Crispy Cheese Ball Bites with Maple Bacon Dip

Ingredients

For the Cheese Ball Bites

• 2 each x 250gm brick cream cheese
• 1 ½ Tbsp everything bagel seasoning
• 1 ½ Tbsp dry parsley flakes
• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• ½ tsp fresh ground pepper
• 4 large eggs + 2 Tbsp water, beaten
• 1 ½ cups white or panko breadcrumbs
• 2 Tbsp rice flour

For the Maple Bacon Dip

• ¾ cup sour cream
• ¾ cup whipped cream cheese
• ½ tsp dry dill weed
• ½ tsp dry parsley flakes
• ½ tsp dry chives
• ½ tsp granulated garlic
• ½ tsp granulated onion
• ¼ tsp kosher salt
• ½ tsp fresh ground pepper
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 2 strips of cooked bacon chopped
• 4 tbsp maple syrup

Directions

1. Take the cream cheese blocks out of the fridge, and leave them on the counter for about an hour to soften slightly.
2. In a medium sized bowl, add the cream cheese, everything bagel seasoning and dry parsley flakes.  Mix thoroughly together.
3. Using a soup spoon, or a 1oz. scoop, form the cream cheese mixture into 1-inch balls and place on a parchment lined pan or dish.  Put the cheese balls into the fridge for about 1-1 ½ hours to firm up.
4. Gather three small bowls for your breading station.
5. In the first bowl, combine all-purpose flour, salt and pepper
6. In the second bowl beat together the eggs and water
7. In the third bowl mix the breadcrumbs and rice flour
8. One by one, bread the cheese balls.  First in the flour, then the egg mixture, then the breadcrumbs; making sure each cheese ball is well coated.
9. Return each breaded cheese ball to a clean, parchment lined pan or dish.  After you have breaded all the cheese balls, place them in the freezer for about two hours before frying.
10. Thoroughly combine all the dip ingredients in a bowl.  Keep covered in the fridge for up to a week.
11. Set your air fryer to 350˚F and fry the cheese balls (in batches) for about 6 to 8 minutes, or until golden and crispy.  Serve with the dip.