Christmas Cheese Ball
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This “ultimate” Christmas Cheese Ball recipe features bacon, dried cranberries, blue cheese, Cheddar cheese, green onions, and pecans. It showcases the traditional Christmas colors all wrapped up in one incredibly delicious cheese ball that’s guaranteed to be a hit at your next get-together! Savory, sweet, salty and PACKED with FLAVOR, it’s simply irresistible!
The cheese ball needs to make a comeback. But not as a repetition of history. No, the cheese balls of yesteryear deservedly earned a bad rap. You know the ones: A mass of sticky artificial orange industrial goo (ie, Velveeta) squished into a ball, rolled in some nuts and served with crackers. By the time this round object masquerading as cheese had been sitting at room temperature for 37 minutes it became so unappetizing in appearance that the party guests began drifting further and further away from the table. Yes, that’s the one. That cheese ball needs to make a permanent exit.
Fortunately in recent years cream cheese has taken the place of the unidentifiable orange stuff. Its tangy, neutral flavor is the perfect base for any number of fun flavor combinations.
I think I’ve only ever made a grand total of four cheese balls in my life. But this Christmas Cheese Ball recipe that I developed several years ago led me to an irrevocable decision: Cheese balls need to make a regular appearance in my home. They’re just too good not to.
What is in the ULTIMATE Christmas Cheese Ball?
This Christmas Cheese Ball features the Christmas colors of red, white and green in the form of smoky bacon, sweet dried cranberries, cream cheese and green onions and those flavors are given an additional massive flavor boost with the inclusion of Cheddar cheese, blue cheese, and pecans. PACKED with flavor, it is a real feast for the palate!
At the time I developed this recipe our daughter was only 3 years old and she loved it then and still loves it today. Now, 7 years later, she still requests this. It’s become a favorite in our home.
Super easy to make, you can shape this into a cheese ball or into a log or any design you heart desires. Either way, it’s going to be a hit! For best results just be sure to let the cheese ball sit in the fridge for at least a few hours so the flavor have time to meld.
Christmas Cheese Ball Recipe
Let’s get started!
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl.
Stir or knead together until thoroughly combined.
Shape into a ball (or log if preferred) and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least an hour or up to 2 days.
Toss the outer layer ingredients to combine and spread them out on a plate. Roll the ball in them to even coat the outer layer.
Serve immediately or wrap it again in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge until ready to use.
Serve with crackers and enjoy!
For more delicious spreads and dips be sure to try our:
- Black Olive Tapenade
- Neiman Marcus Dip
- Pimento Cheese
- Indian Red Lentil Dip
- Black Olive Tapenade
- Smoked Salmon Spread
- Queso Fundido
- Chicken Liver Pate
- French Onion Dip Mix
- Obatzda
- Hummus
- Baba Ganoush
- Peach Bacon Jam
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Christmas Cheese Ball
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese , softened at room temperature
- 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
- 4 strips thick-cut bacon , cooked and crumbled
- 2 green onions , sliced
- 3 tablespoons chopped pecans
- 3 tablespoons chopped dried cranberries
- For the outer layer:
- 2 green onions , sliced
- 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
- 2 tablespoons chopped dried cranberries
- 2 tablespoons crumbled bacon
- crackers of choice for serving
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in a bowl and stir or knead together until thoroughly combined. Form the mass into a ball or log (whichever shape desired) and wrap it in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least one hour or up to 2 days.
- Toss the outer layer ingredients together to combine and spread them out on a plate. Roll the cheese ball in them to evenly coat the surface. Serve immediately or wrap in plastic wrap and store in the fridge until ready to use. Serve with crackers.
Nutrition
Originally published on The Daring Gourmet December 22, 2015
Hi, I’m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!
I DO NOT want to be in the grocery store on Christmas Eve Day. Can I substitute Feta for the blue cheese?
I can’t blame you, Wanda! Yes, you can use feta, it just won’t have as strong, or the same, flavor.
What are the outer layer ingredients— or how much do you set aside for rolling on the outside?
Hi B, if you scroll to the bottom of the post you’ll find the recipe box and in the list of ingredients it says “for the outer layer” and will tell you what you need and how much.
I have to confess that I’ve never made or had a cheeseball. And they weren’t a staple of the parties of my childhood. But this one is super tempting with those festive colors and tasty flavors!
Seriously that looks like a CHristmas ornament!! Love it. I think I need to make a cheese ball! And we LOVE Food Should Taste Good crackers, too!!
Wowie! I just love this cheese ball — one of the prettiest I’ve seen. Great ingredients, too. I need to bring more cheese balls into my life, too! Thank you!
I love how Christmas-y this looks! And it sounds delicious. We always had cheddar beer cheeseballs–also delicious but a different animal completely. I want to try this one. And don’t you love when the kids love something you made like that?
This looks so good, I’d skip the crackers! Beautiful appetizer for serving at parties this time of year.
What a great use of cranberries! I love a good cheese ball! Will definitely make this soon!