Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball is a large ball of cream cheese mixed with white cheddar cheese, dried cranberries, pecans, and chives for an addicting spread! This will be one of the first appetizers to be devoured, I bet! I also have Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bites or a Dill Pickle Cheese Ball you might love.
Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball
If you are looking for the perfect appetizer for your Thanksgiving or Christmas menu, this is the one you need! It’s a large cheeseball with cranberries and pecans, a couple of holiday favorites. It’s easy to put together and serve with your favorite crackers or pretzels. I also have a classic cheese ball and Shrimp Cheese Ball recipe you may want to try.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Cream Cheese: Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature before mixing it with the other ingredients. Goat cheese would also be a delicious substitute for cream cheese.
Cheese: I preferred the cheese ball with white cheddar cheese. However, you could use a different kind of cheese like sharp cheddar or even blue cheese.
Cranberries: Look for dried cranberries (also known as craisins). You will use half to add to the ball of cheese with the other half for rolling the cheese ball.
Pecans: Chop up some pecans or put them in a food processor to get them to a fine chop. You could also place them in a zipped bag and lightly crush them with a rolling pin or a wine bottle. If you don’t want to add nuts, you could leave them out. Or, use different kinds of nuts like walnuts, hazelnuts, or cashews.
Chives: The chives give the cheese ball a little bit of an onion flavor. You could also use green onions if that is what you have on hand.
How to Serve Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball
Once you have the cheese ball assembled, chilled, and rolled into the nut mixture, it’s time to get it served. To serve the cheeseball, set it on a plate with a cheese spreader or knife along with a variety of dipping options. I prefer Ritz crackers, Wheat Thins, and pretzel crisps, but vegetables, pita chips, and toasted baguettes would also be good choices.
Can I Make this into Smaller Portions?
Sure! In fact, you could easily form this cheese ball into individual-sized portions. Then, simply serve each miniature cheese ball with toothpicks or pretzel sticks for easy sharing. And, of course, don’t forget all the dipping options.
How to Store Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball
Store the leftover cheese ball in the refrigerator, covered or loosely wrapped in plastic wrap. It will last up to a week. However, the nuts may not be as crunchy the longer the cheese ball is stored.
Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball
Ingredients
- 2 blocks (8 ounces each) cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup (113 g) white cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup (130 g) dried cranberries, roughly chopped, divided
- 1 cup (109 g) pecans, finely chopped, divided
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped, divided
- crackers, for serving
Instructions
- In a large bowl using a hand mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese, white cheddar cheese, ½ cup of dried cranberries, ½ cup of pecans, and 1 tablespoon of chives.
- Scrape the sides of the bowl, bringing the mixture to the center. This will make about 3 cups.
- Set out a 10×10-inch piece of plastic wrap.
- Using greased hands, form the cream cheese mixture into a ball and place onto the sheet of plastic wrap. Bring the edges of the plastic wrap together to seal the cheeseball. Allow to chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour, or until firm.
- On a plate, combine the remaining cranberries, pecans, and chives.
- Remove the cheese ball from the refrigerator. After taking off the plastic wrap, roll the cheese ball into the remaining cranberries, pecans, and chives, pressing slightly.
- Let the cheese ball sit out at room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving.
- Serve with crackers.
Video
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
You can tag me at @iamhomesteader.
Hi Amanda. Made this for a Christmas party. It was a huge hit! It is such a festive looking cheese ball with the cranberries incorporated. I usually read through some comments left by other cooks and did the following:
1) Toasted the pecans prior to using. Love the flavor of pecans having been roasted lightly in the oven.
2) Added sesame seeds to the mixture to roll the ball in. Gives extra deliciousness in every bite.
3) Used White New York sharp cheddar for cheese type.
4) Added a couple TBL of everything bagel seasoning to the mixture when combining cream cheese etc. Must be careful to only use a little as it is a salty spice. But a small amount adds just an extra savory taste
Thank you Amanda for a GREAT recipe! I’m actually making it again today for another party!!!
Love those adaptations, Barbie!! What a delicious treat you created!
We love this! I’ve made it several times and there’s never any left. However, I always add a little extra of everything, a splash of garlic and I add sesame seeds to the outside when I roll it in the roasted pecans, chopped cranberries and green onions. I just want to make sure we have some extra deliciousness in ever dip. 😊
Can this cheeseball be frozen?
So, so good! Made this for our family Thanksgiving Party! I made 2 different flavors and the pecan cranberry was my sister’s new favorite! Definitely want to make it again! We also want to add some jalapeños next time for a little sweet – heat treat!
We so enjoy your recipes! Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours 🌸
So happy to hear it, Susie!! Thrilled they were a hit at your Thanksgiving celebration and I love the idea of jalapeno! Blessings to you. 🙂
I’m going to make this next week but wondered if you have tried toasting the pecans before for that yummy roasted pecan flavor?
Yes, we love using toasted pecans for this!