Description
This Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball is a perfect balance of sweet and savory, with creamy cream cheese, sharp cheddar, and the delightful crunch of pecans and dried cranberries. It’s a great appetizer for holiday gatherings, parties, or any festive occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
For Coating:
- 1/2 cup additional chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup additional chopped dried cranberries
Instructions
- Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, blend the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, cranberries, pecans, honey, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper until fully combined.
- Form Cheese Ball: Shape the mixture into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to firm up.
- Prepare Coating: In a small bowl, mix the additional chopped pecans and cranberries.
- Coat Cheese Ball: Unwrap the chilled cheese ball and roll it in the pecan-cranberry mixture, pressing gently to ensure it’s coated evenly.
- Serve or Store: Serve immediately with your favorite crackers or refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- Crackers and Veggies: Serve with a mix of crackers, pretzels, celery sticks, or bell pepper slices for a variety of textures and flavors.
- Festive Garnishes: Garnish the cheese ball platter with fresh rosemary sprigs, whole cranberries, or sliced apples for a beautiful holiday look.
- Mini Cheese Balls: For a fun twist, divide the mixture into smaller balls before chilling, and coat each individually—great for portioned, bite-sized appetizers.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/12 of cheese ball
- Calories: 200kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 40mg