Halloween is the perfect time to unleash creativity in the kitchen. One of the most fun and easy ideas to prepare is cheese bats, an appetizer that both children and adults will love. Inspired by the blog Anita Cocinitas, this recipe stands out for its simplicity and originality, and is ideal to prepare with the family, especially with the little ones.
This recipe is not only Tasty, but also adds a decorative and festive touch to the table. In addition, it is an excellent way to introduce children to the world of cooking in a safe and entertaining way.
Ingredients needed
To make this original recipe, you only need a few easy-to-find ingredients:
- Philadelphia type cream cheese: Its texture is ideal for forming balls.
- Crunchy almond: If you prefer, you can use chopped almonds combined with sugar to caramelize it.
- Peppercorns or other decorative elements: They are used to make eyes.
- Doritos or nachos: These will become the bats' wings.
If you want to give it a more personal touch, you can substitute some ingredients. For example, the eyes can be made with chocolate chips, dried blueberries or even pieces of black olives.
Elaboration step by step
- Prepare the cheese balls: Using a spoon or your hands, form small balls the size of a meatball. If the cheese is too soft, you can put it in the refrigerator for a few minutes to make it easier to work with.
- Coat with crocanti: Roll each ball in the almond crocanti until it is well coated. If you don't have crocanti, you can make it at home. Simply chop almonds, toast them in a pan over medium heat and add a teaspoon of sugar. Stir until the sugar caramelizes.
- Decorate with eyes and wings: Once the balls are ready, place two peppercorns or chocolate chips on them for eyes. Insert two Doritos into each ball to serve as wings.
- Refrigerate before serving: Place the decorated balls in the refrigerator until ready to serve. This will help them maintain their shape and freshness.
Did you know that you can add a special touch by filling the balls with jam? Simply make a hole in the centre of the cheese before coating it and place a small amount of tomato or berry jam on top. Close the ball and follow the usual steps.
Practical tips for a perfect result
- Keep the cheese cold: Working with the cream cheese cold makes the process of forming the balls much easier.
- Customize the ingredients: Experiment with different nuts like walnuts or pistachios, or vary the “eyes” with dried cranberries or small candies.
- Prepare in advance: You can leave the balls ready a few hours before serving and assemble the wings and eyes just before so that the Doritos do not soften.
- Accompany with dips: Serve these bats with a choice of dips such as guacamole, salsa, or hummus to complement the flavors.
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These cheese bats are perfect for a Halloween party with children. It is so easy to make that they can participate without any risk, as it does not require fire or dangerous utensils. In addition, you will stimulate their creativity while they have fun. Its presentation will attract the attention of all guests, making it a guaranteed success.