Cranberry And Walnut Cheese Ball

This cranberry and walnut cheese ball is made with sharp cheddar cheese, cream cheese and creamy mascarpone. Every bite is filled with sweetness from the cranberries and nuttiness from the walnuts.

Cheeseballs are a pretty popular appetizer to bring or make for any gathering. This cranberry and walnut cheese ball is the perfect appetizer for any holiday party. Its adorable Christmas tree shape is super festive, and will have at least a few people say “awww!”.

Cheese logs, or cheese balls were a big thing in the 1970s. A bunch of creamy cheeses mixed together with add-ins. Shaped into a log or a ball, served with crackers to spread on.

I took mine to a whole other level. I got a little creative and shaped it into a Christmas tree, wrapped it with some rosemary sprigs and cut out a star from lemon peel! Which was super easy!

I started out by mixing all of my ingredients together until everything became well combined.

Then, I took the cheese mixture out of the bowl, and shaped it into a Christmas tree with my hands.

This is totally optional. But I took a piece of brown shipping paper, and cut a circle out. Wrote a cute little saying “O Christmas Tree..” and placed my cheese tree right in the middle. I thought it added a nice touch.

I then added my rosemary sprigs around. You have to press them into the cheese a bit to get them to stick and stay. Add your star on top, and finish with crackers and a knife to spread!

Super duper easy, And super adorable!

Make sure to check my latest recipe inspired from the 1960s for Grape Jelly Meatballs! https://thehungrylyoness.com/2019/12/12/grape-jelly-cocktail-meatballs/

Cranberry And Walnut Cheese Ball

This cranberry and walnut cheese ball is made with sharp cheddar cheese, cream cheese and creamy mascarpone. Every bite is filled with sweetness from the cranberries and nuttiness from the walnuts.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course: Appetizer

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 8 oz. block of cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese
• 6 oz. block of freshly shredded sharp white cheddar cheese OR 3/4 cups of pre shredded sharp cheddar cheese I used the Cabot legacy collection alpine cheddar cheese and shredded it myself.
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• rosemary sprigs to decorate tree
• 1 lemon for lemon peel to cut star out
• crackers of choice

Method

 

1. In a large bowl using a hand held mixer, mix together cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, walnuts, cranberries, salt and pepper. Mix well until everything is combined.
2. Using your hands, shape cheese into a Christmas tree shape.
3. Add rosemary springs around tree pressing into cheese so they stick and stay.
4. Add cut out star from lemon peel on top of tree.
5. Place tree on serving board or plate.
6. Serve with crackers of choice.
7. Enjoy!

Notes

This recipe can make two smaller tree cheese balls or one big tree cheese ball. Your choice!