Olive Cheese Balls

Step 1

Drain liquid from olives and place on paper towel to dry. Make sure they are very dry before wrapping with the pastry.

Step 2

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup flour, paprika, salt and cayenne. Set aside.

Step 3

Using an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter until creamy. Beat in the cheese until well blended.

Step 4

Blend in the flour mixture just until combined. Mix in additional flour as needed. The dough should be crumbly and fairly dry, but hold together when pinched. (If it’s too wet, it will spread when baked.)

Step 5

Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes.

Step 6

Pinch off a piece of dough around the size of a walnut half; flatten into a thin, oval shape and wrap around an olive, enclosing it completely. Make sure the dough is tight around the olive.

Step 7

Place on a cookie sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough and olives. Refrigerate olives until very cold – at least 1 hour, up to overnight.

Step 8

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Step 9

Place refrigerated (cold) cheese olives on prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until dough is set and they are lightly browned. Cool for a few minutes, then serve.