Description
This Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball is a delightful and festive appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings or any party. Creamy cream cheese and sharp white cheddar combine with sweet dried cranberries and crunchy pecans, all wrapped in a mix of fresh chives and nuts for an irresistible flavor and texture. Serve chilled with crackers for an easy yet elegant starter your guests will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Ball Base
- 2 blocks (8 ounces each) cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup (113 g) white cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ cup (65 g) dried cranberries, roughly chopped
- ½ cup (54.5 g) pecans, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped
Coating
- ½ cup (65 g) dried cranberries, roughly chopped
- ½ cup (54.5 g) pecans, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped
For Serving
- Crackers
Instructions
- Mix the Cheese Base: In a large bowl, use a hand mixer on medium speed to beat the cream cheese, white cheddar cheese, ½ cup of dried cranberries, ½ cup of pecans, and 1 tablespoon of fresh chives until well combined and creamy.
- Form the Cheese Ball: Scrape down the sides of the bowl to gather all ingredients to the center. Prepare a 10×10-inch piece of plastic wrap. Grease your hands lightly and shape the mixture into a ball. Place it onto the plastic wrap and bring the edges together to seal the ball. Chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour to firm up.
- Prepare the Coating: On a plate, mix together the remaining dried cranberries, pecans, and fresh chives evenly. After chilling, remove the cheese ball from the fridge and unwrap the plastic.
- Coat the Cheese Ball: Roll the cheese ball gently but firmly in the cranberry, pecan, and chive mixture so it’s evenly coated on all sides. Press the coating lightly to help it adhere.
- Rest Before Serving: Let the coated cheese ball sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes to soften slightly, enhancing the flavors and texture.
- Serve: Present the cheese ball on a serving platter alongside crackers for a crowd-pleasing appetizer.
Notes
- This recipe yields about 16 servings, enough to feed roughly 8 adults.
- You can easily halve the ingredients if making a smaller quantity.
- Allowing the cheese ball to come to room temperature before serving improves flavor and spreadability.
- Store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tablespoon (approx. 20 g)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
