When it comes to holidays and special celebrations, I always like to have a couple of appetizers available while waiting for the main course. I especially love appetizers that can be prepared ahead of time, These sausage balls are always a hit, and your guests will devour them quickly!
The classic sausage ball recipe calls for very minimal ingredients: Bisquick, cheese, and sausage. I wanted to amp up the flavor and add more holiday flair to the taste buds. What better way to do that, than to layer in the flavors of wine, bacon, and peppers?
If you want to prepare these sausage balls ahead of time, store them unbaked in a covered
container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Allow them to come to room temperature and then bake accordingly.
Yield: Approximately 48 1-inch balls
Ingredients
2 cups Bisquick
1 pound Pork Sausage (I used Mild)
½ cup chopped Bacon (I used this one)
2 cups Pepperjack Cheese, freshly shredded
16 oz Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup Dried Cranberries, finely chopped
1 medium white onion, chopped
1 Jalapeno, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
¼ cup White Cooking Wine
1 egg
2 Tablespoons Dried Chives
1 Tablespoon Paprika
½ Tablespoon Dried Parsley
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium skillet, brown sausage over medium-high heat. Place cooked sausage on a plate with paper towels to allow to drain.
Add onion, garlic, and jalapeno to skillet and sauté for approximately 3 minutes. Slowly pour in white cooking wine. Stir gently, using a spatula to scrape any bits from the skillet. Cook for approximately 5 minutes or until the wine has evaporated. Allow mixture to cool for 10-15 minutes.
In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Using a mixer on medium-high speed, combine all ingredients thoroughly. If your mixture appears dry, add 2 Tablespoons of milk or water until it meets the desired consistency.
Form into 1-inch balls. Using a small cooking scoop helps to ensure consistency in size and
allows for even baking. Place balls onto an ungreased cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake for approximately 18-22 minutes. Remove from oven and serve warm.
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