Description
This Cranberry Walnut Cheese Ball is a delightful and easy-to-make holiday appetizer featuring toasted walnuts, dried cranberries, sharp cheddar, and cream cheese. Perfect for serving with crackers or chips, it offers a festive combination of sweet, savory, and crunchy flavors that will be a hit at any gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Ball Mixture
- 8 oz. cream cheese (room temperature)
- 1 cup shredded Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar Cheese
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¾ cup walnuts (chopped)
- ¾ cup dried cranberries (chopped)
- 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
For Serving
- crackers (pita chips, pretzels, etc.) as desired
Instructions
- Toast the Walnuts: Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chopped walnuts. Toast them, stirring often, for 5 minutes or until they turn golden brown and release a toasted aroma. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Combine Walnuts, Cranberries, and Parsley: Transfer toasted walnuts to a medium bowl and add chopped dried cranberries and fresh parsley. Stir until well combined, then set aside. Using a hand mixer here can make the mixing easier.
- Mix the Cheese Base: In a large bowl, add the cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, and half of the walnut-cranberry mixture. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated into a uniform mixture.
- Chill the Mixture: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight to let the flavors meld and the cheese firm up. Cover the remaining walnut-cranberry mixture with plastic wrap as well.
- Form the Cheese Ball: Remove the chilled cheese mixture from the refrigerator. Using wax paper, shape the mixture into a ball. Roll the cheese ball in the remaining walnut-cranberry mixture until it's fully coated on the outside.
- Serve: Place the finished cheese ball on a serving platter and serve with crackers, pita chips, pretzels, or any preferred dippers.
Notes
- Toast the walnuts just before assembling the cheese ball to ensure maximum freshness and flavor.
- A hand mixer can make mixing cream cheese and cheddar easier and more uniform.
- Chilling the mixture overnight enhances the flavors and helps the cheese ball hold its shape better.
- Use wax paper to easily shape and roll the cheese ball without sticking.
- Feel free to substitute walnuts with pecans or almonds for a different nutty flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 176 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 122 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 29 mg
