Mini Cranberry Orange Cheese Balls
I could eat 100 of these cranberry orange cheese balls, they are so good. With white cheddar, cranberries, orange zest, thyme, toasted pecans, and maple syrup, they're a sweet, savory, and nutty appetizer. The recipe is easy, has just a handful of ingredients, and comes together in less than 30 minutes for an elegant last-minute party snack. They're perfect for holiday parties like Christmas and New Year's!
Ingredients
- 16 ounces full-fat cream cheese, softened
- 8 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese, freshly-shredded
- 2 Tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons orange zest (about 1 large orange)
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper (or black pepper)
- 2 cups toasted pecans, finely chopped, divided
- 1 1/2 cups dried cranberries, finely chopped, divided
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- Crackers, veggies, etc., for serving
Equipment
- #40 cookie scoop (1 ounce, 2 Tablespoons)
Instructions
- Add the cream cheese, sharp white cheddar cheese, maple syrup, orange zest, thyme, salt, and pepper to a large bowl. Then, tip in half of the pecans and half of the dried cranberries. (Reserve the remaining pecans and cranberries for later). Use a rubber spatula or hand mixer to mix the ingredients together until it is smooth and combined. Taste and add more salt and pepper, if needed.
- Portion the cranberry orange cheese using a #40 (1 ounce, 2 Tablespoon) cookie scoop. Roll each portion of cheese between your palms to create smooth balls. Place the cheese balls on a parchment-lined sheet pan and cover. Refrigerate until you're ready to serve.
- About 15 minutes before serving, remove the cheese balls from the fridge and let them warm up just a bit. Combine the remaining pecans, cranberries, and parsley in a shallow dish or pie plate. Gently roll each cheese ball until the outside is well-coated. If the mixture doesn't stick, use your fingers to gently press the coating on the outside of the cheese balls.
- Place the prepared cheese balls on a platter. Serve with crackers, pretzels, fruit, vegetables, or other snacks. Enjoy!
Notes
Use a #40 cookie scoop (1 Tablespoon) to make smaller servings (about 56 cheese balls).
Finely chop the cranberries, pecans, and parsley or they will not stick to the cheese balls very well.
Chilling the cheese balls will help them firm up and keep their shape. However, you can assemble them right away if you're in a rush. They may not keep their shape as well but they'll still look pretty!
Let the cheese balls warm up for about 15 minutes before rolling. If they're too firm, the cranberry-pecan mixture will not stick to the outside.
Serving: 1cheese ball, Calories: 131kcal, Carbohydrates: 7.7g, Protein: 3.5g, Fat: 10.2g, Saturated Fat: 5.4g, Cholesterol: 26mg, Sodium: 142mg, Potassium: 43mg, Fiber: 0.5g, Sugar: 5.5g, Calcium: 76mg, Iron: 1mg
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