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, roughly 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.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
You can tag me at @iamhomesteader.
Can u freeze this for 2 weeks in freezer til ready to use
I made this last night for New Years eve and it was absolutely perfect! I served it with Triscuit crackers – worked best because the crackers are very firm and able to hold all the goodness. Thanks for sharing!
This is very good
Hello,
I just made the first part of this cheese ball and it is in the fridge to harden before I roll it in the remaining ingredients. I want to say it is better to use the stand mixer to mix the initial ingredients as the cheese is too difficult to mix with a hand mixer. With the stand mixer, it went smoothly and evenly, only taking a couple of minutes. A big bowl is a must also.
I hope the suggestion is helpful.
Merry Christmas!
cassiecherry0525@gmail.com I love your recipes I wish I had more merry Christmas
Hi, I want to make this for Christmas Eve at my son and daughter-in-laws but, they live an hour away from us. Any suggestions on how to pack this up for the drive?
Once it is assembled, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate it. Should hold up very well.
Made this for a family Christmas gathering. You won’t go wrong with this one! Everyone loved it!
Looking forward to trying this. What type of crackers are recommended?
I am making this for Christmas Eve Wish me luck , it looks delicious
Can’t wait to try this!
My go to recipe has 1 T each of mayo and pickle relish and a few dashes of hot sauce. I am definitely going to add the cranberries and chives to my recipe.
Looks delicious I will be making soon.
I would give it 10 Star !!
My BIL is allergic to onions. Do you have a suggestion for something to use besides chives? Personally, I love the chives, but I make stuff for them without any onions, cucumbers or celery. Thanks.
You can omit them if there is an allergy. If you want a hint of green, you can try chopped pistachio.
I’m going to try this and sub out chives with rosemary!
No spices like garlic powder or onion powder? I am very surprised as cream cheese usually needs one or both of these in a cheeseball to make it pop. I have never used white cheddar. Is it a strong tasting cheese which ups the flavor of the cream cheese? I am going to try this!!!
my daughter makes this every Thanksgiving and Christmas and we always look forward to it! great recipe-thanks for sharing!
I haven’t made this. I’m confused as to what cheese to use. Boursin? The kind in a container? Please show what cheese people used. Thank you
Hi Darcie – you scrolled past the recipe when looking for a place to leave a comment. It’s got all the instructions and ingredients. I hope that helps.
LOL!
Cream Cheese, brand name is usually Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese.
Awesome recipes thank you for sharing
If I leave pecans off the outside can this be frozen?
Amanda,
Could you use another white cheese, I’m out of white cheddar.
Thank you.
Sure
I made these in the mini cheese ball version for one of our Thanksgiving appetizers. They were delish!!! Thanks for sharing.
Cheese all looks delicious! Can’t wait to try.
Jean exchange size up is below.
Keep link for future up sizes to add to recipes.