This Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball recipe is sweet but tart dried cranberries, hearty pecans, and zesty green onions in a savory cheese ball made with cream cheese, sour cream, and shredded sharp white cheddar cheese. It’s the perfect cheeseball for holiday parties with festive shades of red, green, and amber all wrapped around a delicious appetizer!
Cranberry pecan Cheese Ball looks as beautiful as it tastes on any holiday table. It’s an easy appetizer for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It would be a great addition to a fall festival, too.
Our family really enjoys and knows cheeseballs. We love the Classic Dried Beef Cheese Ball and this super addicting Bacn Ranch Cheese Ball, so it’s no surprise that the fun flavors of this Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball were a hit as well. Bringing together sweet and savory in a cheeseball really checks all the boxes. This cheeseball is not too out there but just different enough to make it a hit at any party!
How to Make a Cheese Ball with Cranberries and Pecans
This is a straightforward cheeseball recipe. First, cream the softened cheese. Then add the spices and mix-ins. Lastly, coat, chill, and enjoy!
Ingredients for a Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball
- 16 ounces cream cheese, 2 blocks, softened at room temperature
- 3 Tablespoons sour cream
- 3/4 cup finely chopped dried cranberries, divided
- 3/4 cup finely chopped pecans, divided
- 2 Tablespoons green onions, chopped, divided
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 3/4 cups shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
Instructions for a Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball
First, in a stand mixer or large bowl with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese and sour cream until smooth and fluffy.
Then mix in half the dried cranberries, half the pecans, half the green onion, parsley, brown sugar, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and shredded white cheddar cheese thoroughly. Bring the mixture together in the center and lightly shape it into a ball.
In a large shallow plate or dish, mix the remaining chopped dried cranberries, pecans, and green onions to make the coating.
Next, place your formed cheese ball in the center of the coating and gently roll it until all sides are covered. Then wrap it in plastic wrap and chill it for at least 1 hour to let the flavors blend.
Finally, serve this cheese ball with round butter crackers, pita chips, pretzel crisps, mini pretzels, and nut thins(for a gluten-free cheeseball pairing). For a healthy pairing with cheese balls, try celery and cucumbers. They are a refreshing and crisp way to enjoy a savory cheese ball. Serve the Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball chilled and enjoy!
Tips, Tricks, Thoughts
Expect the cheese ball mixture to be thick. Using a stand mixer is recommended.
Do not coat the cheeseball more than a day or two in advance, or the cranberries will bleed.
Don’t like pecans? Try switching them out with walnuts, cashews, or peanuts.
Do not like nuts? You can use 1/2 cup crushed pretzels in the coating. Do not put pretzels in the cheeseball. Pretzels will soften faster, so coat the cheeseball directly before serving.
Want to make this holiday cheese ball a fun appetizer or finger food? Make individual or personal-sized cheeseballs with a 1-2 TBSP cookie scoop, roll them in the coating, and place a pretzel stick in the middle. They will be easy to eat and look amazing on the Christmas table!
Storing a Cheeseball with Dried Cranberries and Pecans
Store this Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Expect the cranberries to bleed and the nuts to turn soft as time passes.
You can freeze this cheeseball for up to 3 months, not coated! Wrap it tightly in a couple layers of plastic wrap before freezing.
More Great Recipes
This Easy Caramel Puff Corn recipe takes melt-in-your-mouth puff corn and candy coats it into a delightful party snack!
These Ham and Cheese Sliders will never go out of style. Whether you are hosting a casual family gathering or a high-spirited game day, this slider can be part hearty appetizer or small meal. They are warm and savory, making them a great food addition to any winter party!
Talk about hosting? Someone mentioned serving this Pizza Spaghetti Bake for a large birthday party, and I can not get over how ingenious that is! They are easy to prep, feed a crowd, and you can easily customize them with different toppings!
Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 3 Tablespoons sour cream
- ¾ cups dried cranberries finely chopped
- ¾ cups pecans finely chopped
- 2 Tablespoons green onions
- 1 teaspoon dried parsely
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¾ cups sharp white cheddar cheese finely shredded
Instructions
- In a stand mixer or large bowl with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese and sour cream until smooth and fluffy.
- Mix in half the dried cranberries, half the pecans, half the green onion, parsley, brown sugar, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and shredded white cheddar cheese thoroughly. Bring the mixture together in the center and lightly shape it into a ball.
- In a large shallow plate or dish, mix the remaining chopped dried cranberries, pecans, and green onions to make the coating.
- Place your formed cheese ball in the center of the coating and gently roll it until all sides are covered. Then wrap it in plastic wrap and chill it for at least 1 hour to let the flavors blend.
- Serve this cheese ball with round butter crackers, pita chips, pretzel crisps, mini pretzels, and nut thins(for a gluten-free cheeseball pairing). For a healthy pairing with cheese balls, try celery and cucumbers. They are a refreshing and crisp way to enjoy a savory cheese ball. Serve the Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball chilled and enjoy!
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