Bacon Cheese Ring
Bacon Cheese Ring
Ingredients
For the Cheese Ring
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 tablespoon bacon fat, reserved from cooking bacon
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 bundle green onions, chopped
- 16 ounces mild cheddar cheese, shredded
- 16 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
For the Topping
- 1 pound bacon
- 2 cups pecans, chopped
For Serving
- strawberry jam, as needed, or fig jam/hot pepper jelly
- Wheat Thins crackers, as needed, or similar crackers
Instructions
- 1
Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat until crispy. Drain the bacon on paper towels, reserving 1 tablespoon of the rendered bacon fat. Once cooled, finely chop about 1/4 of the bacon for the cheese dip and coarsely chop the remaining 3/4 for the topping.
⏱️ 15 min
- 2
Chop the entire bundle of green onions. Set aside about 1/4 of the green parts for the topping, and use the remaining green and white parts for the cheese dip mixture.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Chop the pecans to a medium consistency.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add the reserved 1 tablespoon of bacon fat and mix well.
⏱️ 5 min
- 5
Add the mayonnaise, sour cream, finely chopped bacon (from Step 1), the majority of the chopped green onions (from Step 2), shredded mild cheddar cheese, and shredded mozzarella cheese to the bowl.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Season the mixture with 1/2 teaspoon each of salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Mix all ingredients thoroughly until well combined.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Line a bundt cake pan (or any mold of your choice) with plastic wrap, ensuring enough overhang to cover the top of the dip later.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
In a separate bowl, combine the coarsely chopped bacon (from Step 1), chopped pecans (from Step 3), and the reserved chopped green onions (green parts from Step 2). This mixture will form the exterior topping when unmolded.
⏱️ 3 min
- 9
Press the combined topping mixture evenly into the bottom of the plastic-lined bundt pan.
⏱️ 2 min
- 10
Spoon the prepared cheese dip mixture on top of the topping layer in the bundt pan, spreading it out evenly and pressing it down gently to remove any air pockets.
⏱️ 3 min
- 11
Fold the overhanging plastic wrap over the cheese dip to cover it completely. Refrigerate the molded dip for at least 6 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow it to set and for the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 360 min
- 12
When ready to serve, place a serving platter over the bundt pan and invert it to unmold the cheese ring. Carefully remove the plastic wrap.
⏱️ 2 min
- 13
Fill the center of the cheese ring with strawberry jam, fig jam, or hot pepper jelly.
⏱️ 1 min
- 14
Arrange Wheat Thins crackers or similar crackers around the bacon cheese ring for dipping.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Bacon Cheese Ring
Ingredients
For the Cheese Ring
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 tablespoon bacon fat, reserved from cooking bacon
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 bundle green onions, chopped
- 16 ounces mild cheddar cheese, shredded
- 16 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
For the Topping
- 1 pound bacon
- 2 cups pecans, chopped
For Serving
- strawberry jam, as needed, or fig jam/hot pepper jelly
- Wheat Thins crackers, as needed, or similar crackers
Instructions
- 1
Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat until crispy. Drain the bacon on paper towels, reserving 1 tablespoon of the rendered bacon fat. Once cooled, finely chop about 1/4 of the bacon for the cheese dip and coarsely chop the remaining 3/4 for the topping.
⏱️ 15 min - 2
Chop the entire bundle of green onions. Set aside about 1/4 of the green parts for the topping, and use the remaining green and white parts for the cheese dip mixture.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Chop the pecans to a medium consistency.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add the reserved 1 tablespoon of bacon fat and mix well.
⏱️ 5 min - 5
Add the mayonnaise, sour cream, finely chopped bacon (from Step 1), the majority of the chopped green onions (from Step 2), shredded mild cheddar cheese, and shredded mozzarella cheese to the bowl.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Season the mixture with 1/2 teaspoon each of salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Mix all ingredients thoroughly until well combined.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Line a bundt cake pan (or any mold of your choice) with plastic wrap, ensuring enough overhang to cover the top of the dip later.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
In a separate bowl, combine the coarsely chopped bacon (from Step 1), chopped pecans (from Step 3), and the reserved chopped green onions (green parts from Step 2). This mixture will form the exterior topping when unmolded.
⏱️ 3 min - 9
Press the combined topping mixture evenly into the bottom of the plastic-lined bundt pan.
⏱️ 2 min - 10
Spoon the prepared cheese dip mixture on top of the topping layer in the bundt pan, spreading it out evenly and pressing it down gently to remove any air pockets.
⏱️ 3 min - 11
Fold the overhanging plastic wrap over the cheese dip to cover it completely. Refrigerate the molded dip for at least 6 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow it to set and for the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 360 min - 12
When ready to serve, place a serving platter over the bundt pan and invert it to unmold the cheese ring. Carefully remove the plastic wrap.
⏱️ 2 min - 13
Fill the center of the cheese ring with strawberry jam, fig jam, or hot pepper jelly.
⏱️ 1 min - 14
Arrange Wheat Thins crackers or similar crackers around the bacon cheese ring for dipping.
⏱️ 1 min