Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball

Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball Appetizer

Need a festive holiday appetizer that’s quick, easy and a crowd-pleaser? This cranberry pecan cheeseball is all that and more.

It only takes about 15 minutes to prep, has a handful of ingredients, and can be made in advance. I love that, especially during the Thanksgiving and Christmas cooking rush!

The cheeseball is packed with cranberries, nuts, fresh herbs and two types of cheese. Then it’s rolled in a sweet and savory blend of dried cranberries, chives and toasted pecans.

Set it on a tray with crackers or add it to your charcuterie board along with a knife for spreading, and you’ve got a self-serve appetizer that your guests will love.

Why You’ll Love this Cheeseball Recipe

Easy appetizer. If you think making a homemade cheeseball is intimidating, I promise you, it’s not. Just stir the ingredients together, shape them into a ball, and roll the ball in a mix of nuts and cranberries. It only takes 15 minutes to prepare and another hour in the fridge for the flavors to come together.

For another easy pecan snack, try my stovetop cinnamon sugar candied pecans recipe.

Showstopping holiday appetizer. This cheese ball looks as amazing as it tastes! The toasted nuts and dried fruit coating is festive for friends and family gatherings and just so tempting to cut into.

Ingredients

Cream Cheese – This is the base of the cheeseball and is a must. Use softened, brick-style, full-fat cream cheese. Skip the kind in the tub or ones that say whipped on the package.

Sharp White Cheddar – Get a block of cheese and grate it yourself. It tastes so much better and is creamier than the pre-shredded kind that comes in a bag.

You can sub in another cheese like pepper jack or mozzarella, if desired.

Chives – I prefer chives over green onions. They have a milder flavor and are thinner and more delicate for an appetizer.

Parsley – For another touch of green and fresh herb flavor, add some finely chopped, fresh parsley to the party.

Chopped Pecans – Roughly chopped pecans give the cheeseball

a crunchy textured coating, and when you take an extra minute to toast them, the nutty flavor really comes out.

Dried Cranberries – Sweet cranberries go perfectly with the almost-maple-like flavor of the pecans. I love the combination of chewy and crunchy, as well. You can get the ones with reduced sugar, if preferred.

Brown Sugar – A little sweet to balance the savory is all that’s needed. I like the hint of molasses flavor from the brown sugar to pair with the pecans. You can even sub in a small amount of pure maple syrup.

Garlic Powder, Salt and Pepper – To enhance the medley of flavors in the cheeseball, be sure to add a few seasonings to the mix.

Need to double the recipe for a bigger crowd? Go ahead and make the recipe x2, but form it into two cheese balls instead of one. Set both out at once or keep a back-up in the fridge.

How to Make a Cranberry Pecan Cheeseball

1. (Optional Step) Toast chopped pecans in a 350 degree oven for 2-3 minutes on a on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Watch carefully to avoid burning. It only takes a minute for the nuts to become aromatic and golden brown.
2. Beat room temperature cream cheese until it’s smooth and creamy with a hand-mixer or stand-mixer with paddle attachment.
3. Beat in the white cheddar, parsley, seasonings, half the chives, half the cranberries, and 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans. Reserve the remaining chives, cranberries and pecans for the outer coating.
4. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula and shape into a ball. Turn the ball out onto a piece of plastic wrap (like Saran), loosely cover the ball in the wrap, and roll it around to perfect the ball shape. Gently press the ball to give it a flat bottom.
5. On a piece of parchment paper or a tray, toss together the remaining chopped nuts, cranberries and chives. Gently roll the cheeseball in the coating until it’s completely covered. If parts of the white cheese are showing, give the remaining nuts a fine chop to fill in the gaps.
6. Wrap the cheeseball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.
7. Serve with crackers, crostini, or sliced artisan bread.

Detailed recipe and instructions are in recipe card at bottom of post.

Mixing together the inside of the cheeseball.

Use an electric mixer to whip up the cream cheese and to mix in other ingredients.

Shaping the cheese mixture into a ball.

Use plastic wrap to shape the cheese into a ball so your hands don’t have to touch it.

Coating the ball in pecans, cranberries and chives.

Combine the coating on a piece of parchment paper for easy cleanup.

Is toasting the pecans necessary?

Toasting the pecans is totally optional, but this small, extra step is totally worth it.

The process gives the pecans a deeper flavor, really brings out the nutty taste and makes them even crunchier.

Toasting happens fast, so don’t walk away.

Here’s how to toast the pecans on the stove or in the oven. Stovetop Method: Heat a pan over medium heat. When it’s warm, add the chopped pecans and continuously stir them around for 2-3 minutes. When they become aromatic, remove from heat immediately. Oven Method: Place tray of chopped pecans into an oven that’s been heated to 350 degrees F for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through. Check often.

Can I make the cheese ball ahead of time?

Absolutely, you can make the cheese ball ahead of time. I usually don’t make it any more than 3 days in advance.

Here’s what to do.

Start with the freshest ingredients and make the cheese portion of the ball without the coating on it. Tightly wrap the ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Combine the coating ingredients and set aside in an airtight container. A few hours before serving, roll the ball in the coating. Doing it this way ensures the coating is nice and crunchy.

Make it a cheese log instead of cheese ball. No problem. Just put the cheese mixture in plastic wrap, twist the ends, and gently roll to shape into a log shape.

What to Serve Alongside the Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball

This cheese ball is best served with an assortment of sturdy crackers or bread. It’s too firm for dipping, so stick with foods like crackers, crostini or sliced artisan bread.

Be sure to set out a knife for spreading cheese. I love the look of mine with a wood handle.

More Easy and Delicious Appetizer Recipes

• Cranberry Brie Bites (with Crescent Roll Dough)
• Bacon-Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese & Maple Glaze
• Maple Pecan Baked Brie
• Easy Caprese Salad Skewers
• Easy Greek Salad Skewers
• 10-Minute Marinated Mozzarella Balls

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