Description
This Cranberry Walnut Cheese Ball is a festive and easy-to-make appetizer that combines the crunchy texture of toasted walnuts with the tangy sweetness of dried cranberries and sharp cheddar cheese. Perfect for holiday gatherings, it is served with crackers, pita chips, or pretzels for a delightful snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- ¾ cup walnuts (chopped)
- ¾ cup dried cranberries (chopped)
- 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- 8 oz. cream cheese (room temperature)
- 1 cup shredded Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar Cheese
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- Crackers (pita chips, pretzels, etc., for serving)
Instructions
- Toast Walnuts: Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the walnuts and toast them, stirring often, for 5 minutes or until golden brown and fragrant. Be careful not to burn them.
- Combine Mix-Ins: In a medium bowl, mix the toasted walnuts, chopped dried cranberries, and fresh parsley until well combined. Set this mixture aside.
- Mix Cheese Base: In a large bowl, add the room temperature cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, and half of the walnut-cranberry mixture. Stir until everything is evenly incorporated.
- Chill: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the cheese mixture for at least 2 hours or overnight to allow flavors to meld and the mixture to firm up. Cover the remaining walnut-cranberry mixture as well to keep fresh.
- Shape Cheese Ball: Using wax paper, shape the chilled cheese mixture into a ball with your hands.
- Coat Cheese Ball: Roll the formed cheese ball in the remaining walnut-cranberry mixture so it is evenly coated.
- Serve: Present the cheese ball with crackers, pita chips, pretzels, or your favorite dippables for guests to enjoy.
Notes
- Toast walnuts carefully as they can burn quickly; watch them closely while toasting.
- Using a hand mixer can make blending the cream cheese and cheddar easier and smoother.
- The cheese ball can be made a day ahead and refrigerated to enhance the flavor.
- For a festive touch, garnish the cheese ball with extra fresh parsley or additional cranberries.
- Serve with a variety of crackers or chips to offer guests different textures and flavors.
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
