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🧀 Make your holidays delicious with this easy Holiday Cheese Ball recipe! A crowd favorite that’s perfect for parties or potlucks! 🎉
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If you’re looking for the perfect party appetizer, this cheese ball is it. This easy cheese ball recipe combines creamy cheese, savory prosciutto, and sweet cherries for a festive flavor everyone will love.
Whether you’re hosting a holiday dinner, a potluck, or a game night, this cheeseball is guaranteed to disappear fast.
Cheese ball recipes like this one are great because they’re simple, make-ahead friendly, and totally customizable. You can prepare it the night before and roll it in the pecan-cherry coating right before serving.
There are many recipes for a cheese ball, but this one stands out for its balance of salty, sweet, and creamy flavors. It’s a true holiday classic that never goes out of style.
⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make with simple ingredients you likely already have.
- Perfect for parties, holidays, and potlucks.
- Creamy, tangy, and sweet all in one bite.
- Can be made ahead and rolled before serving.
- Always a hit on any appetizer table.
🛒 Ingredients & Substitutions
- cream cheese – use flavored cream cheese for variety
- cheddar cheese, shredded – substitute with white cheddar or Colby cheese
- prosciutto, chopped – substitute with bacon bits or ham pieces
- garlic powder – adjust to taste or use roasted garlic for a milder flavor
- black pepper – use freshly cracked for best flavor
- salt – substitute with seasoned salt for added flavor
- pecans, chopped – substitute with walnuts or almonds
- dried cherries, chopped – substitute with cranberries or golden raisins
- fresh parsley, chopped – substitute with chives or green onions
✨ Variations
- Try using white cheddar or Colby cheese for a milder flavor.
- Swap prosciutto for cooked bacon bits or ham pieces.
- Add chopped dried cranberries or apricots for a different sweetness.
- For a spicy kick, mix in diced jalapeños or a dash of cayenne pepper.
- Roll in crushed pretzels or toasted almonds instead of pecans.
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🔥 Tips
- Make sure the cream cheese is softened before mixing for a smooth texture.
- Chill the cheeseball for at least 4 hours to allow it to firm up properly.
- Use plastic wrap to easily shape the ball without it sticking.
- Roll in the coating just before serving to keep it crunchy and fresh.
- Serve with a small cheese knife so guests can spread it easily.
❓ FAQs
Place it in the center of a platter surrounded by crackers, pretzels, or fresh vegetables.
Yes! Prepare the base up to 3 days in advance, then roll it in the coating right before serving.
Absolutely. Just double the ingredients and form two smaller cheese balls for easier serving.
You can, but the texture may be softer and less rich. Regular cream cheese gives the best consistency.
Definitely! Divide the mixture into smaller portions and roll each one in the coating for single-serve bites.
Keep it at room temperature for no more than 2 hours. After that, refrigerate it to keep it safe and fresh.
Yes! Serve with pretzels, apple slices, celery sticks, or crostini for fun and flavorful options.
Yes! Shape it like a wreath or snowman for a cute holiday presentation. Just use plastic wrap to help form it neatly.
🍽️ Other Recipes You May Enjoy
Appetizers
Bacon Pesto Cheese Ball
Dessert
Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball
Low Carb and Keto
Keto Bacon Sun-Dried Tomato Mini Cheese Balls
Appetizers
Dill Pickle Wrap Dip
Holiday Cheese Ball
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Equipment
- stand mixer with paddle attachment (or hand mixer)
- rubber spatula
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 16 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded, room temperature
- 3 ounces prosciutto, chopped into small pieces
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup pecans, chopped
- ½ cup dried cherries, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine cream cheese, cheddar cheese, prosciutto, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt. Mix until well combined.16 ounces cream cheese, 16 ounces cheddar cheese, 3 ounces prosciutto, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon salt
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl and scoop the cheese mixture onto the counter.
- Roll the cheese into a ball and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
- Before serving, finely chop pecans, cherries, and parsley. Toss to combine.1 cup pecans, ½ cup dried cherries, 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
- Remove cheese ball from plastic wrap and roll it in the pecan-cherry mixture until fully coated.
- Place on a serving tray and serve with crackers, pretzels, or veggie sticks.
- Enjoy!
Notes
🥡 STORAGE
- Store in the refrigerator wrapped in plastic wrap for up to 1 week.
- Can be prepared up to 3 days ahead of time, but wait to add pecans until just before serving.
♨️ REHEATING
- Serve chilled or at room temperature; no reheating required.
- Allow to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving for the best texture.
❄️ FREEZING
- Can be frozen for up to 1 month.
- Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
- Note: Texture may be softer after thawing.
💡 TIPS FOR BEST RESULTS
- Use room temperature cream cheese and cheddar for easier mixing.
- Roll the cheese ball in the coating just before serving for the best texture.
- If store-bought condensed soups aren’t your thing, try making your own homemade version.
- Avoid dry cheeses like Parmesan
- , as they can make the mixture crumbly.
🍳 ALTERNATE COOKING METHODS
- Not applicable – this recipe requires no cooking!
♻️ LEFTOVERS
- Wrap leftovers tightly in plastic wrap and store them in the refrigerator.
- Serve chilled or slightly softened for the next gathering.
- Great spread on bagels, toast, or crackers.
📝 NOTES
- For a holiday touch, mix in red and green bell peppers for color.
- Use flavored cream cheese for a fun twist, like chive and onion or garden vegetable.
- Serve with a cheese knife to keep crackers from breaking in the cheeseball.
- Perfect make-ahead appetizer for parties, potlucks, or holidays.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
