Description
🧀 Enjoy a crispy, gooey snack bursting with tangy pickles and savory ranch cheese.
🥒 Perfect for cheese lovers seeking a crunchy, flavorful appetizer or party treat.
Ingredients
24 dill pickle slices, thoroughly dried
4 oz (about 115 g) mozzarella cheese, cubed (¼-inch cubes), chilled for 15 minutes
4 oz (about 115 g) cream cheese, softened
2 tbsp ranch dressing powder (or ranch dressing mix)
1 cup (120 g) all-purpose flour, with a pinch of baking powder
2 eggs, beaten with 1 tablespoon cold water per egg
1½ cups (about 150 g) toasted seasoned breadcrumbs, seasoned with:
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
Vegetable oil for frying at 350-375°F (175-190°C)
Optional: ranch dressing for dipping
Instructions
1. Pat dill pickle slices dry twice with paper towels to remove moisture.
2. Cube mozzarella cheese into small pieces and chill for 15 minutes.
3. Mix softened cream cheese with ranch dressing powder until smooth and firm.
4. Gently fold in chilled mozzarella cubes and chopped pickles.
5. Form mixture into 1-inch balls (about 1 tablespoon each). Freeze on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 30-45 minutes.
6. Prepare three bowls: flour mixed with baking powder, beaten eggs with cold water, and seasoned toasted breadcrumbs.
7. Coat each frozen ball first in flour, then dip in egg wash, and coat with breadcrumbs. For extra crunch, double-dip in egg and breadcrumbs.
8. Heat vegetable oil to 350-375°F (175-190°C). Fry 3-4 cheese bombs at a time for 2-3 minutes until golden and crispy.
9. Drain on paper towels and serve immediately with ranch dressing if desired.
Notes
🖐️ Keep one hand dry and one wet during breading to prevent clumping.
❄️ Freeze cheese balls before breading to maintain shape and reduce cheese leakage.
🌡️ Maintain oil temperature between 350-360°F for optimal crispiness and to avoid greasiness.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Freezing time: 30-45 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cheese bomb
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: Crispy, Fried, Pickle, Ranch