Description
A festive and delicious Christmas Tree Cheese Ball that’s perfect as a holiday appetizer. Creamy blend of cheeses seasoned with herbs and spices, shaped into a cone, then decorated with colorful bell peppers, nuts, and parsley for a beautiful tree appearance. Easy to prepare ahead and guaranteed to impress your guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Mixture
- 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
Decoration
- 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)
Instructions
- Mix Cheeses and Seasonings: In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat together the softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar, and Monterey Jack cheese until smooth and well combined. Add in 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley along with garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, ground black pepper, and salt. Continue beating until all ingredients are fully incorporated and the mixture is uniform.
- Shape and Chill: Transfer the cheese mixture onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Tightly wrap the mixture and shape it into a cone, resembling a Christmas tree. Place the wrapped cheese cone in the refrigerator and chill for at least 2 to 3 hours, preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to meld and the shape to firm up.
- Decorate the Cheese Tree: Once chilled, carefully unwrap the cheese cone and transfer it onto a serving plate. Lightly press some of the additional chopped parsley onto the surface to mimic pine needles. Dot pine nuts around the tree to create the effect of string lights. Scatter diced yellow and red bell peppers and pistachios over the tree to resemble colorful ornaments or baubles. Press in the remaining parsley to cover any gaps and fill in the tree’s appearance.
- Create the Star Topper: Cut a star shape from a thick slice of cheese using a small cookie cutter. Attach the cheese star to the top of the tree using a toothpick to secure it in place.
- Serve: Present the Christmas Tree Cheese Ball with your choice of crackers, bread slices, or sturdy chips for dipping and spreading.
Notes
- This cheese ball is a festive and eye-catching appetizer that’s perfect for holiday gatherings and Christmas parties.
- Preparing the cheese ball at least a few hours ahead, or overnight, helps it set properly and makes decorating easier.
- Feel free to customize decorations with other nuts, veggies, or herbs to suit your taste and holiday theme.
- Serve with a variety of crackers and bread to suit different preferences.
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
