Description
Cranberry pecan cheese ball mingles festive flavors from classic holiday appetizers. Creamy cheese, tart cranberries, and crunchy pecans blend perfectly for elegant party snacking. Guests will savor this irresistible starter.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (100 g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ cup (60 g) dried cranberries, chopped
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ¼ cup (30 g) pecans, chopped
- ½ cup pecans, chopped (for coating)
- ½ tsp dried thyme or rosemary (optional)
- Crackers, fresh vegetables, or bread slices (for serving)
Instructions
- Preparation: Allow cream cheese to soften at room temperature for seamless blending and optimal texture.
- Mixing: In a large bowl, blend cream cheese, cheddar, cranberries, pecans, honey, garlic powder, and thyme until ingredients are thoroughly incorporated and create a uniform mixture.
- Shaping: Use plastic wrap to form the mixture into a compact, spherical shape, ensuring smooth edges and consistent density.
- Chilling: Refrigerate the proto cheese ball for one hour to firm up and enhance flavor melding, allowing ingredients to harmonize.
- Coating: Spread remaining pecans on a flat surface, optionally adding extra cranberry pieces for visual and textural complexity.
- Finishing: Remove cheese ball from refrigeration, unwrap carefully, and roll gently in the pecan mixture, ensuring even coverage and complete adherence.
- Presentation: Transfer the coated cheese ball to a serving platter, artfully arranging crackers, vegetable crudités, or bread slices around the perimeter for an elegant display.
- Serving: Present immediately or briefly store in a cool environment to maintain structural integrity and flavor profile until ready to enjoy.
Notes
- Soften Cream Cheese Properly: Let cream cheese sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes to ensure smooth, lump-free blending without over-warming.
- Balance Flavor Intensity: Adjust garlic powder and thyme quantities based on personal taste preferences, starting with smaller amounts and gradually increasing.
- Perfect Coating Technique: Roll cheese ball gently but firmly in pecan mixture, rotating consistently to create an even, attractive exterior that fully covers the surface.
- Make Ahead and Store Wisely: Prepare cheese ball up to 2 days in advance, tightly wrapped in plastic, to allow flavors to meld and save preparation time before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 214
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 238 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 32 mg