Faye Gay’s Pimento Cheese Ball

This recipe created for and published in Carolina Country Magazine December 2022.
Food propping/styling and photography © (copyrighted) by Wendy Perry.
Carolina Country Magazine Contributing Recipes Editor

Disclosure:  I only recommend products here I use myself. I may receive a small commission from affiliate links on this or other posts on this web site at no additional costs to you.

Who doesn’t love a simple cheese ball?  Seems like over the years, I don’t seem to see them as much as I used to.  Growing up, I have memories of going to the original North Hills mall to the Hickory Farms kiosk type store out in the mall. Daddy loved the beef sausage and their mustard (yum!) and I loved their “original” cheese ball.  That hint of blue cheese in those things was so good.  He also gave their gift boxes to some business friends too, so we had quite a haul when on those mall visits.

I was visiting my sweet friend Faye Gay one day and we were chatting about… FOOD!  Faye found out several years back that I love chocolate pie and every birthday since, she has made me one!  Faye was one of my mama’s best friends and she is my sweet friend too. I’ve known Faye and all her family all my life since we grew up in the same Pearces Baptist Church.

Faye has enjoyed cooking like me, and I enjoy visiting with her where we always end up talking about some sorts of foods.  I love learning from her and getting some of her old recipes. (Remind me to share her recipe for “HELL!”)  One day, we got to talking about cheese balls and she was telling me about hers. So I got the recipe, and surprised her by using it, with minor tweaking, for one of my Carolina Country Magazine recipes back in December 2022.  I just realized I’ve never shared it here on my blog, so here you go!  Just in time to make for having on had during the Christmas season, whether entertaining or just with family (or yourself).  Or… just anytime!  Makes a great gift too.  Faye’s vintage recipe is really delicious and I hope you’ll enjoy making it too.

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Print Recipe

Faye Gay’s Easy Pimento Cheese Ball

It’s hard to beat a good ole cheese ball, something that seems to be passed down through generations. A staple at gatherings growing up, I don’t tend to see them as much anymore and forget to make myself. Faye Gay was one of my mama’s best friends and is special to me too. She has been making this cheese ball for decades… for family, friends and church gatherings. I tweaked only slightly since it’s so good… we hope you love it too!

Course: Appetizer, Fun Food!, Snack

Cuisine: American, Southern

Keyword: CHEESE BALL, pimento cheese, pimento cheese ball

Servings: 12

Author: Wendy Perry

Ingredients

• 2 8-ounce cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese, I used triple cheddar blend
• 1 4-ounce jar diced pimento, drained
• 3 tablespoons finely minced onion
• dash of salt
• dash of cayenne pepper
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• about 2/3 cup minced nuts*

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients and make into a ball. Roll in nuts and chill for several hours or overnight. Sit out about 30 minutes before serving to soften.
• Serve with crackers and celery sticks.

Notes

*Use any nuts. I like pistachio for flavor and color too.