Cherry-Cream Cheese Balls with Peanuts

Check out this fun summer appetizer that takes advantage of fresh cherries. Sweet, succulent cherries are at their peak right now (and the prices have dropped), so grab a bag and whip up these bite size morsels in a snap. And feel free to revamp the recipe - you can use pieces of plums or peaches instead of cherries, and toasted almonds instead of peanuts.

Note: You can pit the cherries several different ways:

1. Use a paring knife (slice horizontally and remove the pit).
2. Push a chopstick through the stem end to push the pit out the other end.
3. Press the cherry onto the small end of a pastry tip (used for icing) until the pit comes out the top.

Cherry-Cream Cheese Balls with Peanuts

8 fresh cherries, pitted
8 ounces cream cheese (any variety, including flavored), chilled
3/4 cup chopped dry-roasted peanuts

Divide the cream cheese into 8 equal pieces and roll each piece in a ball. Press one cherry into the center of each cream cheese ball. Roll the balls in the peanuts to coat all sides.
Transfer the cheese balls to a serving platter or mini paper liners and serve or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Makes 8 cream cheese balls.


Photo: Apolonia