Here’s a festive, creamy, and easy Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball—perfect for holiday parties or appetizers.
🧀 Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball
Servings: 12–16
Prep Time: 15 minutes (+ chilling time: 1–2 hours)
🧂 Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup dried cranberries, chopped
- ½ cup chopped pecans, plus extra for coating
- 2–3 green onions, finely chopped (optional)
- 1 tsp garlic powder (optional)
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Crackers, sliced baguette, or celery sticks for serving
🔪 Instructions
1. Mix the Cheese Ball
- In a medium bowl, combine:
- Cream cheese
- Shredded cheddar
- Chopped cranberries
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- Optional: green onions, garlic powder, salt, and pepper
- Stir until well combined.
2. Shape
- Using hands or a spatula, form the mixture into a ball.
- Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour to firm up.
3. Coat
- Spread extra chopped pecans on a plate.
- Roll the chilled cheese ball in pecans until fully coated.
4. Serve
- Place on a serving platter.
- Serve with crackers, baguette slices, or fresh vegetables.
🌟 Tips & Variations
- Sweet & savory: add a drizzle of honey over the top before serving.
- Extra flavor: fold in 1–2 tsp finely chopped fresh rosemary or thyme.
- Nut-free: use finely crushed pretzels or toasted coconut instead of pecans.
- Make-ahead: cheese ball can be made a day in advance; keep wrapped in the fridge.
I can also give you a mini cheese ball version for individual servings, a cranberry-orange version, or a double cheese version with goat cheese if you want.
Do you want one of those versions?
