Last Updated March 1st, 2021 at 08:39 am by Lisa
4 Cheese Ball Recipes for Christmas appetizers, New Years' Eve appetizers, holiday appetizers, and party food that look like tree ornaments!
Learn how to make four Festive flavors: White Cheddar Rosemary Pomegranate, Cheddar Pimiento, Garlic Chive Goat Cheese, and Blue Cheese Cranberry Pecan.
These will be the star holiday party appetizer on a cheese board and don't they just say Merry Christmas...
Why You Will Love These...
- Made in 15 minutes.
- They can be made a day or two ahead.
- Pack these up with a bottle of a wine-great hostess gift!
- They're loved by kids and adults.
- Flexible Simple Inexpensive Ingredients
- Super cute and festive, that ornament shape! 🎄
- Ahhh the flavors are ridiculously good!
Christmas Recipes:
Appetizer parties for Christmas eve are relaxed with recipes like beautiful Holiday Deviled Eggs or this Jalapeno Popper Dip people go crazy for served with large corn chips.
Sip on Candy Cane Martinis made from Homemade Peppermint Vodka which makes a great hostess or Christmas food gift.
And whether you're planning a simple appetizer party or a spectacular Christmas Dinner feast, Christmas dinner classics like turkey, ham, stuffing, and mashed potatoes are a must!
And for dessert, Holidays are the perfect time for baking with loved ones. Make these adorable Christmas cookies and put some Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cookies out for Santa!
Four Festive Recipes
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
All four flavors are amazing, but my fave is the White Cheddar Rosemary Pomegranate...
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 kitchen tip: Juice and Seed Pomegranates Easily! It is a lifesaver!
Let's Make Them!
These are easy to make, which is why I love serving them as a Christmas appetizer. Plus, you can dress them up or down with a variety of fun and festive toppings!
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 and small spreader knives.
White Cheddar Rosemary Pomegranate
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup grated white cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary finely minced
- ½ cup pomegranate seeds (topping)
pro tip: be sure the pomegranate seeds are dry before rolling on the cheese ball, otherwise, they won't stick!
Cheddar Cheese Pimiento
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 ½ cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon diced jalapenos canned
- 4 oz diced pimientos drained (one small jar)
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup grated sharp white cheddar (topping)
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
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ¼ cup fresh chives finely minced (topping)
Blue Cheese Cranberry-Pecan
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup (8 oz) blue cheese crumbles
- ½ cup dried cranberries chopped
- ½ cup pecans chopped small pieces (topping)
Crackers, Pita Chips, Pretzel Sticks, Bagel Chips, Sliced Baguette, and Crostini.
Chopped Dried Fruits, Crumbled Bacon, Fresh Chopped Herbs, Crushed Chips/Crackers, Mixed Nuts & Chopped Herbs, Nuts (sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds etc), Grated Cheeses (cheddar, pepper jack, blue cheese), Crushed Pretzels Or Potato Chips.
How Can You Decorate Them?
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 and small spreader knives on a tray...
More Christmas Appetizers
Happy Holidays, and Merry Everything!
All The Best Dishes,
Lisa
XO
CRAVING MORE?
Get my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for more Delicious Table recipes!
4 Cheese Balls
Equipment
Ingredients
White Cheddar, Rosemary, and Pomegranate:
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup grated white cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary finely minced
- ½ cup pomegranate seeds cheese ball topping
Cheddar Cheese Pimiento:
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 ½ cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon diced jalapenos canned
- 4 oz diced pimientos drained
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup grated sharp white cheddar topping
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
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ¼ cup fresh chives finely minced topping
Blue Cheese Cranberry Pecan:
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup (8 oz) blue cheese crumbles
- ½ cup dried cranberries chopped
- ½ cup pecans chopped small pieces topping
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
pomegranate seeds:
Be sure the pomegranate seeds are dry before rolling on the cheese ball, otherwise, they won't stick! (I learned this the hard way)servings:
The number of servings is approximately 10 people per cheese ball.more topping ideas:
- Chopped Dried Fruits
- Crumbled Bacon
- Fresh Chopped Herbs
- Crushed Chips/Crackers
- Mixed Nuts & Chopped Herbs
- Nuts (sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, etc.)
- Grated Cheeses (cheddar, pepper jack, blue cheese)
- Crushed Pretzels Or Potato Chips
- Crackers
- Pita Chips
- Celery Sticks
- Carrots
- Pretzel Sticks
- Bagel Chips
- Sliced Baguette
- Crostini
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.