Christmas Tree Cheese Ball
This festive Christmas Tree Cheese Ball is so easy to make and looks beautiful in any holiday appetizer spread! The cheese ball mixture is made with 4 kinds of cheese, lots of fresh herbs, dried cranberries and coated in more herbs, a pine nut garland and pomegranate ornaments. Serve it with our homemade Christmas Tree Crackers!
Ingredients
- 8 ouncescream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 4 ouncesgoat cheese, softened to room temperature
- 4 ouncesfeta cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 cupfinely shredded white cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoongarlic powder
- 1 teaspoononion powder
- 1 teaspoonorange zest
- 2 tablespoonsfinely chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoonsfinely chopped fresh dill
- ½ teaspoonsalt
- ¼ teaspoonblack pepper
- ½ cupdried cranberries, finely chopped
- ¼ cupfinely chopped fresh parsley
- ¼ cupfinely chopped fresh dill
- pine nuts (optional)
- pomegranate arils
- slice of cheddar cheese (white or yellow) for the star
Directions
Mix the cheese ball:
- 1
Add softened cream cheese, goat cheese, and feta to a mixing bowl and beat with a hand mixer until creamy and well combined.
- 2
Add in the white cheddar, garlic powder, onion powder, orange zest, parsley, dill, salt, and pepper and mix to combine. Add the cranberries, mixing again to combine. Don’t over-mix once the cranberries are added, or they will break up too much.
- 3
Cover and refrigerate the mixture for 30-60 minutes before shaping it.
Shape the cheese ball:
- 1
Lay two long pieces of plastic wrap out on the counter in a cross shape.
- 2
Scrape the cheese mixture out of the bowl and onto the center of the plastic wrap. Wrap the plastic up and over the cheese mixture and use your hands to form it into a cone/Christmas tree shape.
Coat the cheese ball:
- 1
In a small bowl, mix together the finely chopped parsley and dill.
- 2
Remove the plastic wrap from the cheese ball. Use your hands to gently press the chopped herbs all around the tree until it is well covered.
- 3
Press the pine nuts into the tree to make a garland, then press the pomegranate seeds into the tree at random for ornaments.
- 4
Using a mini star-shaped cookie cutter (or a knife), cut a star shape out of a ¼-inch thick piece of cheddar. Insert a toothpick into the bottom, then insert the other end of the toothpick into the cheese ball.
- 5
Serve it right away or refrigerate until ready to serve.