Go Back

Christmas Cheese Ball with Cranberries

Christmas cheese ball with cranberries combines a creamy sharp cheddar and cream cheese center with a tart, crunchy cranberry-pecan coating. Chill it until firm, then roll it in the coating for a festive appetizer.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
chilling 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Calories: 220
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the cheese ball
  • 1 block (8 oz) cream cheese softened
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese finely shredded
  • 2 tbsp sour cream
  • 2 green onions thinly sliced
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 0.5 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.25 tsp onion powder
  • 0.25 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.125 tsp black pepper
For the coating
  • 0.75 cup dried cranberries finely chopped
  • 0.5 cup pecans finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley finely chopped

Equipment

  • 1 electric mixer

Method
 

Make the cheese ball
  1. Beat the cream cheese, cheddar, sour cream, green onions, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper until evenly combined.
  2. Scrape the mixture onto a large piece of plastic wrap.
  3. Shape the mixture into a ball and wrap tightly.
  4. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, until firm.
Make the coating and finish
  1. Mix the cranberries, pecans, and parsley on a plate.
  2. Unwrap the chilled cheese ball and roll it in the cranberry mixture, gently pressing the coating onto the surface.
  3. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

For the neatest coating, press the cranberry mixture gently over the chilled ball. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days; freezing is not recommended. For a nut-free option, replace the pecans with pumpkin seeds.