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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
- Place the softened cream cheese, goat cheese, dried 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 the cheese ball for at least 2 hours, unwrap it and roll it in toasted pecans (see notes).
- The cheese ball can either be served at this point or re-wrapped and refrigerated for up to 3 days.
- 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.
What to Drink: Recommended Pairings
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:
- When choosing wines avoid oaked varieties and 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.
- 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.
Easy Cranberry-Pecan Cheese Ball
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.
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
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This is so easy to make and has been a big hit at holiday parties when I bring it!
great combination of flavors – everyone loved it ~ looks pretty too !