Cranberry pecan cheese ball
Cranberry Cheese Ball
If you’re looking for a quick appetizer for the holidays, or something to nibble on while dinner’s cooking, this might be it. We’ll be enjoying it with a delicious array of goodies on Christmas Eve at my parents’ house.
I don’t know where this recipe comes from, but I clipped it from a magazine ages ago and it’s been in my recipe binder ever since. It comes together in a snap, and is light and tasty served with some good buttery crackers. I think it’s pretty rolled up into a ball, but you could skip that part and serve it from a bowl instead. Truthfully, I’d enjoy it on a bagel too, and I just may do that if there’s any left by Christmas morning.
Hoping you all have a lovely weekend. Merry Christmas!
Recipe: Cranberry Cheese Ball
1 8-oz. package of cream cheese
2 Tbsp. concentrated orange juice (slightly thawed)
1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp. granulated sugar
zest of one orange (or 2 Tbsp. dried orange zest)
1/4 c. finely chopped pecans + more to finely ground for covering cheeseball
1/4 c. finely chopped dried cranberries
crackers for serving
In the bowl of your mixer, combine cream cheese, orange juice concentrate, cinnamon, and sugar until smooth and creamy. Fold in orange zest, pecans, and cranberries. Spoon mixture into the center of a piece of plastic wrap and mold into a ball. Set aside. In a food processor, finely grind a handful of pecans. Transfer to a plate or bowl. Unwrap cheese ball and roll in ground pecans until coated. Chill until ready to serve.
Oh yum!!!! I’m going to make this with walnuts instead of cranberries for New Year’s eve.
I love these! What a great Christmas day treat to enjoy!!
To be totally honest, I’ve always been a little weirded out by cheese balls haha. But with the nuts and cranberries this one actually sounds really good. And great for holiday parties, of course. Thanks for sharing it, Michelle!
I’ve never had a sweet cheeseball and it’s about time I changed that. Looks incredible.
Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas Michelle!
Fabulous snacky recipe – thank you.
May your Christmas be filled with love and laughter.
:-) Mandy
Thanks for this – looks like a perfect snack for Christmas.
unique and tasty ball o’ cheese! the sweeter, the better, i say. :)
This looks great, we have to have a cheese ball at the holidays too!
Forget the crackers, give me a spoon. I love big cheeseballs. This looks and sounds great. I love the cranberries in it!
On a bagel sounds delicious! I love quick and easy foods.
Xiaolu – This cracked me up. You’re weirded out by cheeseballs? LOL I actually have never made one before, but it was tasty enough that my brother-in-law wanted to sit and eat it with a spoon. :)
~ Michelle
This is TOTALLY up my alley. I could eat cream cheese-based dips every day of the week and twice on Sundays.
Also, I just wanted to tell you that I take comfort in the fact that, while I have hardly had time to make any Christmas treats, you seem to have made enough for all of us! ;)
I agree with Farmer Gal, you have made quite a large amount of food just for Christmas! =0)
Keep up the wonderful work. :)
OMG – wish I had seen this sooner. This looks great. I love cranberries and cheese too!
Happy New Year!
This looks really really great. Cranberries and pecans (and of course cheese) make a great combo, and I think this would be delicious on a bagel. Even though the holidays are over, I think I might give this one a shot. Better late than never, right?!