Holiday Goodies: Nutty Cheese Ball
We hope everyone had a joyful Thanksgiving Day! Even though we’re going to be munching on leftovers for several days to come, we’ve already started thinking about all the yummy treats that we’re going to share with our family and friends during the holiday season. A simple holiday cheese ball is our go-to appetizer to take to parties or have on hand to offer to unexpected guests. This recipe, which is packed with dried fruit and toasted nuts, is fantastic when served with buttery crackers, crisp celery sticks and peeled apple slices.
First, set an 8 oz. block of cream cheese and about 4 oz. of Mascarpone cheese out to soften slightly. This combination of cheeses really brings out the delicate sweetness of the dried fruit and nuts. When the cheeses are just soft enough to stir, put them in a large mixing bowl along with about 1 tbsp. of honey and a pinch of nutmeg. Mix the ingredients with a wooden spoon until they’re combined. Don’t whip them too hard; you don’t want to soften the cheeses so much that you can’t form them into a ball.
Add about 2 oz. of toasted slivered almonds, pecan pieces or walnut pieces to the cheese. You’ll also want to throw in about 4 oz. of dried fruit. What kind? That’s up to you! We love chewy bing cherries and plump whole dried cranberries in our holiday cheese ball because their red color is so festive! However, other yummy choices include chopped pitted dates or Turkish figs.
Shape the cheese mixture into a ball using your hands. If it’s too sticky and warm, you may want to pop the mixing bowl in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to stiffen up the cheese. Roll the ball in another 2 oz. of toasted nuts, place it on a platter and either serve it immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to three days.
Do you have a favorite cheese ball recipe, or another go-to treat that you just have to share around the holidays?
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