Description
This Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball is a festive and flavorful appetizer perfect for gatherings. Cream cheese and sharp cheddar form a creamy base, enhanced with garlic powder and chives, then rolled in a tart and crunchy mixture of dried cranberries and toasted pecans. Serve with your favorite crackers or veggies for a delightful party treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Ball Mixture
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup white sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ cup dried cranberries, chopped
- ½ cup Fisher’s Nuts pecans, chopped and toasted
- ¼ cup chives or green onions, chopped
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Coating
- ½ cup dried cranberries, chopped
- ½ cup Fisher’s Nuts pecans, chopped and toasted
- 2 tablespoons chives, chopped
Instructions
- Toast Pecans: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread chopped pecans evenly on a baking tray and bake for 5 minutes until they become aromatic. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
- Mix Cheese Base: In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, shredded sharp cheddar, half of the toasted pecans, half of the dried cranberries, chopped chives or green onions, and garlic powder. Beat all ingredients until fully blended and smooth.
- Shape Cheese Ball: Place the mixture onto the center of a large piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper. Use the wrap to form the mixture into a ball shape by covering and shaping tightly. Refrigerate the cheese ball until ready to serve to allow it to firm up.
- Prepare Coating: On a flat surface or cutting board, mix together the remaining dried cranberries, toasted pecans, and chives. These will be used to coat the cheese ball.
- Coat Cheese Ball: Remove the cheese ball from the fridge, unwrap it carefully, and roll it evenly through the cranberry-pecan-chive mixture so it is fully coated.
- Serve: Place the coated cheese ball on a serving plate. Serve chilled alongside crackers, pita chips, pretzels, carrot sticks, or celery for a perfect party appetizer.
Notes
- To toast pecans evenly, stir them halfway through the baking time.
- If you prefer a nuttier flavor, use smoked or spiced pecans instead of plain.
- The cheese ball can be made a day ahead; keep it wrapped and refrigerated until rolling and serving.
- For a milder onion flavor, use green onions instead of chives.
- To make this recipe dairy-free or vegan, substitute cream cheese and cheddar with plant-based alternatives.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/6 of cheese ball)
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
