Description
Festive holiday cheer comes alive with this classic Christmas Cheese Ball, blending creamy textures and bold flavors that dance across your palate. Guests will delight in this crowd-pleasing appetizer that promises to elevate your seasonal gathering with its irresistible charm.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 (8 ounces/226 grams) packages cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (240 milliliters/115 grams) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters/30 grams) chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters/40 grams) chopped dried cranberries
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters/25 grams) chopped green onions
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Serving:
- Crackers
Instructions
- Thoroughly blend cream cheese, cheddar cheese, green onions, pecans, dried cranberries, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in a spacious mixing bowl until ingredients are evenly distributed and create a uniform mixture.
- Carefully mold the combined ingredients into a compact spherical shape, ensuring smooth edges and consistent density.
- Encase the cheese formation completely in plastic wrap, securing it tightly to maintain shape and prevent air exposure.
- Chill the wrapped cheese ball in the refrigerator for 60-90 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and texture to solidify.
- Prior to presentation, gently roll the chilled cheese ball in a decorative exterior of finely chopped pecans, additional dried cranberries, and minced green onions to create a visually appealing and textured coating.
- Transfer the festive cheese ball to a serving platter, accompanied by an assortment of crisp crackers for guests to enjoy.
Notes
- Chill the mixture thoroughly to help the cheese ball hold its shape and develop deeper flavors, enhancing the overall texture and taste.
- Customize the coating by mixing different nuts like almonds or walnuts for added crunch and unique flavor profiles.
- Make ahead and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, allowing the ingredients to meld together and intensify the delicious taste.
- For a gluten-free option, serve with gluten-free crackers or vegetable sticks to accommodate different dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Rolling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 177 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 146 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 38 mg