Description
This festive Christmas Tree Cheese Ball is a delightful and easy-to-make holiday appetizer. Combining creamy cheeses with fresh herbs and colorful veggies, it’s shaped into a charming tree and decorated to impress your guests. Perfect for Christmas parties, this savory treat pairs wonderfully with crackers, bread, or chips.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Ball Base
- 3 x 8 ounce (225g) packages cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
Decorations
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- ¼ of each yellow and red bell peppers, diced
- 1 tablespoon pistachios, roughly chopped (optional)
- 1 tablespoon pine nuts (optional)
- Cheese slice (for star topper)
Instructions
- Combine Cheeses and Seasonings: In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat together the softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar, and Monterey Jack until smooth and well combined. Add 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and salt. Continue beating until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
- Shape and Chill: Transfer the cheese mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap. Tightly wrap and shape it into a cone resembling a Christmas tree. Refrigerate the shaped cheese ball for at least 2-3 hours, preferably overnight, to allow it to firm up and flavors to meld.
- Decorate the Cheese Ball Tree: Place the chilled cheese ball cone onto a serving plate. Lightly press some of the chopped parsley into the surface of the cheese to mimic tree foliage. Dot pine nuts around the tree to create a string light effect. Use the diced yellow and red bell peppers along with chopped pistachios to represent ornaments or baubles on the tree.
- Finishing Touches: Fill in any remaining gaps on the cheese ball surface by pressing in the remaining parsley. Using a small cookie cutter, cut a star shape from a thick slice of cheese and attach it to the top of the tree with a toothpick for a festive finishing touch.
- Serve: Serve the Christmas Tree Cheese Ball with an assortment of crackers, bread, or sturdy chips for dipping and spreading.
Notes
- A Christmas Tree Cheese Ball is a tasty and festive holiday appetizer, perfect for your Christmas parties.
- The cheese ball can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated overnight for best flavor and firmness.
- Feel free to customize the decorations with other nuts, seeds, or colorful veggies as desired.
- Use a small cookie cutter or carefully carve the cheese star topper for best results.
- Serve with a variety of crackers and sliced bread to accommodate all guests.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 158 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 222 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 46 mg
