Quick Cranberry-Pecan Cheese Ball (Printable Version)
Sweet-tart cheese ball with cranberries and pecans, ready in 40 minutes. Great for holidays or parties.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Cheese Mixture
01 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
02 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
03 - 1/4 cup dried cranberries
04 - 1/4 cup chopped pecans
05 - 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
→ Coating
06 - 2 tablespoons dried cranberries
07 - 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
# Step-by-Step Guide:
01 - In a mixing bowl, blend cream cheese, shredded cheddar, dried cranberries, chopped pecans, and green onions until thoroughly incorporated.
02 - Shape the mixture into a ball, then roll evenly in dried cranberries and chopped pecans for coating.
03 - Wrap the cheese ball securely in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
04 - Unwrap and present with crackers or fresh vegetable sticks.
# Additional Tips::
01 -
- Ready in under forty minutes with ten minutes of hands-on time
- No baking required perfect for easy entertaining
- Uses just a handful of common ingredients
- Vegetarian and can be made gluten-free with simple swaps
02 -
- High in protein and healthy fats
- Adaptable for holidays with different nuts or dried fruits
- Stays fresh in the fridge up to three days if well wrapped
03 -
- Soften the cream cheese fully before mixing or lumps are likely
- Chop cranberries if they are bulky so the ball shapes smoothly
- Taste and season before chilling sometimes the cheddar needs a bit more salt for best flavor
- Always roll in fresh topping right before serving for best presentation