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Home / Appetizers & Snacks / Festive Holiday Cheese Balls

Festive Holiday Cheese Balls

Published: December 2, 2018 | Last Updated: June 13, 2019 | By Lisa Hatfield 1 Comment

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Last Updated June 13th, 2019 at 08:13 pm by Lisa

Four EASY and FESTIVE Holiday Cheese Balls: White Cheddar Rosemary Pomegranate, Cheddar Pimiento, Garlic Chive Goat Cheese, and Blue Cheese Cranberry Pecan!

Learn how to make four Festive Holiday Cheese Balls: White Cheddar Rosemary Pomegranate, Cheddar Pimiento, Garlic Chive Goat Cheese, and Blue Cheese Cranberry Pecan.

The holiday season is upon us, and I am here to make it a little bit easier for you with some perfect holiday appetizers! You just can’t go wrong with cheese balls, so how about four recipes?

overhead view of holiday cheese balls with red ribbon on top sitting next to pieces of bread

Why You’ll Love This Easy Holiday Appetizer

I know why cheese balls are so popular:

  • They’re easy!
  • They can be made a day or two ahead!
  • They’re loved by everyone!  

With these flavor options, you can make all or just one.

Four Festive Recipes

In this post, I’m going to show you how to make four flavors:

  • White Cheddar Rosemary Pomegranate
  • Cheddar Pimiento
  • Garlic Chive Goat Cheese
  • Blue Cheese Cranberry Pecan

There is something for everyone in these easy cheese holiday recipes. All four flavors are amazing, but my fave is the White Cheddar Rosemary Pomegranate…

closeup of pomegranate holiday cheese balls with a festive red ribbon on top

Can you blame me? I love how bright and festive it looks thanks to the pomegranate seeds. (Speaking of which, if you’re always wrestling with pomegranates and ending up with a whole lot of mess and not a whole lot of seeds, check out my post: Juice and Seed Pomegranates Easily! It is a lifesaver!)

How Do You Make Cheese Balls?

Cheese balls are so easy to make, which is why I love serving them as an easy Christmas appetizer. Plus, you can dress them up or down with a variety of fun and festive toppings!

Let me tell you how to make cheese balls first, then we’ll talk about each of the four cheese ball recipes….

Step 1: Reserve the topping as noted in each recipe.

Step 2: In a medium-size bowl, mix the ingredients with a fork until well combined.

Step 3: Remove using a small rubber spatula, and roll into a round ball shape.

Step 4: Wrap in plastic wrap and chill at least an hour, but overnight makes the flavors really come through!

Step 5: Roll in the topping right before your party.

TIP: Have your topping ready in zip-lock bag/s and assemble while plating with crackers.

overhead view of four holiday cheese balls on a white plate decorated with a red ribbon

Ingredients for White Cheddar Rosemary Pomegranate Cheese Balls

To make White Cheddar Rosemary Pomegranate Cheese Balls, you’ll need:

  • 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 cup grated white cheddar cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary finely minced
  • 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds (cheese ball topping)

tip: be sure the pomegranate seeds are dry before rolling on the cheese ball, otherwise, they won’t stick!

white cheddar rosemary pomegranate holiday cheese balls cut open on a white plate

Ingredients for Cheddar Cheese Pimiento Cheese Balls

To make Cheddar Cheese Pimiento Cheese Balls, you’ll need:

  • 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 teaspoon diced jalapenos canned
  • 4 oz diced pimientos drained (one small jar)
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 cup grated sharp white cheddar (cheese ball topping)

closeup of pimiento cheddar cheese holiday cheese balls with a red spiral ribbon on top

Ingredients for Garlic Chive Goat Cheese Balls

To make Garlic Chive Goat Cheese Balls, you’ll need:

  • 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
  • 5 oz goat cheese
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic any jar brand
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup fresh chives finely minced (cheese ball topping)

white cheddar rosemary pomegranate and goat cheese garlic chive holiday cheese balsl cut open showing inside

Ingredients for Blue Cheese Cranberry-Pecan Cheese Balls

To make Blue Cheese Cranberry-Pecan Cheese Balls, you’ll need:

  • 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 cup (8 oz) blue cheese crumbles
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries chopped
  • 1/2 cup pecans chopped small pieces (cheeseball roll topping)

closeup of blue cheese cranberry pecan holiday cheese balls on a white serving plate

How Can You Decorate Cheese Balls?

However, you want! For a festive holiday appetizer or Christmas appetizer, I suggest adding a cute ornament hanger and fun bright bow, so they look like Christmas ornaments on a platter!  Serve with assorted crackers…

holiday cheese balls on a white plate with a cup in the background containing flat breads

Which Cheese is Used for Cheese Balls?

I use cream cheese as the base for all of my holiday cheese balls because it is firm and holds together well. I often include other cheeses for flavor such as:

  • Goat cheese
  • Cheddar cheese
  • Blue cheese

closeup of holiday cheese balls with red ribbons on top on a white serving tray next to flat breads

festive holiday cheese balls next to pieces of crackers on a white serving tray

closeup of holiday cheese balls fully formed with thin crackers next to each cheese ball

More Holiday Appetizers

  • Brie and Bacon Palmiers are easy and made with 3 ingredients! They are a huge hit every time…
  • Meyer Lemon Tapenade is easy and so full of flavor, you won’t buy it again…
  • French Onion AKA “California Party Dip” is as easy as it gets, always a huge hit and people will ask for the recipe!
  • Jalapeno Popper Dip is a “habit-forming” oven baked dip with is 7 ingredients, and is always a party hit! Serve melty hot with corn/tortilla chips or crackers.

Happy Holidays, and Merry Everything!

All The Best Dishes,

Lisa

XO

four holiday cheese balls on a plate decorated with christmas decor sitting by bread
Print Pin Recipe

Festive Holiday Cheese Balls

Four Festive Holiday Cheese Balls: White Cheddar Rosemary Pomegranate, Pimiento Cheddar Cheese, Goat Cheese Garlic Chive, and Blue Cheese Cranberry Pecan.
Course Appetizers, Dips, & Snacks
Cuisine American
Keyword christmas appetizer, how to make cheese balls
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 20
Calories 122kcal
Author Lisa Hatfield

Ingredients

For the White Cheddar, Rosemary, and Pomegranate Cheese Ball:

  • 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 cup grated white cheddar cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary finely minced
  • 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds cheese ball topping

For the Cheddar Cheese Pimiento:

  • 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 teaspoon diced jalapenos canned
  • 4 oz diced pimientos drained (one small jar)
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 cup grated sharp white cheddar cheese ball topping

For the Garlic Chive Goat Cheese:

  • 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
  • 5 oz goat cheese
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic any jar brand
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup fresh chives finely minced (cheese ball topping)

For the Blue Cheese Cranberry Pecan:

  • 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 cup (8 oz) blue cheese crumbles
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries chopped
  • 1/2 cup pecans chopped small pieces (cheeseball roll topping)
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Reserve the cheese ball topping as noted in each recipe.
  • In a medium-size bowl, mix the cheese ball ingredients with a fork until well combined.
  • Remove using a small rubber spatula, and roll into a round ball shape.
  • Wrap in plastic wrap and chill at least an hour, but overnight makes the flavors really come through!
  • Roll in the topping right before your party. Tip: have your topping ready in zip-lock bag/s and assemble while plating with crackers.
  • Optional: add a cute ornament hanger and fun bright bow.
  • Serve with assorted crackers or baguette slices.

Notes

This cheese ball recipe was adapted and inspired with source credit to Samanta at Five Heart Home.
Number of servings (20) is per cheese ball.
Nutrition information is for Pimiento Cheddar Cheese ball only.

Nutrition

Calories: 122kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 221mg | Potassium: 46mg | Vitamin A: 510IU | Vitamin C: 5.1mg | Calcium: 158mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Tried this recipe?Let's see it on Instagram! Follow us @Delicious.Table and tag us on your recipe photo with #delicioustable
Need ingredients or equipment to make this recipe? Shop Now Every cooking product recommended I own, use, and love how they perform in my kitchen. Happy Cooking! Lisa
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Delicious Table earns advertising fees from qualified purchases linking to Amazon.com

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Frozen Choco Banana Pops
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Crostini with Edible Flowers and Garden Herbs

Filed Under: Appetizers & Snacks, Christmas, Comfort Food, New Year's Eve, Party Food, Thanksgiving Recipes, Vegetarian Tagged With: Cheese Ball Appetizer, Festive Holiday Cheese Ball, Holiday Cheese Ball, Holiday Snack, Party Appetizer

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Comments

  1. Brianna says

    March 11, 2018 at 6:01 PM

    5 stars
    There is something for everyone with these. These were a huge hit at my family’s Christmas gathering and were indeed festive as ornaments. So cute! I have made these a few times separately and just cannot pick which one is my favorite. I love all of these combinations and they go great with different things. I guess I never have to decide. So, so good. PS. Did I mention how easy these are to put together? It’s embarrassing.

    Reply

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