Description
This Cranberry Walnut Cheese Ball combines toasted walnuts, dried cranberries, fresh parsley, and sharp cheddar with creamy cream cheese to create a festive and delicious holiday appetizer. Perfect for serving with crackers, pita chips, or pretzels, it's an easy, flavorful treat that will delight guests and leave you more time to enjoy the festivities.
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
For Serving
- Crackers (pita chips, pretzels, etc.)
Instructions
- Toast Walnuts: Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chopped walnuts. Toast the nuts, stirring often, for 5 minutes or until they turn golden brown and release a toasted aroma. Be careful to watch closely as walnuts can burn quickly.
- Combine Nuts and Fruit: In a medium bowl, mix the toasted walnuts, chopped dried cranberries, and chopped fresh parsley until well combined. Set this mixture aside for later use.
- Mix Cheese Base: In a large bowl, add the room temperature cream cheese, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, garlic powder, and half of the walnut-cranberry mixture. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated and smooth. Using a hand mixer here can make the process easier.
- Refrigerate Cheese Mixture: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the mixture for at least 2 hours or overnight to allow flavors to meld and the cheese to firm up.
- Shape Cheese Ball: Remove the chilled cheese mixture from the fridge. Using wax paper, shape the mixture into a ball shape that holds firmly.
- Coat Cheese Ball: Roll the shaped cheese ball in the remaining walnut-cranberry mixture until coated evenly around the surface.
- Serve: Present the cheese ball on a serving platter with crackers, pita chips, pretzels, or your preferred accompaniments.
Notes
- Toast walnuts carefully and monitor closely to avoid burning, which will impact flavor negatively.
- Using a hand mixer can simplify mixing the cream cheese and cheddar for a smoother texture.
- The cheese ball can be made a day in advance to save time and enhance flavors.
- For a festive twist, add a sprinkle of chopped fresh rosemary or substitute parsley with dill if preferred.
- Serve with a variety of crackers or chips to cater to different tastes.
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
