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This Holiday Cheese Ball is one of the most delightful appetizers you will make this Christmas, and it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Made with cream cheese and rolled in parmesan, this festive cheese ball is shaped into a charming snowman.
You can use any cream cheese you like (I used a garlic Rondelé). If you find yours to be a bit too soft to shape, add a tablespoon of finely grated hard cheese (like sharp cheddar cheese or parmesan) until it is easier to work with.
Serve this easy cheese ball recipe with crackers, veggies, or slices of baguette. You can toast the bread, or if you want to step things up a notch, fry the slices in a pan using two tablespoons of butter until they are lovely and golden on both sides. The butter makes them extra crunchy and tasty.
Other Christmas appetizers with cheese include phyllo baked brie and cheese crostini snowmen. So many delicious options!
Holiday Cheese Ball
Equipment
- toothpick
Ingredients
- 250 grams cream cheese, (I used Rondelé)
- 50 grams Parmesan, or Grana Padano
- 1 baguette
- fresh basil leaves
- 1 pretzel stick
- 1 small carrot
- 1 small cucumber
- 10 peppercorns
Instructions
- Place just over half of the cream cheese on a piece of plastic wrap and wrap it into a ball.
- Repeat with the smaller half.
- Grate the Parmesan finely.
- Roll the balls into the grated cheese and place them next to each other on a platter. Flatten them slightly.
- Top with peppercorn for the eyes, mouth, and buttons.
- Trim a small triangle out of carrot for the nose.
- Arrange two basil leaves as a scarf between the cheese balls.
- Halve the pretzel stick and insert it into the larger ball to make the arms.
- Trim two basil leaves into a glove shape, and top these onto the pretzel arms with some leftover cream cheese.
- Slice and peel the end of a cucumber. Trim off the rounded tip and remove a small section between the top part of the hat and the bottom to make the hat. Hold it in place with a toothpick (be careful not to eat it).
- Slice and toast the baguette. Place these around the snowman.
- Serve.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
