Description
This Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball is a delightful appetizer combining creamy cheeses with the sweet tartness of dried cranberries and crunchy toasted pecans. Perfect for holiday gatherings or any party, it’s easy to prepare and pairs excellently with crackers, pita chips, or fresh vegetables.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Ball
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup white sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ cup dried cranberries, chopped
- ½ cup toasted pecans, chopped
- ¼ cup chives or green onions, chopped
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Coating
- ½ cup dried cranberries, chopped
- ½ cup pecans, toasted and chopped
- 2 tablespoons chives, chopped
Instructions
- Toast Pecans: Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread chopped pecans on a baking tray evenly and bake for 5 minutes until they become aromatic and slightly toasted. Remove from oven and let them cool.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, shredded white sharp cheddar, half of the toasted pecans, half of the dried cranberries, chopped chives or green onions, and garlic powder. Beat everything together until the mixture is well blended and smooth.
- Form Cheese Ball: Place the cheese mixture in the center of a sheet of plastic wrap or parchment paper. Using the wrap, shape the mixture into a tight ball and cover completely. Refrigerate until firm and ready to serve.
- Prepare Coating: On a flat surface or cutting board, mix the remaining dried cranberries, toasted pecans, and chopped chives to create the crunchy and flavorful coating for the cheese ball.
- Coat Cheese Ball: Unwrap the chilled cheese ball and roll it in the cranberry, pecan, and chive mixture, pressing gently to ensure it sticks evenly all around.
- Serve: Place the finished cheese ball on a serving dish and offer with crackers, pita chips, pretzels, carrot sticks, or celery sticks for dipping.
Notes
- For best flavor, toast the pecans just before assembling the cheese ball to maintain crunchiness.
- If chives or green onions are not available, finely chopped scallions can be used as a substitute.
- The cheese ball can be prepared a day in advance and refrigerated to allow flavors to meld and for easier shaping.
- For a vegan version, substitute cream cheese and cheddar cheese with plant-based cheese alternatives.
- Use plastic wrap or parchment paper to easily form and handle the cheese ball without sticking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
