Description
This festive Christmas Tree Cheeseball is a delightful and savory appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. Cream cheese and cheddar blend seamlessly with green onions, pimientos, and flavorful seasonings to create a creamy, tangy base. Shaped into a festive Christmas tree and garnished with cherry tomatoes, fresh parsley, sliced almonds, and a yellow pepper star, this cheeseball pairs beautifully with assorted crackers and pretzels for a crowd-pleasing party starter.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheeseball
- 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 large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Gradually beat in the finely shredded cheddar cheese, chopped green onions, drained diced pimientos, melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, kosher salt, and ground black pepper, mixing thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Chill the mixture: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour. This allows the flavors to meld and the mixture to firm up, making it easier to shape.
- Shape the cheeseball: Remove the chilled mixture from the refrigerator and roll or press it into the shape of a Christmas tree on a serving plate, ensuring the form is well defined and compact.
- Garnish the tree: Decorate the cheeseball by first arranging the halved cherry tomatoes across the surface to mimic ornaments. Next, sprinkle the finely chopped fresh parsley over the tree to resemble greenery. Follow with a scattering of sliced almonds to add texture and visual appeal. Finally, place the chopped yellow pepper cut into a star shape at the top of the tree as the star topper.
- Serve: Present the decorated cheeseball with an assortment of crackers and pretzels on the side for guests to enjoy scooping and spreading the flavorful cheese mixture.
Notes
- For best results, use room temperature cream cheese to ensure smooth mixing.
- Customize the garnish by adding other colorful vegetables or herbs to enhance the festive appearance.
- Can be prepared a day in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator to let flavors develop.
- Allow the cheeseball to sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving for optimal texture and flavor.
- Substitute cheddar with other cheeses like Monterey Jack or Colby for different flavor profiles.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/10 of cheeseball with crackers and pretzels (approximately 100g)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0.2g
- Carbohydrates: 7g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
