I have made this classic cheese ball recipe for years. But this year I am doing something special with it and making it into a Pine Cone Cheese Ball Recipe!! It is a perfect holiday appetizer for any holiday party!! My cheese ball has always been devoured.
Years and years ago a friend of mine added “Serious” to my recipe, lol. Calling it a Serious Cheese Ball Recipe. He loved when I would make this for the holidays. It is a super easy recipe and adding in the almonds is not hard either. I am a nut gal and just love any recipe with them like our Herb Roasted Cashews, so good!
Do you find cute cheese ball recipes intimidating? This recipe makes it accessible and SO easy to put together.
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When I have made this before I have rolled the cheese ball in chopped pecans. This cheese ball with the lovely change up with almonds is even better. I love how festive it looks.
Using an aged cheddar cheese is the best for this adding in even more flavor. Fresh good quality ingredients will always give you better results too.
The ingredients are pretty simple for this recipe. Instead of the chopped red pepper which you can surely use I almost always buy a small jar of pimentos.
What is a pimento you ask?A pimiento, pimento, or cherry pepper is a variety of large, red, heart-shaped chili pepper that measures 3 to 4 in long and 2 to 3 in wide. The flesh of the pimiento is sweet, succulent, and more aromatic than that of the red bell pepper. According to Wikipedia.
They are not hot at all but sweet and come in little strips in a jar so they can be easily diced up small or come already diced.
How Do You Make an Easy Cheese Ball?
This recipe calls for 2 blocks of cream cheese. You can use regular or low fat. Having it at room temperature is the best as you can whip it up much easier.
Besides the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, pimentos and green peppers that we have already mentioned. I add in onion, worcestershire sauce, lemon juice and cayenne for some nice heat. You could also add in hot sauce if you like.
Once all the ingredients are incorporated then forming the cheese ball into an egg shape and wrap in plastic wrap is easy. Store in the refrigerator for 2 hours to firm it up.
When it is ready then place on a serving platter. Arrange the almonds in rows on the cheese ball. Place them at an angle with the pointed ends sticking out.
Hint, when placing the almonds, start by working your way around the cheese ball, creating a border. Then work row by row in the centre, with a bit of an arch to get the “pine cone” look.
Serve the cheese ball with a nice sized cracker. There is nothing worse than trying to get a cheese ball onto a tiny cracker. It just will never work.
Young and old will love this cheese ball for the holidays. It is so easy to make and I don’t think you need the addition of sausage or bacon as some recipes say. Don’t mess with a good thing!
I have been making this cheese ball recipe for decades now and it is always loved. Truly the best recipe and I am so happy to finally share it with you.
After it is all assembled just put it back into the fridge and it is ready for when company arrive. A great make ahead recipe!!
Pine Cone Cheese Ball Recipe
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
This Pine Cone Cheese Ball Recipe is perfect for a crowd for the holidays. It is easy to make, is ready when company arrives and tastes fantastic.
Ingredients
- 2-8 oz. cream cheese at room temperature
- 2 cups aged white or regular cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 Tbsp. pimento, finely diced
- 1 Tbsp. green pepper, finely diced
- 1 Tbsp. onion, finely diced
- 2 tsp. Worcestershire
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
- Dash of cayenne
- Approximately 100 dry roasted almonds
Instructions
- Combine cheeses and mix well in a standup mixer with a paddle attachment. Add remaining ingredients except nuts.
- Shape into an egg shape and refrigerate for 2 hours wrapped in plastic wrap.
- Place on a serving platter. Arrange the almonds in rows on the cheese ball. Place them at an angle with the pointed ends sticking out.
- Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
- Decorate with rosemary or similar leafy herb and serve with crackers.
Hint, when placing the almonds, start by working your way around the cheese ball, creating a border. Then work row by row in the centre, with a bit of an arch to get the "pine cone" look.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 20
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 209Total Fat: 18.9 ggSaturated Fat: 7.3 ggCholesterol: 34.1 mgmgSodium: 151.2 mgmgCarbohydrates: 4.8 ggFiber: 1.6 ggSugar: 1.9 g gProtein: 6.9 gg
