Looking for a quick and festive holiday appetizer to keep your guests munching before the main event? This cranberry pecan cheese ball recipe is the perfect solution with it's creamy, slightly sweet and tangy flavors that pair perfectly with crunchy crackers or makes an amazing centerpiece for a holiday charcuterie board. While this pecan cheeseball looks impressive, it is surprisingly easy to make.
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Some of our favorite appetizers are goat cheese stuffed peppadews and blue cheese stuffed dates. These elegant hors d’oeuvres are perfect for cocktail hour with wine or champagne.
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Why You'll Love This Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball!
This cheeseball isn't just another appetizer; it's flavorful, festive, and definitely perfect for sharing at potlucks, gatherings, and other holiday get-togethers. The combination of pecans and cranberries has a balanced, savory, and sweet flavor that makes people ask for the recipe, making it both addictively tasty and satisfying. It's a perfect make-ahead dish, making the gathering stress-free and more fun!
- Festive flavor combination - The xix of cranberries and pecans is perfect for the holiday season, adding a beautiful crunch to the cheese ball.
- Crowd's favorite appetizer - It's the kind of dish that disappears quickly from the party table.
- Easy and quick to make - This easy & tasty cranberry pecan cheese ball recipe takes only a few minutes to prepare.
- Versatile - Can be paired beautifully with pretzels, crackers, or even fresh veggies.
- Excellent for make-ahead - Perfect to prepare a day before your event!
Equipment Needed
- Mixing bowl
- Spatula or hand mixer
- Plastic wrap
- Knife
- Platter or plate for serving
Key Ingredients
Cream cheese - The base that makes the cheese ball smooth, creamy, and rich.
Sour cream - It helps with the blending and adds a slight tangy flavor.
Dried cranberries - They balance the savory flavor, adding chewiness and a hint of sweetness.
Pecans - Gives the nutty and crunchy effect, Perfect for coating the cheese ball.
Onion powder - It deepens the flavor and has a subtle savory boost.
Ground mustard powder - Adds a gentle, tangy kick to complement the creaminess.
Chives and jalapeño - Adds a hint of spice.
Honey - Adds natural sweetness to bring all the flavors together.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Using a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese (at room temperature to ensure easy mixing), sour cream, onion powder, mustard powder, and honey. Mix until smooth.
Stir in half of the chopped cranberries, half of the chives, and all of the jalapeño. Mix well and begin shaping into a ball while in the bowl. This will make the final "shaping" easier.
Place the mixture on plastic wrap, wrap it tightly, and shape it into a ball.
Chill for 30 minutes to 1 hour to firm up.
Spread the remaining cranberries, pecans, and chopped chives on a plate. Roll the cheese ball over the cranberry mixture, pressing it gently to coat all sides evenly.
Place on the serving plate or platter and enjoy with crackers!
Serving Suggestions
This pecan & cranberry cheese ball looks stunning on a holiday grazing board. Serve it with:
- Variety of crackers
- Toasted baguette slices
- Pretzels
- Apple slices for a fresh twist
- Fresh veggie sticks
You can also pair it with sparkling cider or a glass of wine.
Make Ahead
You can prepare this cranberry cheese ball 24 hours in advance. Keep it tightly wrapped in a plastic wrap inside the refrigerator and roll it in the cranberry and pecan coating only before serving to have the crunch and freshness.
Storage
If you are lucky enough to have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Remember that it is normal for pecans to lose a bit of their crunch after a day or two.
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Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball
Ingredients
- 2 8 ounce packages cream cheese
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries, chopped and divided
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground mustard powder
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon jalapeno, minced
- 1 tablespoon chives, chopped and divided
Instructions
- Add cream cheese, sour cream, onion powder, ground mustard and honey to a bowl and stir well to combine the ingredients. This is much easier to do if the cream cheese is at room temperature. You can use a spatula or a hand mixer.
- Add half of the cranberries, half of the chives and all of the jalapenos and stir again working the mixture into a ball shape.
- Place a piece of plastic wrap on a clean work surface and add the cream cheese mixture to the center. Wrap the cream cheese tightly and shape into a ball with your hands.
- Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour to firm up. Add the pecans, remaining cranberries and chives to a plate to coat the outside of the cheese ball once ready to serve.
- Remove plastic wrap and place cheese ball on plate with the pecan mixture. Use your hands to coat the ball pressing tightly to coat all sides.
- Place the cheese ball on a platter and serve with crackers, pretzels or veggies sticks.
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