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Christmas Cheese Ball

This tree shaped Christmas Cheese Ball is an easy and festive appetizer to serve during the holiday season. It’s not only pretty, but it’s delicious, too!

how-do-you-make-a-christmas-tree-cheeseball

Ingredients to Make Christmas Cheese Ball Recipe

If you’re looking for a fun and festive savory holiday appetizer, this is it! The cream cheese filling can be made in advance and you can decorate the cheese tree the day you plan on serving it. It’s an edible centerpiece that your guests are sure to love and it’s so fun to make! Ingredients to make a Christmas Tree Cheese Ball: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)

  • Cream Cheese: 16 ounces plain cream cheese and one 8 ounce container of chive and onion cream cheese.
  • Bacon: Six slices of cooked bacon finely crumbled for a smoky flavor.
  • Pecans: Chopped toasted pecans plus additional pecan halves for decorating the tree and the base.
  • Seasonings: One packet of dry ranch seasoning mix plus additional garlic salt and Worcestershire sauce.
  • Shredded Cheese: Two cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese for the filling of the cheese ball.
  • Green Onions: Green onions for a mild onion flavor.
  • Herbs: Chopped parsley (Italian parsley) mixed with fresh chives to form the green for the tree.
  • Decorations: Red bell peppers, pine nuts, black olives and a thick piece of cheese cut into a star shape for the cheese tree topper.
how-do-you-make-a-christmas-tree-cheeseball

How to Make the BEST Christmas Cheese Ball Recipe

  • Toast the Pecans: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the pecans on a sheet pan. Toast until lightly golden brown and fragrant. Cool completely.
  • Fry Bacon: Cook the bacon in a large skillet until crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain, then chop.
  • Whip the Cream Cheese and Seasonings: Use an electric mixer to whip together plain cream cheese, chive and onion cream cheese, ranch dressing mix, garlic salt and Worcestershire sauce. Whip until fully combined.
  • Add Cooled Pecans: By hand mix cream cheese with the pecans, bacon and shredded cheddar cheese. Place onto a large piece of plastic wrap and shape into a vertical tree cone shape. Bring the sides of the plastic wrap up around the tree and twist to close.
  • Refrigerate: Chill in the fridge for at least 6-8 hours or overnight. This is necessary to let the cream cheese firm.
  • Decorate the Christmas Tree Cheese Ball: Mix together the parsley and chives. Just before serving press onto all sides of the tree. Decorate with bell pepper ornaments, pine nuts for the garland and add a thick cheese star to the top secured with a toothpick.
  • Serve: Serve with assorted crackers, pita chips, sliced baguette or carrot sticks, sliced cucumber and celery.

Tips for Making a Christmas Tree Cheese Ball

  • Kitchen Tools You’ll Need: Sheet pan, cheese grater, sharp knife and chopping board, measuring cups and measuring spoons, large bowl, hand mixer or stand mixer and skillet for frying the bacon.
  • Use Freshly Grated Cheese: When making a cheese ball I highly recommend grating your own cheese for the filling. Pre-shredded cheese is a nice convenience item and has its place in the kitchen. Bagged pre-shredded cheese includes anticaking ingredients to keep it from sticking together. Fresh cheese has far more moisture and a superior flavor.
  • Use Fresh Herbs: The fresh parsley and chives for the pretty greenery for the tree so make sure it’s bright green and super fresh.
  • Garlic Salt: The ranch seasoning mix includes garlic powder and onion powder along with other herbs. The size of the cheeseball requires just a little boost and additional seasonings for more flavor. If you don’t have garlic salt, you can add garlic powder and use plain salt to your taste.
  • Use Cookie Cutters and Piping Bag Tips to Make the Shapes: I used a small star cookie cutter for the topper of the cheese tree. You can also use the widest end of piping tips to cut peppers into rounds for the ornaments.
  • How to Serve: Arrange on a pretty serving platter or decorative serving plate along with a variety of crackers and fresh veggies for dipping. You can serve this cheeseball for entertaining friends and family during the holidays, potluck parties, casual gatherings or anytime small bite Christmas appetizers are on the menu.
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Recipe Variations

  • Cream Cheese: You could use an herbed goat cheese in place of chive and onion cream cheese. It should have a similar texture to cream cheese to hold together.
  • Shredded Cheese: You can use another flavor of shredded cheese. Use pepper jack cheese for spice or colby jack cheese for a creamy mild flavor.
  • Alternate Decorations: You can have fun and get creative when decorating your tree. Use pomegranate seeds in place of pine nuts for the garland. You could also use cheese cut outs in festive shapes for ornaments.
  • Red Peppers: You could also use yellow bell peppers or orange bell peppers for ornaments.
  • Herbs: You could use sprigs of rosemary for branches or to form the base of the tree.
  • Tomatoes: You could secure tiny cherry tomatoes to the tree using toothpicks.
  • Nuts: You could use sliced almonds in place of pecan halves for decorating. I recommend sticking with the pecans for the cheese ball filling.
  • Dried Cranberries and Apricots: You may enjoy serving dried fruit on the side for a hint of sweet to go with the salty flavor combination.

Storage and Leftovers

  • Leftovers: Once fully assembled, you can store this Christmas Cheese Ball wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
  • Prior to Decorating: You can make the cheese ball without decorations and herbs up to 2 days in advance. Decorate the day you plan on serving it.
  • Freezer: I don’t recommend freezing a cheese ball as the cream cheese can change texture when thawed.
bacon-ranch-cheeseball-recipe

More Easy Appetizer Recipes to Make

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Print

Christmas Cheese Ball

Course Appetizer
Cuisine American, Southern
Keyword christmas-cheese-ball-recipe, christmas-tree-cheese-ball-recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Chill Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 20 minutes
Servings 24 servings (may vary)
Calories 154kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans plus additional pecan halves for decorating the tree and the base.
  • 6 slices bacon cooked and finely crumbled
  • 1 pound cream cheese softened
  • 4 ounces chive and onion cream cheese softened
  • 1 1.0 oz packet of dry ranch salad dressing mix
  • 1 tsp garlic salt
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped green onions
  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
  • 1/3 cups chopped fresh chives
  • red bell peppers, pine nuts and a thick cut cheese star for the topper

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the pecans on a sheet pan. Toast for 6-8 minutes then cool completely.
  • Cook the bacon in a large skillet until crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain, then chop.
  • In a medium bowl use an electric mixer to whip together both blocks of plain cream cheese, chive and onion cream cheese, ranch dressing mix, garlic salt and Worcestershire sauce. Whip until fully combined.
  • By hand fold in the pecans, bacon and shredded cheese. Place onto a large piece of plastic wrap and shape into a vertical tree shape. Bring the sides of the plastic wrap up around the tree and twist to close. (The tree is about 6-inches tall and about 4-inches wide at the base.)
  • Chill the cone-shaped cheese mixture in the fridge for at least 6-8 hours or overnight to firm.
  • Decorate: Mix together the parsley and chives. Just before serving press onto all sides of the tree. Decorate with bell pepper "balls" and add a thick cheese star to the top secured with a toothpick.
  • Serve with assorted crackers, pita chips, sliced baguette or carrot sticks, sliced cucumber and celery.

Notes

  • Cream Cheese: You could use an herbed goat cheese in place of chive and onion cream cheese. It should have a similar texture to cream cheese to hold together.
  • Shredded Cheese: You can use another flavor of shredded cheese. Pepper jack cheese for spice or colby jack cheese for a creamy mild flavor.
  • Alternate Decorations: You can have fun and get creative when decorating your tree. Use pomegranate seeds in place of pine nuts for the garland. You could also use cheese cut outs in festive shapes for ornaments.
  • Red Peppers: You could also use yellow bell peppers or orange bell peppers for ornaments.
  • Herbs: You could use sprigs of rosemary for branches or to form the base of the tree.
  • Tomatoes: You could secure cherry tomatoes to the tree using toothpicks.
  • Nuts: You could use sliced almonds in place of pecan halves for decorating. I recommend sticking with the pecans for the cheese ball filling.
  • Dried Cranberries and Apricots: You may enjoy serving dried fruit on the side for a hint of sweet to go with the salty flavor combination.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 154kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 278mg | Potassium: 78mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 493IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 97mg | Iron: 0.2mg

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Christmas Cheese Ball Christmas Cheese Ball Reviewed by Kritik Sah on December 08, 2024 Rating: 5

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