the finished olives on a parchment lined baking sheet. Once all the olives are done being wrapped you can put the tray in your freezer until they’re frozen solid. After the freezing period you can either bake or put in a large freezer bag for later.
I love to have these on hand for unexpected company not just during the holiday season, but all year long.
If you’re an olive fan you’re going to LOVE these, because they’re covered in a buttery cheddar cheese pastry that’s to die for. I always opt for the larger queen olives, so they’re more of a mouthful. And I usually double or triple the recipe so I have a good stash in my freezer. They’ll keep right through New Year’s too! That is if they last that long!
Please let me know if you give the recipe a try. And if you have any questions about the recipe, just drop a comment below. Enjoy!
A Few Cook’s Notes for Olive Balls
You can really use any size olive you’d like. It will just affect how many finished olive balls you end up with.
You will need to lay your olives out on paper towels to let them dry before wrapping them with the cheddar cheese dough.
More Delicious Holiday Appetizer Recipe to Enjoy
Olive Balls
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 cups shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
- 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
- 24-26 large Queen pimento stuffed olives
Instructions
- Drain olives in a strainer. Lay out on paper towels and rub the tops with another paper towel to dry.
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Beat butter until creamy. Add cheese until well combined.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt and cayenne. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture until well combined.
- Cover each olive with dough until totally covered. Place on a large baking sheet and freeze for about one to two hours. (If you're using these for later, freeze until frozen solid and then you can add the olive balls to a large freezer bag for later use. I always have a stash in my freezer for unexpected guests.)
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place desired amount of olives on tray and bake for 12-14 minutes or until lightly browned.
We are huge olive fans at my house and I can’t imagine anything better than wrapping them in cheddary bread. Your mom really is the hostess with the mostess. Have a great week Mary Ann!
My mom loved to entertain Karen! She was always up for company! I remember making these every holiday season for years! You have a great week too!
Has anyone tried them after they’ve sat out a bit & aren’t warm anymore? We are taking them to a large party. Sounds delicious!!!
I like to enjoy them warm from the oven, but I’m sure to gobble up any leftovers after they’ve cooled!
Beautiful! I have a bunch of olive-obsessed people in my household who would just flip over these! Going on my holiday menu :)
Honestly, they’re so easy to make Jennifer and always good to have in the freezer for unexpected company!
I’m not the biggest olive fan, but when you wrap them in a buttery cheddar cheese pastry I bet they easily become irresistible ;)
Yes, that cheddar cheese pastry! So good Megan!
I can’t believe how freakin’ fast the time is flying, either! I’ve never had anything like this before and I love olives, so I know this would go over super well with me! We have a get together at our house this upcoming weekend and this would be a perfect recipe to make :) Happy Monday, my friend!
Me either Dawn! You’ll love these! Happy Monday to you too! XO
Hi! I just made a batch and they are yummy!! But they fall apart as you bite them. It’s that supposed to happen???
Hi Jigi. They’re not supposed to totally fall apart. Make sure when you make the dough it’s totally mixed together and make sure to roll the dough tightly around the the olives. That will help.
Do you think butter temperature makes a difference? I used room temperature butter, but my husband suggested that I use cold butter. He thinks that may help the pastry from being crumbly. What do you think? I served them yesterday at my party and they were a hit!!!
It’s crazy how fast this time of year flies! And yes, Thanksgiving was yesterday! OMG. I love these little olive balls… I mean, olives wrapped in pastry? I’m in! Delicious snack to share Mary Ann! Thank you for this.
I know!! These are always a holiday favorite Traci! I’ve got two bags full in the freezer just waiting for company to stop by! Happy Monday!
I am salivating Mary Ann! What an utterly perfect appetizer for the holidays. Love it!
Thanks Alida! They’re so easy. I always have a bag in my freezer during the holidays!
These are SO fun! I’ve never seen anything like this on any app spread and I’m totally loving it. Huge olive fan here so any way to eat more of them is cool by me :) I’d take this kind of entertaining food over cookies any day!
I may be cookied out Gina, so I’m moving on to appetizers! These are a holiday fave!
I’ve been so darn busy making cookies for my own consumption I kind of dropped the ball of planning out my holiday menu… but I’m only having family over for New Years. So hopefully I still have time to get my act together! Lol. My husband is an olive lover, so I know he is going to go crazy for these, Mary Ann!!! I mean, olives stuffed in a buttery cheddar cheese pastry???! What’s not to love! These look amazing and I’m totally digging the fact that these can be made and stored in the freezer! I need these on my NYE menu for sure!! Pinned! Cheers!
They’ll be perfect for New Years Chey! I love having a bag in the freezer. I spend the day making a few dozen and I’m set for the season! Happy Monday! XO
Such a perfect little bite wrapped in a perfect little package! We’re huge olive fans in our house! I can’t imagine how quickly these will go! BTW, did I ever tell you what a hit your cheese ball was at Thanksgiving?! Pinned!! Have a great week, my friend!
Yes! I’m so glad you all enjoyed it! These are honestly another hit for the holidays Annie. Your family and friends will love them. Thanks for pinning! Happy Monday!
Such a great idea! I love that they are a one-bite appetizer.
They’re so easy Naomi! My friends always love them!
I’ve never seen anything like these olive balls, Mary Ann! They are so creative and sound pretty tasty too! I love anything you can freeze and keep on hand for emergencies and surprise guests!
Yes, they’re perfect for the holidays and actually all year round Rachelle! Just pop ’em out of the freezer and into the oven and you’re ready for company!
I know!!! I can’t believe we’re only about two weeks away to Christmas! Crazy!!!!! I am rounding up holiday recipes and love these olive balls!!! what a great idea! love!
It’ll be here before we know it! Still so much shopping to do! Hope you enjoy these if you give them a try Alice!
I’ve never heard of olive balls, Mary Ann – and I love olives! Will definitely be making this – and love the tip about freezing them. Do you cook them first or freeze them pre-cooked? These look like such a fun appetizer for the holidays!
I throw them in the freezer unbaked and then just bake them when I need them. You have to give them a try Geraldine! You’ll love them!
I love olives, but always forget to cook with them. These sound delish!
They’re so good Tieghan! You should definitely give these a go!
love everything about these! perfect for holiday entertaining (and i’m a HUGE olive lover)!
Me too Cathy! Perfect to go with those yummy cocktails of yours!
One of my favorites apps! Looks so easy to make, too! Can’t wait to make a batch of these and horde them all for myself. ;)
They are so incredibly easy Cassidy! I love having a little stash in the freezer for when the craving hits! Enjoy!
This is such a great easy appetizer! My family is nuts over olives so i’m gonna have to make these for Christmas. Thanks for another fabulous recipe Mary Ann!
Oh, you’ll all just love them Nicole! I think it may be scary if I try to pinpoint how many of these I’ve eaten over the years! YIKES!
Omg and they’re BAKED? Yaaas!
Soooo good Sarah! Give them a try!
Ah, these are so adorable! So simple, but so unique at the same time. My oldest son loves olives- we’ll have to make this a cooking project to do together. :) I’m sure you are the most fabulous hostess, Mary Anne.
I always enjoyed making these with my mom when I was growing up Emily! She really was the best entertainer. Now that she’s older, we get to entertain her!
These are brilliant! I love olives, and I love how easy these look. I too can’t believe how close we are to Christmas. I’m trying to crank out the last few Xmas-related posts on my blog, finish up work before the Xmas break, and hopefully I will finally be able to recover from this cold that’s been plaguing me for like the past month!
Thanks Natasha! It seems like just a few days ago it was Thanksgiving and now we’re less than two weeks to Christmas! I think the time goes faster as I get older! Hope you’re feeling better!
Love these little bites for holiday entertaining! The festive tree toppers are too cute!
These are by far the easy appy that will come out of my kitchen this holiday Laura! And one of the tastiest too! I know, when I saw those little cocktail picks I had to have them!
What a delicious treat Mary Ann, olives wrapped in a cheese crust. Yummy ! Your mother must have been a creative cook.
She was a wonderful cook back in the day Gerlinde! Now, I enjoy cooking for her!
The PERFECT popable appetizer! Trevor would go CRAZY for these!!
Yay! Hope you try them Jennifer!!
I have never heard of olive balls but they sound crazy good! This is such a wonderful idea. I think I would have a hard time keeping myself from eating them all! ;) Love it, Mary Ann!
I can’t imagine how many I’ve eaten over the years!! So, so many! But so worth it Tessa!
So simple yet so perfect, love these bites!
They’re one of my favorite quick and easy appetizers for the holidays Matt!
If they are frozen solid, do they go straight to the oven when ready to bake?
Yes ma’am! You’re going to love these Karen! I’ve been making these for every holiday for years! There’s always a bag in my freezer for unexpected guests! Happy Holidays!
This is perfect timing. My father loves olives and he will be joining us on Xmas Eve. Love these and I think our Arnold & Rodriguez clan will love them too.
Yay! Hope Dad love ’em Cindy!
I have been making these for over 40 years, but I have never seen such cute toothpicks! Where do you get them?
Hi Martha! Aren’t the olive balls the best! I got those cute little cocktail picks from a barn sale in Pennsylvania, but they’re from a company called CreativeCo-Op.com. They have them for different holidays too. Enjoy!
Hi recipe came out perfect for those that did thanks for sharing! Quick question though for those in the freezer…do you wait for them to come to room temperature before baking or put them frozen in the preheated oven for 12-15 min?
Hi Gillian! These are my all time favorite! No, you just put them right in the oven frozen. Enjoy!
Oh what a delight to see this post!!! My mother made these over 50 years ago and I have never seen the recipe in print. I love them. Have some in the freezer and can’t wait to share them with friends. Hopefully you can get some rest soon. Enjoy the holidays. Merry Christmas. Ps. Just love the pics!! How cute.
Thanks so much Miriam. These are a favorite from my childhood too! They bring back special memories!
MaryAnn, your spicy olive balls will be the perfect little bite to have with a glass of wine when having friends visit.
You’re going to love them Karen! Happy New Year!
These look so tasty. We love olives and then add a cheesy pastry, how yummy would that be!
Hope you give them a try Cathy!
Hello & Merry Christmas! I am going to try making these & was wondering if I could also use black olives in the jumbo size?
I have never tried these with black olives. I’m thinking if that’s what you prefer then that should be fine. Enjoy!
Thank you, Mary Ann… I appreciate your prompt reply. I like the green olives, but some in my family don’t. I may do half green & half black. I will definitely post how they turn out after Christmas & preferences… lol!. I’m certain they will be enjoyed!
Great Sharon! Let me know. Merry Christmas!
I’m anxious to try this recipe. Just one question, in the ingredient amounts you say 1/2 cup of butter is (one stick) and when you make 2x the recipe you say 1 cup of butter is (one stick). I assume this is a typing error and 1/2 cup=1/2 stick, right?
Hi Carolyn. The 1x 2x and 3x is done automatically on the blog by a plugin, not me. I removed the (one stick) so it’s not confusing. But just to make it clearer, one stick is 1/2 cups, two sticks is one cup and 3 sticks is 1 1/2 cups. Enjoy! I’ve been enjoying these for years and they’re always a hit at cocktail parties!
These are a bit time consuming to prepare (maybe I’m slow), but amazing…I found a batch in the freezer – a year later! I baked from frozen and they were still perfect. I recall freezing them on a tray before putting them in a freezer bag. The gift that keeps on giving!
Yay! So glad you found the bag Jo! These are a childhood favorite of mine! Thanks for trying the recipe!