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–+ servings
Close up of a cheese ball appetizer on a cutting board with Christmas decorations in the background.
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4 from 1 vote

Christmas Cheese Ball

This Christmas cheese ball with green onions, dried cranberries, bacon and pecans is a fun, festive appetizer that’s always a huge hit!
Prep Time20 minutes
Additional Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 20 minutes
Yield: 8 -10 servings

Ingredients

For the cheese ball:

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened at room temperature
  • ½ cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
  • 4 pieces bacon, cooked and crumbled (I prefer thick cut)
  • 2 green onions, sliced (dark and light green parts only)
  • 3 tablespoons chopped pecans
  • 3 tablespoons dried cranberries

For the outer layer:

  • 2 green onions, sliced (dark and light green parts only)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
  • 2 tablespoons dried cranberries
  • 1-2 pieces bacon, cooked and crumbled (about 2 tablespoons)

For serving:

  • Crackers of choice

Instructions

  • Combine the softened cream cheese with the cheddar, bacon, green onions, pecans and dried cranberries for the cheese ball. Work them all together until evenly mixed.
  • Slightly wet your hands with water to make rolling a little easier. Form the cream cheese mixture into a round ball, making sure to push it together enough so it’s compact and sturdy. Place the ball on a large pieces of plastic wrap, cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
  • In a low bowl or on a plate, combine all of the outer layer ingredients - the green onions, pecans, cranberries and bacon - until well mixed.
  • Unwrap the cheese ball and roll evenly in the crumbled mixture to get the ball well and evenly coated. You can use your fingers and hands to help spread the nut mixture around and press it into the ball to help it adhere.
  • Serve immediately or rewrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

Cream cheese: You can use regular or ⅓ reduced fat cream cheese for this recipe. (I don’t recommend using a fat-free cream cheese.) Be sure to use the kind that comes in a block, not the kind in the tub. And it needs to be softened at room temperature for at least 15-20 minutes.
Cheddar: A sharp cheddar helps add extra flavor and balance to this recipe. Regular cheddar or white cheddar are both fine to use.
Bacon: You need 4 pieces of cooked, crumbled bacon. (I cook mine in the microwave.) I prefer the thick cut bacon so I have bigger pieces, but you can use another kind if you prefer.
Pecans: This is my preferred nut for this recipe, but walnuts would be a fine substitution as well, if needed.
Leftovers: Stored, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 201kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 265mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g
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