Description
What a stunning holiday appetizer!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup crumbled goat cheese (about 2 1/2 oz)
- 3 tablespoons chopped dried cranberries
- 3 tablespoons thinly sliced green onions (3 medium)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 4 oz goat cheese log, cut into 24 pieces (about 1 tablespoon each)
- 1/2 cup cranberry spread (from 10- to 12-oz container) or cranberry relish
- Fresh rosemary sprigs, if desired
- Crackers, bread and/or fresh vegetables, if desired
Instructions
- In medium bowl, beat both cheeses with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add cranberries, onions, parsley, salt and pepper; beat until combined. Cover; refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
- Heat oven to 350°F. Spread pecans in ungreased shallow pan. Bake uncovered 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until light brown. Cool; finely chop.
- Shape cheese mixture into ball; roll in chopped pecans to coat. Place on serving platter.
- Roll each goat cheese piece in cranberry spread to coat; arrange around cheese ball to look like wreath. Garnish wreath with rosemary sprigs. Serve with crackers.
- Expert Tips
- You can prepare this appetizer a day ahead; just keep refrigerated until serving. For the cheese ball to be easiest to shape, let it come to room temperature before shaping.
- Fresh cranberries can be used instead of cranberry spread, but you'll get better coating results with the spread or relish.
- Total Time: 45 minutes
Notes
Expert TipsnYou can prepare this appetizer a day ahead; just keep refrigerated until serving. For the cheese ball to be easiest to shape, let it come to room temperature before shaping.nFresh cranberries can be used instead of cranberry spread, but you’ll get better coating results with the spread or relish.nTotal Time: 45 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 10g
- Fat: 15g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Protein: 6g