Christmas Cheddar Cheese Ball
This cheddar cheese ball recipe makes a delicious appetizer for holiday entertaining. It's easy to make with simple ingredients and the festive green and red colour means it's pretty as well!
Servings 10 servings
Calories 322kcal
Ingredients
- 16 ounces full fat cream cheese (about 500 grams)
- 1/4 cup full fat sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (we like 1 cup each white and orange cheddar)
- 1 red bell pepper finely diced
- 1 green bell pepper finely diced
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- sea salt (to taste)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- a dash of Sriracha or your favourite hot sauce
- 3/4 cup chopped pecans (for the outside of the cheese ball, OR use the same measurement of chopped pretzels instead of nuts for a nut-free version)
- breadsticks, crackers, pretzels, or veggies for serving
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream and shredded cheese with a rubber spatula or with a hand mixer (if desired).
- Add half the diced peppers (reserving half of each colour for coating the cheese ball later), and add the pepper, salt (to taste), and garlic and onion powders, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce.
- Stir well to combine and using your spoon or spatula, roll the mixture into a rough ball shape.
- Place a large piece of plastic wrap on your work surface and add the cheese ball onto the plastic wrap. Using the plastic wrap, roll the cheese ball into a smooth ball shape wrapping it tightly in the plastic.
- Chill the cheese ball in the fridge for 2 hours or overnight (overnight is best).
- Before serving, remove the cheese ball from the plastic wrap and roll it in the chopped pecans and the remaining diced red and green peppers until the cheese ball is covered evenly with the chopped pecans.
- Serve immediately on a platter with your favourite crackers, pretzels, baguette slices, or veggies.
Notes
This cheese ball keeps in the fridge wrapped in plastic wrap for about 1 week or in the freezer for about 1 month (defrost in the fridge before serving).
Be sure to roll the cheese ball in the chopped pecans and bell peppers immediately before serving to maintain an ideal texture for serving.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 322kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 303mg | Potassium: 185mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1313IU | Vitamin C: 25mg | Calcium: 222mg | Iron: 1mg