Description
This Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball blends creamy goat cheese with sweet cranberries and crunchy pecans for the ultimate holiday appetizer. Fast, festive, and crowd-pleasing.
Ingredients
8 oz cream cheese (softened, full fat preferred)
4 oz goat cheese (for tangy sharp notes)
1 cup dried cranberries (chopped; reserve 1/3 for coating)
1 cup chopped pecans (toasted for more depth)
2 green onions (sliced thin)
1 tsp garlic powder (or sub with minced fresh garlic)
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, blend softened cream cheese and goat cheese until silky.
2. Stir in chopped cranberries (reserve some), toasted pecans, green onions, and garlic powder.
3. Shape the mixture into a ball using your hands or a plastic wrap mold.
4. Roll the ball gently in remaining cranberries and pecans for a gorgeous outer layer.
5. Chill if time allows—makes slicing and serving easier.
Notes
Serve with crackers, multigrain chips, or crusty bread.
Make ahead and refrigerate up to 5 days.
Try pairing with fig jam or balsamic blueberry preserve for extra flavor.
Swap pecans with walnuts or pistachios, or make it dairy-free with vegan cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (about 1/10 of ball)
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: cheese ball, cranberry, pecan, goat cheese, holiday appetizer, party food