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Holiday Tree-Shaped Cheese Ball
Holiday Tree-Shaped Cheese Ball
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Prep Time:
20 minutes
Total Time:
4 hours 20 minutes
Impress guests with a stunning Christmas tree cheese ball made with cream cheese, cheddar, and festive toppings like parsley, pine nuts, and bell peppers. Perfect for holiday gatherings, this make-ahead appetizer will be a hit!
Ingredients:
  • 3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
  • 4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (16 ounces)
  • 2 tablespoons basil pesto
  • 1 tablespoon grated onion
  • 1/4 teaspoon yellow mustard
  • Red pepper sauce
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley or cilantro
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts or sliced almonds
  • 2 tablespoons chopped red bell pepper
  • Piece of lemon peel, if desired
  • Assorted crackers, if desired
Instructions:
  • Combine cream cheese and Cheddar cheese, then split in half. Mix pesto into one half and mix in onion, mustard, and 2-3 drops of pepper sauce into the other half. Cover each half and refrigerate for around 4 hours until firm for shaping.
  • Place the cheese mixtures on a cookie sheet and shape each half into a cone resembling a pine tree.
  • If you choose, wrap each tree individually, label, and freeze for up to 1 month. To serve in twelve hours, take the trees out of the freezer and let them thaw in the refrigerator while still wrapped.
  • Before serving, coat the unwrapped cheese trees in parsley, ensuring even coverage. Create a garland by pressing pine nuts in a string pattern around the trees. Decorate the trees with bell pepper pieces to resemble ornaments. Finish off by placing a star-shaped lemon peel on the top of each tree. Serve alongside crackers.

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