This Holiday Cheese Ball with cranberries is the perfect holiday party appetizer! Goat cheese, cream cheese, aged cheddar and cranberries create the perfect balance of tangy and sweet.
Four days. FOUR DAYS. That’s all we have until family rolls into town, gifts are exchanged and Christmas dinner is on the table. I hope that you have all your presents wrapped and placed under the tree by now because it’s time to start planning that oh so special Christmas dinner. I’m exhausted just thinking about it.
Spread it on a cracker and call it Christmas!
If your family is anything like mine, you stick with the classics on Christmas day. But how about spicing up your appetizers with this Holiday Cheese Ball? Goat cheese and aged white cheddar make it tangy and full of flavor. The cranberry sauce and cream cheese make it sweet and creamy. The rosemary warms the palate and rounds out those holiday flavors.
For the toppings I used dried cranberries, pistachios and rosemary. This Holiday Cheese Ball is a little on the sweeter side so the pistachios balance that out a bit. Some other great toppings would be pecans, additional grated cheddar or pomegranates.
Although it only takes minutes to throw together, this Holiday Cheese Ball does require quite a bit of prep time because it will need to set in the freezer for at least eight hours. Be sure to plan ahead. I recommend making it the night before so it has plenty of time to set.
Check out the recipe below and let me know if you have any questions. If you try it, post a picture on Instagram and tag me @bluecheesebungalow.
Merry Christmas!
Kelsey Renee
Holiday Cheese Ball with Cranberries
Ingredients
- 4 ounces goat cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 4 ounces aged white cheddar (grated)
- 1/3 cup cranberry sauce (whole berry)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For the topping
- ½ cup dried cranberried (finely chopped)
- ¼ cup pistachios (roughly chopped) (optional)
- 3 sprigs of fresh rosemary (finely chopped)
Instructions
- 1. Add goat cheese, cream cheese and grated cheddar cheese to medium mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer on medium-low speed, beat cheeses until they come together and no large lumps remain.
- 2. Add cranberry sauce and salt to bowl. Beat until fully combined.
- 3. Spread a 12x12 piece of plastic wrap on the counter. Pour cheese mixture directly in the center. Wrap cheese mixture up in plastic wrap doing your best to form a ball.
- 4. Place wrapped cheese ball into a small bowl to help keep its shape. Place in the freezer for 8 hours or overnight.
- 5. Remove cheese ball from freezer. Allow to sit on the counter for 30 minutes or until the outside of the ball becomes soft. You want the cheese to act as a glue to hold on the toppings.
- 6. In a shallow dish or plate, combined dried cranberries, pistachios and rosemary. Place the cheese ball on the center of the plate and roll to coat in the cranberry topping. You may need to use your hands to press the toppings onto the ball.
- 7. Once the cheese ball is fully coated, place it on a small plate and back into the freezer for at least an hour.
- 8. 30 minutes before serving, pull cheese ball from freezer.
- 9. Serve with crackers and pretzels for the perfect holiday appetizer.
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