Jazz Up Holiday Festivities with a Cranberry Cheese Ball

Picture this: it’s Christmas Eve, and friends and family are stopping by throughout the evening to share in the joy of the holiday season.

You’ve prepped a plethora of holiday treats for your guests, including a charcuterie board filled with your favorite salty delights, a pecan cranberry cheese ball surrounded by perfectly selected dippers (including pita chips and buttery Ritz crackers), and a tower of peppermint-frosted brownies topped with beautiful crushed candy canes.

As each loved one opens the front door, they’re wrapped up in the light sounds of holiday carols, the relief of feeling the warm, fragrant air, and the delight of a perfect holiday spread on your table, just waiting to be enjoyed.

It’s hard to beat the cozy feeling that comes with holiday gatherings, and there’s no centerpiece quite like a cranberry goat cheese ball to bring your guests happily around the table, chatting with one another as they enjoy hot cocoa. Our pecan cranberry cheese ball recipe is the perfect combination of sweetness, crunch, and tang to have your guests coming back for more, time and again.

Let’s take a look at exactly how to make the perfect pecan and dried cranberry cheese ball, loaded with sweet dried cranberries, luxurious goat cheese, crunchy chopped pecans, and a citrusy finish to pack an unexpected punch.

Pecan Cranberry Cheese Ball

• Time to Prepare: 30 minutes
• Time to Chill: 4 hours
• Total: 4 hours 30 minutes
• Servings: 10

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried cranberries, chopped (divided use)
• 1 cup pecans, chopped (divided use)
• 8 ounces Ms. Natural Cypress Grove Goat Cheese, softened to room temperature
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper (to taste)
• Dippers, including Ritz crackers, pita chips, pretzels, large bread cubes, sweet potato chips, etc.
• Optional: 1/4 c. green onions, 1/4 c. walnuts, 1/2 c. cheddar cheese (don’t use pre-shredded cheese), 1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, combine 1/2 cup of the chopped dried cranberries and 1/2 cup of the chopped pecans, salt, and pepper. Add softened goat cheese and softened cream cheese.

If you add any of the optional ingredients listed above, add them to the creamy cheese mixture here.

Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, mix well until combined.

After the mixture is combined, place a large square of plastic wrap on a flat surface. Spoon the cheese mixture onto the center of the plastic wrap. Pull each corner of the plastic wrap into one hand. Continue pulling in the edges of the plastic wrap until the cheese mixture is fully covered.

Gently form the mixture into a ball (no need for perfection—the cheese will firm up and become easier to work with as it chills).

Use a twist tie or bag clip to secure the plastic around the ball, ensuring that it’s secured tightly in plastic wrap. Place on a plate or cookie sheet and chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours (or overnight). Store the remaining chopped pecans and dried cranberries.

About an hour before you’re ready to serve, remove the cheese ball from the fridge. In a large bowl, combine the chopped pecans and dried cranberries. Remove the cheese mixture from the plastic wrap.

Carefully press the cheese ball into the pecans and dried cranberries, gently rolling it to ensure that it’s completely covered in dried cranberries and chopped pecans.

Place the cranberry pecan cheese ball in the center of a large plate. Surround with crackers, pretzels, large bread cubes, sweet potato chips, or other favorite holiday appetizers. Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

How far in advance can I prepare the cranberry pecan cheese ball?

You can prepare your pecan cranberry cheese ball a day or two in advance. Ensure that it’s tightly wrapped so that it isn’t exposed to air, and keep it in the fridge until an hour before you’re going to serve holiday appetizers.

Can I freeze my cranberry cheese ball?

Yes! If you’re getting ahead of the game and want to prepare your cheese ball far in advance, no problem. Don’t wrap the cheese ball in toppings until you’re ready to serve. Wrap the cheese ball tightly in plastic wrap, then wrap it again in aluminum foil. Wrapped well, your cheese ball can stay fresh and frozen in your fridge for up to four weeks.

Before serving a previously frozen cheese ball, be sure to let it thaw in the fridge overnight. Don’t forget to roll your cheese ball in chopped pecans and dried cranberries before serving to your guests!

Can I use other types of fruit in a cranberry pecan cheese ball?

Absolutely! Creativity is encouraged. Adding chopped candied orange peels, dried mango, or dried pineapple can add a fun new twist to a classic recipe. Bonus: adding additional citrus fruit to your cheese ball can help to bring out the citrus finish of your Ms. Natural Cypress Grove Goat Cheese.

Is Ms. Natural the only goat cheese that I should use for this recipe?

While we love the combination of Ms. Natural Goat Cheese with dried cranberries and chopped pecans, we have several other goat cheese options that can work in this recipe as well. Our Meyer Lemon & Honey Goat Cheese is another fun option for your cranberry cheese ball. The surprising burst of herbs in our Purple Haze Goat Cheese can add an unexpected twist to your recipe.

What can I substitute for cream cheese in my pecan cranberry cheese ball?

Out of cream cheese? No worries. You can double up on your favorite Cypress Grove Goat Cheese, or mix two different varieties for a new flavor. If you’d like to ramp up the sweetness, try substituting mascarpone for cream cheese.

Should a cranberry cheese ball be served as an appetizer or a dessert?

Your guests will love this recipe no matter when you serve it, but we recommend using it as an easy appetizer to kick off a holiday gathering. If you’re serving it as a dessert, skip the green onions and add a drizzle of honey for a touch of extra sweetness.

Ready to Try This Cranberry Cheese Ball Recipe?

Ready to get your cranberry cheese ball prepped for your loved ones? Click here to order your favorite goat cheese online, or use our store locator to find our products near you. Be sure to check back with us regularly to check out more appetizers.

As always, Cypress Grove Goat Cheese is the perfect way to add decadence to holidays, fun to celebrations, and a touch of deliciousness to weekday dinners. We hope you enjoy this recipe and have a happy holiday season!