Holiday Cheese Ball
Make this festive Holiday Cheese Ball for your next party! Loaded with cheddar, prosciutto, cherries, and pecans.
Servings: 16 servings
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
Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 292kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 383mg | Potassium: 98mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 826IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 237mg | Iron: 0.3mg
