Four-Color Cheese Truffles

Name: Four-Color Cheese Truffles
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 50
Ingredients: Cow's milk ricotta cheese 0.8 cup; Grana Padano PDO cheese (to grate) 1.8 oz; Fontina cheese 1.75 oz; Gruyere cheese 1.75 oz; Gorgonzola cheese 1.75 oz; Sesame seeds 2 spoonfuls; Poppy seeds 2 spoonfuls; Chives to chop 2 spoonfuls; Green Peperoncino sweet 2 spoonfuls

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Calories per serving

Gluten Free
Vegetarian

Energy Kcal 88
Carbohydrates g 1.2
of which sugars g 0.8
Protein g 6
Fats g 6.8
of which saturated fat g 3.64
Fiber g 0.4
Cholesterol mg 20
Sodium mg 96

Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 15 min
Makes: 50 pieces
Cost: Low

PRESENTATION

Four-color cheese truffles bring some real Italian party spirit to any table. People across Italy just love making these little bites for festive occasions. Why? They show off both taste and color in a fun way. You get a mix of cheeses—think creamy goat cheese or even smooth cream cheese—blended together and then rolled into balls.

Each one gets coated in something different: crunchy poppy seeds, toasty sesame seeds, bright green chives, or a dusting of mildly spicy sweet chili powder. And here's the thing, the result is a plate that pops with color and makes everyone want to grab one. These cheese ball appetizers are always, always popular at parties. Why? Well, people can just pick them up and eat them in one bite. And the different toppings don’t just look good—they make every bite a bit surprising, with little bursts of flavor and texture. Super tasty.

Thing is, what's cool about these easy cheese appetizers is how they stand out from other snacks. In northern Italian regions, you’ll often find these tartufini at family get-togethers or as part of a big buffet. The recipe is so simple, really, that even folks who don’t cook much can put them together fast, leaving more time to actually enjoy the party.

And look, there’s something about the mix of soft, tangy cheese inside and the crisp, flavorful coating outside that works for everyone. People often serve these alongside other colorful savory truffles, so the appetizer table ends up looking like a patchwork of colors and flavors. For real, whether you want a quick idea for party appetizers or need something you can prep ahead for a holiday spread, these cheese truffles do the trick. They’re moist on the inside and crunchy on the outside, so each bite is a little surprise. You’ll spot these at Italian celebrations all year, since they fit any season and always get folks talking.

That’s the beauty of these cheese truffles—easy to make, fun to eat, and just the thing to brighten up your next get-together. Can't go wrong.

INGREDIENTS

Calories per serving

Ingredients for 50 Balls: Cow's milk ricotta cheese 0.8 cup (200 g); Grana Padano PDO cheese 1.8 oz (50 g) - (to grate); Fontina cheese 1.75 oz (50 g); Gruyere cheese 1.75 oz (50 g); Gorgonzola cheese 1.75 oz (50 g)

For Coating: Sesame seeds 2 spoonfuls; Poppy seeds 2 spoonfuls; Chives 2 spoonfuls - to chop; Green Peperoncino 2 spoonfuls - sweet

Preparation

How to prepare Four-Color Cheese Truffles

To prepare the cheese truffles: remove the rind from the cheeses that have it and cut the fontina and gruyere into pieces 1. Place them in a mixer and finely chop them for a few minutes, then add the ricotta, gorgonzola, and grated Grana Padano PDO 2, and continue to blend for another two minutes, until the mixture has a creamy and homogeneous appearance 3. Then put the obtained cream in a container with a lid and place it in the fridge for at least a couple of hours.

Prepare four small bowls, in which you will separately place the chopped chives, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, and sweet chili powder (or paprika).
After the necessary time has passed, remove the cheese mixture from the refrigerator, and with the help of a teaspoon, take enough cheese cream each time to form, with the palms of your hands, balls slightly larger than a hazelnut 4, which you will roll alternately in the 4 previously prepared bowls 5.
Place the ready truffles on a serving plate or in cute little paper cups 6.

Storage

Store the four-color cheese truffles for 2-3 days, closed in an airtight container and placed in the refrigerator.

Trivia

The four-color cheese truffles can be stored ready for several days in the refrigerator if placed in a container with a lid: you can also prepare them a few days in advance, in anticipation of a special dinner.