Description
This festive Christmas Tree Cheeseball is a delightful savory appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. Cream cheese blended with sharp cheddar, green onions, pimientos, and savory seasonings is shaped into a charming Christmas tree and garnished with colorful cherry tomatoes, fresh parsley, almonds, and a star-shaped yellow pepper. Served with crackers and pretzels, it’s an eye-catching and crowd-pleasing starter that adds holiday cheer to any party table.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheeseball Base
- 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
- 4 cups finely shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 green onions, chopped
- 1 jar (4 ounces) diced pimientos, drained
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Garnish
- 12 cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 1 yellow pepper, chopped and cut into a star shape
To Serve
- Assorted crackers and pretzels
Instructions
- Mix the base: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until creamy and smooth. Gradually beat in the shredded cheddar cheese, chopped green onions, diced pimientos, melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, kosher salt, and ground black pepper until well combined.
- Chill the mixture: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the mixture for at least one hour to allow it to firm up and the flavors to meld.
- Shape the tree: After chilling, remove the mixture from the refrigerator and roll and press it into the shape of a Christmas tree on a serving platter, making sure it holds its shape firmly.
- Garnish the tree: Decorate the cheeseball tree first with halved cherry tomatoes, then sprinkle evenly with finely chopped fresh parsley, followed by sliced almonds. Finally, place the star-shaped yellow pepper on top to complete the tree look.
- Serve: Arrange assorted crackers and pretzels around the cheeseball tree and serve as a festive appetizer.
Notes
- Make sure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature to ensure smooth mixing.
- Allow adequate chilling time for the cheeseball to firm up, making shaping easier.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the yellow pepper into a star shape or use a small cookie cutter for precision.
- This cheeseball can be prepared a day in advance and refrigerated until ready to serve.
- Feel free to substitute cheddar with a cheese variety of your choice for a different flavor profile.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/10 of cheeseball with garnishes and crackers)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 7g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
