Description
Creamy cheese melts with tangy cranberries and crunchy pecans in this irresistible Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball. Perfect for holiday gatherings or casual entertaining, you’ll love its rich flavors and elegant presentation.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Cheeses:
- 16 ounces (454 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Dried Fruits and Nuts:
- 1/4 cup chopped dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
Coating:
- 1/2 cup additional chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup additional chopped dried cranberries
Instructions
- Combine softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar, finely chopped cranberries, and crushed pecans in a spacious mixing bowl, blending thoroughly with honey, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper until ingredients are uniformly distributed.
- Gently mold the creamy mixture into a compact spherical shape, maintaining consistent density throughout.
- Envelop the cheese formation tightly with plastic wrap, ensuring no air pockets remain.
- Refrigerate for minimum 60 minutes at 40°F, allowing flavors to meld and texture to solidify.
- Meanwhile, prepare exterior coating by separately chopping additional pecans and cranberries into fine, uniform pieces.
- Remove chilled cheese ball from refrigerator and carefully unwrap.
- Roll the cheese sphere methodically through the prepared pecan-cranberry mixture, applying gentle pressure to create an even, adherent exterior coating.
- Transfer to a decorative serving plate, surrounding with an assortment of crisp crackers for elegant presentation.
- Serve chilled or store refrigerated until guests arrive, maintaining optimal flavor and consistency.
Notes
- Soften cream cheese at room temperature for smoother mixing and easier blending of ingredients.
- Toast pecans beforehand to enhance their nutty flavor and add a delightful crunch to the cheese ball.
- Use dried cranberries instead of fresh ones for better texture and longer shelf life.
- Customize the cheese ball by swapping cheeses or adding herbs like rosemary or thyme for extra depth of flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Rolling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 181 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 157 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 1.2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 39 mg