Pioneer Woman Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball Recipe

This Pioneer Woman Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball Recipe is a creamy and savory recipe, which is made with dried cranberries and toasted pecans. It’s the perfect party appetizer, ready in about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

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Pioneer Woman Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball Recipe Ingredients

• 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
• 6 oz. cheddar cheese, grated (about 1 3/4 cup)
• 3 oz. gorgonzola cheese, crumbled (about 1/2 cup)
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1 small garlic clove, finely grated
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced (separate dark green parts)
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• 3/4 cup chopped toasted pecans
• Cooking spray
• Crackers, for serving

How To Make Pioneer Woman Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball

1. Mix the cheese base: In a food processor, combine the room temperature cream cheese, grated cheddar, crumbled gorgonzola, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne, grated garlic, the light parts of the scallions, 1/4 cup of the dried cranberries, salt, and pepper. Pulse until the mixture is almost smooth but still has some small chunks for texture.
2. Prepare the coating: In a shallow dish, toss together the chopped toasted pecans, the remaining 1/2 cup of dried cranberries, and the dark green parts of the scallions.
3. Form the cheese ball: Lightly coat your hands with cooking spray. Scoop the cheese mixture out of the food processor and shape it into a uniform ball.
4. Coat and chill: Roll the cheese ball in the pecan and cranberry mixture until it is completely coated on all sides. Wrap the cheese ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or up to 8 hours) to allow it to firm up.
5. Serve: Let the cheese ball sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving to soften slightly. Serve with your favorite crackers.

Recipe Tips

• How do I get the smoothest cheese ball? The most important step is to use room temperature cream cheese. Cold cream cheese is difficult to blend and will result in a lumpy texture.
• Why toast the pecans? Toasting the pecans before chopping them brings out their natural oils and deepens their nutty flavor. It also makes them crunchier, which provides a great textural contrast to the creamy cheese.
• How do I keep the cheese from sticking to my hands? Lightly coating your hands with nonstick cooking spray before you handle the cheese mixture is a great trick. It creates a barrier and prevents a sticky mess.
• Can I make this ahead of time? Yes, this is a perfect make-ahead appetizer. It needs to chill for at least an hour, but you can make it up to 8 hours in advance. The flavors will meld and become even better as it sits.

What To Serve With Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball

This festive cheese ball is the centerpiece of any appetizer platter. It’s perfect served with a variety of dippers:

• Buttery crackers (like Ritz or Club crackers)
• Sturdy wheat crackers
• Pretzel crisps or thin pretzels
• Sliced apples or pears
• Celery sticks

How To Store Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball

Refrigerate: Wrap the cheese ball tightly in plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 5 days. Freeze: You can freeze the cheese ball (without the coating) for up to one month. Thaw it in the refrigerator, then roll it in the fresh pecan and cranberry coating before serving.

Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 280 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 15g
• Protein: 10g
• Fat: 20g
• Saturated Fat: 10g
• Sodium: 450mg

Nutrition information is estimated per serving and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Try More Recipes:

• Pioneer Woman Goat Cheese Polenta Recipe
• Pioneer Woman Philly Cheesesteak Casserole Recipe
• Pioneer Woman Sloppy Joe Mac And Cheese Recipe