Make your holiday entertaining a breeze with this make-ahead easy cranberry cheese ball rolled in toasted pecans.
A close up view of a cranberry cheese ball with a portion removed revealing the creamy cheese studded with dried cranberries and fresh orange est.

This quick-to-fix cranberry cheese ball recipe is the perfect easy party food, especially for holiday entertaining. With its balanced 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.

Notes From the MGC Kitchen

We’re always fans of easy, low-maintenance appetizers that allow us to spend more time with our guests and less time in the kitchen, and cheese balls are always crowd pleasers! Our easy cranberry cheese ball is our go-to appetizer when we’re tasked with bringing a dish to a holiday gathering, too. It’s perfect because it’s quick to prepare, easy to transport, and doesn’t require re-heating before serving. We just pack some cheese spreaders and crackers to serve alongside it, and guests can help themselves. Everyone loves the pop of sweetness the dried cranberries bring to the tangy cheese mixture, not to mention the festive presentation!

A labeled overhead view of the ingredients for a cranberry cheese ball including cream cheese, goat cheese, orange zest, dried cranberries, and chopped pecans.

Key Ingredients

This is an overview of the key ingredients for this recipe. Please see the printable recipe card below for the complete listing, including quantities.

  • 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 bringing 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 a Cranberry Cheese Ball with Pecans

This is an overview of how this recipe is prepared. Please see the printable recipe card below for detailed step-by-step instructions.

MIX THE INGREDIENTS: Place the softened cream cheese, goat cheese, dried cranberries, and orange zest in a bowl and combine thoroughly.

SHAPE THE BALL: Scoop the mixture onto a large sheet of plastic wrap and gather the wrap together tightly to form a ball about 4 inches in diameter.

A cranberry cheese ball tightly wrapped in plastic wrap and ready to be refrigerated on a marble board.

CHILL: Refrigerate the cheese ball for at least 2 hours.

COAT: After chilling, unwrap it and roll it in the chopped toasted pecans.

A cranberry cheese ball on a bed of chopped, toasted nuts on a plate, ready to be rolled.

SERVE: Serve with crackers or thin slices of toasted baguette.

Pecan halves laid out on a parchment lined baking sheet, ready to go into the oven for toasting.

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.

When entertaining, appetizers and cocktails go hand in hand, and it helps to have food that will work with your guests’ favorite drinks. The flavors in this cheese ball make it easy to pair with a wide variety of beverages. Here are a few suggestions:

  • If you want to serve mixed drinks, try our Spiced Orange Champagne Cocktail or keep with the cranberry theme and whip up a few Cranberry Moscow Mules.
  • When choosing wines, avoid oaked varieties and instead try a light-bodied, fruity red like Beaujolais, or sparkling rosé, or Pinot Gris.
  • For the craft beer fans on your guest list, both American-style pale ales and Belgian Saison are good choices.
An overhead view of a cranberry cheese ball and crackers atop a black serving board. More crackers, toasted pecans, and a spreader surround the board.

Frequently Asked Questions About Homemade Cheese Balls

Can the cheese ball be made ahead of time?

Yes, after coating with the toasted pecans, the cheese ball can be re-wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to 3 days. Take the ball out of the refrigerator about 20 to 30 minutes ahead of serving to come to room temperature.

Can you freeze a cheese ball?

Yes, start by wrapping the ball tightly in plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil. Then place the wrapped cheese ball in a freezer-safe bag. When you’re ready to serve it, thaw in the fridge overnight. Keep in mind that the freezing and defrosting process may change the texture of the cheese slightly, but it will still taste great!

What can I substitute for toasted pecans?

Toasted walnuts would be our first choice as a substitution for this cheese ball. We also think pistachios or almonds would work well. You can even use a combination of different toasted nuts for a more complex flavor profile.

More Easy Appetizers to Try

A black serving board with a variety of crackers and a cranberry cheese ball rolled in toasted nuts. A small amount was removed and spread onto the cracker to the left of the cheese ball.
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A close up view of a cranberry cheese ball with a portion removed revealing the creamy cheese studded with dried cranberries and fresh orange est.
4.56 from 9 votes

Easy Cranberry Cheese Ball

Make your holiday entertaining a breeze with this make-ahead easy cranberry cheese ball rolled in toasted pecans.
Prep: 15 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Servings: 10 servings

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)
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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.

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

Calories: 155kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 17mg, Sodium: 124mg, Potassium: 94mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 246IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 55mg, Iron: 0.5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Lynne Webb and Erika Pitera, creators of MyGourmetConnection in the kitchen, working on a soup recipe for the website.

About Us

We’re Lynne and Erika, a mother-daughter duo passionate about creating recipes that bring flavor and variety to your kitchen in a simple, approachable way.

4.56 from 9 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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4 Comments

    1. Hi Janet,
      I think you can easily substitute walnuts for the pecans entirely, or use a mix like you did. Thanks for sharing the tip.