This holiday cheese ball recipe makes an easy and delicious appetizer! It’s perfect to take to holiday gatherings and Christmas parties.
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This is one of those go-to holiday appetizers that is a classic at Christmas time! The combination of sweet and savory flavors paired with salty crackers is always a crowd pleaser!
What is a cheese ball made of?
A cheeseball is a mixture of cream cheese, grated cheese and other seasonings. They are often rolled in a sweet or savoury coating and served with crackers.
The best cheese for creating a cheese ball is original Philadelphia cream cheese because of its rich, creamy texture. Cheese balls can be made up to a week in advance, making them awesome for party planning.
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Cheese Ball Supplies:
- Stand mixer with paddle attachment or
- Electric mixer
- Large bowl
- Small bowl
- Serving platter
- Rubber spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Plastic wrap
Christmas cheese ball recipe:
Ingredients:
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup white cheddar cheese, finely shredded
- 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
- 1/3 cup green onions, diced
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries, finely diced and divided
Directions:
1. Combine cream cheese, shredded cheese, chopped pecans, green onions and 1/4 cup cranberries in a large bowl.
2. Stir the cheese mixture until well combined.
3. Place a large piece of plastic wrap on the counter.
4. Drop the cheese ball mixture into the center of the wrap and form a ball shape.
5. Place the ball in the refrigerator for at least one hour to firm up.
6. Unwrap the cheeseball from the plastic.
7. Roll the whole cheese ball in the remaining diced cranberries until the entire thing is covered.
8. Place on a large platter and serve with your favorite crackers or sliced vegetables.
How to store:
This easy cheese ball recipe is just as good the next day, in fact, its the perfect make-ahead appetizer for the holiday season! Simply store leftovers in an airtight container for up to a week in the refrigerator.
I always love changing things up in my recipes! Try adding some of these…
Alternate ingredients:
- Soft goat cheese
- Sharp Cheddar cheese
- Pomegranate seeds
- Whole almonds
- Fresh chives
- Blue cheese
- Sour cream
What to serve with a homemade cheese ball:
- Ritz Crackers
- Tortilla chips
- Pita chips
- Celery sticks
- Pretzel twists
- Carrot sticks
I love that you only need a few simple ingredients from the grocery store. I try to keep these ones on hand, so that I’m ready for our next holiday party!
More yummy cheese balls:
- Pumpkin cheese ball recipe
- Turkey cheese ball recipe
- Holiday cheese ball recipe
- Bacon ranch cheese ball
- Halloween cheeseball
- Chocolate chip cheeseball
This makes a great addition to a holiday charcuterie board and is awesome for taking to holiday parties. It’s one of those easy appetizers that you’ll want to make over and over again!
If you love this holiday cheese ball recipe, please give it a five star review and help me share it on Facebook or Pinterest so that others can enjoy it too!
Happy Holidays friends!
Holiday Cheese Ball Recipe
This holiday cheese ball recipe makes an easy and delicious appetizer! It's perfect to take to holiday gatherings and Christmas parties.
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup white cheddar cheese, finely shredded
- 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
- 1/3 cup green onions, diced
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries, finely diced and divided
Instructions
- Combine cream cheese, shredded cheese, chopped pecans, green onions and 1/4 cup cranberries in a large bowl.
- Stir the cheese mixture until well combined.
- Place a large piece of plastic wrap on the counter.
- Drop the cheese ball mixture into the center of the wrap and form a ball shape.
- Place the ball in the refrigerator for at least one hour to firm up.
- Unwrap the cheeseball from the plastic.
- Roll the whole cheese ball in the remaining diced cranberries until the entire thing is covered.
- Place on a large platter and serve with your favorite crackers or sliced vegetables.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 254Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 190mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 2gSugar: 12gProtein: 6g
All values are approximate and based on ingredients used by the recipe writer. Always calculate your own individual nutritional values for the most accurate calculation.
