Alright, my little spud fiends, let’s talk about these crispy golden bites of joy: cheese-stuffed hash brown balls. This is comfort food with a cheeky twist, where crispy hash browns on the outside meet a molten cheese surprise in the middle. We’re not just talking about any old cheese here either—this recipe is a full-on cheese fest with oozy mozzarella, creamy brie, and even a festive pop of cranberry sauce. It’s indulgence, it’s satisfaction, it’s everything you could want in a bite-sized snack. Whether you’re whipping these up for a holiday party, movie night, or just a cheeky midweek treat, they’re guaranteed to impress.

Mastering the hash brown

Now, let’s get real for a moment. Hash browns? They’re not always the easiest thing to master. They’re one of those deceptively simple foods that can easily turn soggy or fall apart on you if you’re not careful. Trust me, I’ve been there. Over the years, I’ve tried, tested, tweaked, and probably eaten my body weight in hash browns to get this recipe just right. The secret? A mix of one-third mashed potato and two-thirds cubed cooked potato. This balance gives you that perfect hash brown texture—fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside—with just the right amount of structure to hold its shape. It’s potato science at its finest, my friends.

Now make them festive…

But let’s not stop there. The real star of the show is, of course, the cheesy filling. The mozzarella brings the stretch (because who doesn’t love a cheese pull?), while the brie adds a creamy, luxurious richness. And then there’s the cranberry sauce. A little dollop of that tangy-sweet magic on the top transforms these hash brown balls from a delicious snack into something truly special. It’s a festive nod that gives you all the holiday vibes without going full Christmas dinner. Honestly, it’s genius.

And while these are undeniably impressive, they’re also surprisingly fun and easy to make. Yes, there’s a bit of hands-on work involved—shaping the balls, stuffing the cheese, making sure everything’s sealed tight—but it’s the kind of kitchen project that’s as satisfying as it is delicious. Plus, you’ll feel like a total kitchen boss when you serve these up and watch everyone’s faces light up as they bite into that crispy, cheesy perfection.

One of the things I love most about these hash brown balls is how versatile they are. Fancy them for breakfast? Pair them with a poached egg and some smoky bacon. Want to serve them as party food? Pop them onto a platter with a variety of dips—sour cream, garlic aioli, maybe even a spicy sriracha mayo. Need a late-night snack? Well, you don’t need me to tell you these are absolute perfection straight out of the fryer, preferably while wearing your PJs and watching Netflix.

Oh, and let’s not forget about the deep-frying. I know frying can seem a bit intimidating if you’re not used to it, but trust me, it’s worth it. These hash brown balls come out golden, crispy, and utterly irresistible. If you’re feeling fancy, you could even sprinkle a little flaky salt or grated Parmesan over the top as soon as they come out of the oil for an extra hit of flavor. Honestly, just writing about it is making me hungry.

So, whether you’re a hash brown lover looking to level up your game or a cheese enthusiast on a quest for your next cheesy fix, these cheese-stuffed hash brown balls are calling your name. Get your spuds ready, heat up that oil, and prepare to wow your taste buds. These little bites of joy are about to become your new obsession—and I, for one, am fully on board with that. Spud life forever!

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Festive cheese-stuffed hash brown balls

Festive cheese-stuffed hash brown balls

By Poppy Cooks

https://www.poppycooks.com/recipes/brie-and-mozzarella-stuffed-hash-browns/

Prep Time: 45 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 1 hr
Serves Makes 8

Ingredients

Metric Imperial

    Metric

  • 550g Maris Piper potatoes, peeled and halved
  • 1 brown onion, peeled and finely diced
  • 2 tbsp cornflour
  • 75g low moisture block pizza mozzarella, cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 75g brie, rind removed, cut into 1 inch cubes
  • Cranberry sauce, to dip
  • Chives, chopped, to sprinkle
  • Salt and pepper, plus vegetable oil to deep fry
  • Imperial

  • 1.2lbs Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and halved
  • 1 brown onion, peeled and finely diced
  • 2 tbsp cornflour
  • 2.5 oz low moisture block pizza mozzarella, cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 2.5oz brie, rind removed, cut into 1 inch cubes
  • Cranberry sauce, to dip
  • Chives, chopped, to sprinkle
  • Salt and pepper, plus vegetable oil to deep fry

Instructions

  1. Chuck all of your halved potatoes into a pot of heavily salted cold water. Pop onto the heat and bring to a boil, then turn the heat down slightly and cook for 20 minutes until tender but not falling apart.
  2. Drain the potatoes into a colander and place back over the pan you cooked them in. Cover with a clean tea towel and place back over the turned off hob ring to dry for a few minutes in the residual heat.
  3. Divide the potatoes into 2/3rds and 1/3rd. Dice the 2/3rds of potato into small cubes and mash the remaining 1/3rd in a bowl. Mix together the diced and mashed potato carefully and stir through the cornflour and a large pinch of salt and pepper.
  4. Weigh out each individual hash brown ball to 70g/2.5oz each, then flatten out into large circles. Pop a cube of mozzarella or brie into each one (you should get 4 of each) and roll into balls. Place on a parchment lined baking tray and refrigerate overnight.
  5. When you're ready to go, preheat the oven to 200ºc fan/220ºc/420ºf. Heat a deep fat fryer or large pan of oil to 180ºc/350ºf, then deep fry your hash brown balls in batches until golden all over. Drain on kitchen paper then transfer to an oven tray.
  6. Bake in the oven for 5 minutes so the cheesy middles are super oozy, then give a healthy sprinkling of salt and top with chives and cranberry sauce.

1 Comment

  1. Andrea on December 10, 2024 at 8:59 pm

    Can you do a recipe for cranberry sauce

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