Christmas Tree Cheese Ball
This festive Christmas Tree Cheese Ball is the ultimate holiday appetizer! Shaped like a Christmas tree and decked out with rosemary “branches,” pomegranate “ornaments,” and topped with a cheddar cheese star – this cheese ball is the perfect centerpiece for your holiday table. Whether you’re hosting a party or bringing a dish to share, this cheeseball is guaranteed to spread holiday cheer with every bite!
Servings 12
Calories 202kcal
Ingredients
Cheese Ball
- 24 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- ¾ cup finely chopped bacon about 8 slices, cooked
- ½ cup finely chopped deli meat 4 ounces (ham, turkey, pastrami, roast beef, etc.)
- 8 green onions thinly sliced
- ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese I used a cheddar cheese blend
- ½ cup finely diced nuts walnuts, pecans, almond, etc.
- 1 teaspoon dill weed
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Decorations
- almonds whole or sliced
- rosemary you'll need several packages
- pomegranate arils or cranberries
- cheddar cheese about 2x2 in. for the star OR yellow bell pepper
Serving
- assorted crackers
- fresh veggies bell peppers, cucumbers, carrots, celery, etc.
- bread
Instructions
- Start by placing your cream cheese, bacon, deli meat, green onions, shredded cheese, nuts, dill weed and garlic powder in a large mixing bowl.24 ounces cream cheese, ¾ cup finely chopped bacon, ½ cup finely chopped deli meat, 8 green onions, ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese, ½ cup finely diced nuts, 1 teaspoon dill weed, 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Give everything a good mix, and then begin kneading your cream cheese into the other ingredients. Knead until very well combined. Roll into a ball and place on a serving dish.
- Begin shaping your cheeseball into a cone shape as shown.
- Let’s decorate it! Start by placing almonds on your cheeseball, as garland. Start at the top, working your way down diagonally, as shown. Add as many or as little as you desire.almonds
- Cut your rosemary stems in half, one by one, and place them into your cheeseball, pointing down, to create a branch effect. Cover the entire cheeseball as best as you can.rosemary
- Cover any bare spots with pomegranate arils, for ornaments.pomegranate arils
- Cut your cheese slice into the shape of a star, and attach to the top of your tree, using a toothpick.cheddar cheese
- Surround your cheeseball with an assortment of crackers, bread and fresh veggies. Serve and enjoy!assorted crackers, fresh veggies, bread
Notes
Storage Information
Refrigerator: To store your Christmas Tree Cheese Ball, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap without any of the decorations or garnish and refrigerate for up to 3 days. When ready to serve, add the almonds, rosemary, pomegranate arils and cheddar star.
This appetizer is not freezer-friendly, as the cream cheese base can change texture when frozen and thawed.
For more information, recipe tips and FAQs, see post above.
For more information, recipe tips and FAQs, see post above.
Nutrition
Calories: 202kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 179mg | Potassium: 100mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 843IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 0.2mg
