The perfect appetizer for your next holiday get-together!
Our Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball is the ultimate holiday appetizer that’s as festive as it is easy to make! With a creamy base and a crunchy, sweet coating of cranberries and pecans, it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
The prep is quick and easy—just be sure to let the cream cheese soften to room temperature and allow enough time for the cheese ball to firm up so it can be beautifully rolled in the cranberry-pecan mixture.
Serve it with crackers or crostinis for the perfect appetizer at your next holiday gathering!
Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball
Servings 8
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup crumbled Stilton blue cheese
- ½ cup dried cranberries, chopped, divided
- ½ cup pecans, finely chopped, divided
- ¼ cup green onions, sliced
- 2 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
For serving
- Flatbread or crostinis
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, add the room-temperature cream cheese. If you have a hand mixer, give it a quick blend to make the cream cheese smooth. If you do not have a hand mixer, stir the cream cheese well with a wooden spoon. Add the shredded cheddar cheese and crumbled blue cheese. Mix with a hand mixer or blend well with a wooden spoon.
- Add 1/3 cup chopped dried cranberries and 1/3 cup pecans (reserving the extra to roll the cheese ball in later).
- Add the sliced green onions, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well until all ingredients are evenly mixed.
- On a large piece of plastic wrap (approx. 10”x12”), place the cheese mixture in the center and bring the corners toward the center of the cheese ball, making the plastic tight. Using your hands over the plastic wrap, shape the cheese into a ball and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to firm up.
- Add the remaining chopped cranberries and pecans to the center of a plate and flatten out. Unwrap the chilled cheese ball from the plastic wrap, place the top of the cheese ball on top of the cranberry-pecan mixture, and gently press; roll the cheese ball onto its side and repeat so the cranberry-pecan mixture is on the top and sides of the cheese ball.
- Serve with a platter of crackers or fresh vegetable sticks for dipping.
Enjoy!
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Photos by Lorianne DeVita
