PrintEasy Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball for Simple Entertaining
Make this sweet and savory cranberry pecan cheese ball. It is a crowd-pleasing, no-bake appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings or any party where you want impressive food without stress.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 min
- Yield: 1 large cheese ball (about 12 servings) 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup pecans, toasted and finely chopped, plus extra for coating
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until fully combined and smooth.
- Stir in the chopped dried cranberries, 1/2 cup of the chopped pecans, and the Worcestershire sauce, if using. Mix until the additions are evenly distributed throughout the cheese mixture.
- Place the cheese mixture onto a sheet of plastic wrap. Shape the mixture into a ball.
- Wrap the plastic wrap tightly around the cheese ball and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or until firm enough to handle. This step is key for easy coating.
- On a shallow plate, spread out the remaining toasted pecans.
- Remove the chilled cheese ball from the plastic wrap. Roll the cheese ball in the chopped pecans until it is completely coated on all sides.
- Place the finished cheese ball on a serving plate. Chill again briefly if needed before serving.
- Serve with crackers, pretzels, or apple slices.
Notes
- Toast the pecans lightly in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes to bring out their flavor before chopping.
- You can make this cheese ball up to two days ahead. Keep it tightly wrapped in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.
- For a beautiful presentation, surround the cheese ball with an assortment of crackers and fresh fruit slices on your platter.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/12 of cheese ball
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 180
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Unsaturated Fat: 6
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 4
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 5
- Cholesterol: 35