Last month at Not Entirely Average, my fav internet kitchen hang-out 🙂 I tweaked the proverbial Christmas cheese ball into a savory holiday masterpiece, a Bacon Scallion Cheese Wreath.
It’s flavorful, kind of cute, and it makes about 3 cups which will round out the food table in a room full of party-goers. I have been anxious to post it because it was so popular with my tasters. Displayed on the groaning board alongside both hot and cold appetizers, it was among the well-liked test recipes I presented.
For a ravenous situation like a Holiday gathering, an edible wreath made of bacon and cheese will draw cheers and OMGs from your guests.
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Ask my tasters, if it doesn’t pass with them, it doesn’t go up on Not Entirely Average?
Bacon Scallion Cheese Wreath is a festive addition to your Holiday groaning board.
For a ravenous situation like a Holiday gathering, an edible wreath made of bacon and cheese will draw cheers and OMGs from your guests. That’s right, a dip that not only looks amazing, but tastes incredible. By no means do you have to be an artist to get this molded masterpiece to look like a wreath. A few flicks of the wrist around the edge in an upward motion, and you’ve got texture. That’s first. The addition of a couple of inventive touches, parsley leaves and pimentos, alters these, the ingredients of all ingredients to ‘official Christmas wreath status.’
By no means do you have to be an artist to get this molded masterpiece to look like a wreath. A few flicks of the wrist around the edge in an upward motion, and you’ve got texture.
Cream cheese is the main ingredient and helps the wreath to maintain its shape. Adding chopped bacon and scallions and freshly grated Parmesan cheese…well, these ingredients pack the flavor. After we tasted this, we focused immediately on the crackers we were serving it with. In a lineup of about ten types of crackers, the consensus was that a firm, crispy baked cracker or pita chip lent itself best flavor-wise, and withstood the pressure of the spreader.
Ingredients for A Bacon Scallion Cheese Wreath
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup sliced green onions, optional
10 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled (I purchased fully cooked bacon for the first time EVER, and it was fantastic, and a huge timesaver)
Parsley sprigs and diced pimientos
Assorted crackers and pita chips
We especially LOVED Firehook Garlic & Thyme Baked Crackers and Stacey's Simply Naked Pita Chips with this dip.
The Method
In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth. Gently incorporate the Parmesan cheese and onions. Stir in the chopped bacon. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about an hour.
Invert a small bowl in the center of a decorative serving platter.
Using a soup spoon, drop cream cheese mixture by rounded spoonfuls around edge of bowl. Carefully remove bowl.
Smooth cream cheese mixture in a circle using a butter knife to form a 'wreath.' Using the butter knife, add texture to the wreath by flicking your wrist in an outward motion on the top of the wreath. Garnish with parsley and diced pimientos. Serve with crackers or pita chips.
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Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- 1/4 cup green onions (sliced - optional)
- 10 bacon strips cooked and crumbled (I purchased fully cooked bacon for the first time EVER, and it was fantastic, and a huge timesaver)
- Parsley sprigs
- diced pimientos
- Assorted crackers and pita chips
Instructions
- In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth. Gently incorporate the Parmesan cheese and onions. Stir in the chopped bacon. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about an hour.
- Invert a small bowl in the center of a decorative serving platter.
- Using a soup spoon, drop cream cheese mixture by rounded spoonfuls around edge of bowl. Carefully remove bowl.
- Smooth cream cheese mixture in a circle using a butter knife to form a 'wreath.' Using the butter knife, add texture to the wreath by flicking your wrist in an outward motion on the top of the wreath.
- Garnish with parsley and diced pimientos. Serve with crackers or pita chips.
Nutrition
Please note that the nutrition information provided above is approximate and meant as a guideline only.
Look at that, a cheese wreath!! Thanks so much for linking up with me at #AThemedLinkup 34 for All Things Christmas.
Dee, it's too good to be true, right??? Should you try this, I used a pre-cooked, smoked, shelf-stable bacon. First time I ever tried anything like it and LOVED it specifically for this appetizer. Thanks for allowing me to link up and share with your readers!