Cranberry & Pecan Cheese Ball

I have a hard time saying no to cheese. Sweets, carbs and fried foods no problem…but cheese is my kryptonite! Whenever I throw or attend a party, I always include or bring cheese. It’s easy, delicious and crowd pleasing. For Thanksgiving this year, I thought I would up the ante with a cheese ball. Made with a blend of cream cheese, goat cheese and sharp white cheddar, this Cranberry & Pecan Cheese Ball is my new favorite appetizer. If you’ve never made a cheese ball before, you’ll be amazed how easy it is. It’s the perfect dish if you are intimidated by the thought of cooking something for a party. Seriously, it’s nearly impossible to mess up.

The combination of creamy and tart cheeses pairs beautifully with the sweet cranberries. You can use just about any kind of cream cheese and goat cheese, but I recommend splurging a bit on the sharp white cheddar. For this recipe, I used Flagship white cheddar which is slightly nutty and crumbly. The cheese ball is then rolled in roasted pecans for extra crunch and texture. The sweet, tangy and crunchy texture is seriously addicting! This recipe makes quite a lot of cheese, so I recommend serving it at a fairly large gathering.

What You’ll Need:
8 oz. Cream Cheese
8 oz. Sharp White Cheddar, finely grated (I used Flagship)
4 oz. Goat Cheese
2/3 cups Dried Cranberries
Approx. 1 cup Pecans, roasted and chopped

ONE: In a large bowl or stand mixer, mix together the cream cheese, goat cheese and grated cheddar until completely smooth. Mix in the cranberries.

TWO: Transfer the cheese onto plastic wrap or wax paper and use your hands to form a ball. Wrap up the cheese in the plastic wrap or wax paper and place into the fridge. Allow the cheese ball to harden for at least 2 hours, up to overnight.

THREE: Preheat oven to 350 ° F. Chop the pecans into small pieces, and place into the oven for about 10 minutes or until the pecans become slightly golden. Be careful not to burn them. Remove from the oven and allow to completely cool.

FOUR: Once the cheese ball is chilled and firm, remove the plastic wrap. Use your hands to press the pecans onto the outer surface of the cheese ball until completely covered. Chill until you are ready to serve.

What’s your favorite appetizer for parties? I can’t wait to serve this at Thanksgiving. =)

5.0 from 1 reviews

Cranberry & Pecan Cheeseball

 

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This Cranberry Cheeseball is the perfect combination of creamy cheese, sweet cranberries and crunchy pecans.

Author: Soap Queen

Recipe type: Appetiser

Serves: About 10 servings

Ingredients

• 8 oz. Cream Cheese
• 8 oz. Sharp White Cheddar , finely grated
• 4 oz. Goat Cheese
• ⅔ cups Dried Cranberries
• Approx. 1 cup Pecans, roasted and chopped

Instructions

1. In a large bowl or stand mixer, mix together the cream cheese, goat cheese and grated cheddar until completely smooth. Mix in the cranberries.
2. Transfer the cheese onto plastic wrap or wax paper and use your hands to form a ball. Wrap up the cheese in the plastic wrap or wax paper and place into the fridge. Allow the cheese ball to harden for at least 2 hours, up to overnight.
3. Preheat oven to 350 ° F. Chop the pecans into small pieces, and place into the oven for about 10 minutes or until the pecans become slightly golden. Be careful not to burn them. Remove from the oven and allow to completely cool.
4. Once the cheese ball is chilled and firm, remove the plastic wrap. Use your hands to press the pecans onto the outer surface of the cheese ball until completely covered. Chill until you are ready to serve.

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