Easy Party Food

This quick-to-fix cranberry-pecan cheese ball is the perfect party food. With its balance blend of sweet and savory flavors, it makes a big hit every time we serve it. Another plus is that it can be made up to three days in advance leaving you free to work on other last-minute details before guests arrive.

Key Ingredients

• Chèvre: Also known as fresh goat cheese, chèvre is easy to find in most supermarkets. Its tangy, grassy flavor is the star of this cheese ball, and it’s easy to work with too.
• Cream cheese: Cream cheese is included in most cheese ball recipes as its smooth, creamy texture helps to bind the other ingredients and blend the flavors.
• Dried cranberries: In addition to adding festive color to this cheese ball, dried cranberries provide its signature sweet-tart flavor.
• Orange zest: Fresh orange zest adds a delicious, citrusy note whenever you add it to a recipe, and in this case, it plays perfectly with the cranberries and the goat cheese.
• Toasted pecans: With their crunchy texture and buttery flavor, toasted pecans are the finishing touch for this cheese ball.

How to Make Our Easy Cranberry-Pecan Cheese Ball

1. Place the softened cream cheese, goat cheese, dried cranberries, and orange zest in a bowl and combine thoroughly.
2. Scoop the mixture onto a large sheet of plastic wrap and gather the wrap together to form a ball about 4 inches in diameter.
3. Refrigerate the cheese ball for at least 2 hours, unwrap it and roll it in toasted pecans (see notes).
4. The cheese ball can either be served at this point or re-wrapped and refrigerated for up to 3 days.
5. Serve with crackers or thin slices of toasted baguette.

How to Toast Pecans: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the pecans in a single layer on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Toast for 5 to 6 minutes, turn, then return to the oven and continue toasting for another 5 to 6 minutes or until golden brown with a nutty, toasty aroma.

Easy Cranberry-Pecan Cheese Ball

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This easy appetizer cheese ball is made with cream cheese, goat cheese, dried cranberries, fresh orange zest, and a coating of toasted pecans.

Yield: 10 servings

Prep Time: 15 mins

Total Time : 15 mins

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Ingredients 

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 4 ounces chèvre (French goat cheese), softened
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
• Zest of 1 orange
• 3/4 cup pecans, toasted and chopped (see notes)

Instructions 

• Place the cream cheese, goat cheese, cranberries and orange zest in a bowl and combine thoroughly.
• Scoop the mixture onto a large sheet of plastic wrap and gather the wrap together to form a ball about 4 inches in diameter.
• Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, unwrap it and roll it in toasted pecans.
• The cheese ball can either be served at this point or re-wrapped and refrigerated for up to 3 days.
• Serve with crackers, crisp breadsticks, or thin slices of toasted baguette.

Recipe Notes

How to Toast Pecans

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the pecans in a single layer on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Toast for 5 to 6 minutes, turn, then return to the oven and continue toasting for another 5 to 6 minutes or until golden brown with a nutty, toasty aroma.

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts

Easy Cranberry-Pecan Cheese Ball

Amount per Serving

Calories

155

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

11

g

17

%

Saturated Fat

 

4

g

25

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

2

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

5

g

Cholesterol

 

17

mg

6

%

Sodium

 

124

mg

5

%

Potassium

 

94

mg

3

%

Carbohydrates

 

10

g

3

%

Fiber

 

1

g

4

%

Sugar

 

8

g

9

%

Protein

 

5

g

10

%

Vitamin A

 

246

IU

5

%

Vitamin C

 

0.1

mg

0

%

Calcium

 

55

mg

6

%

Iron

 

0.5

mg

3

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Have you tried this recipe?Did you add your own special touch? We’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment and a rating to share your thoughts with others.