Cheese Ball Pioneer Woman Recipes

HOLIDAY CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• Place cream cheese, shredded cheddar, French onion soup mix, and ground mustard in the food processor. Pulse until the mixture is well combined.Scoop the cheese mixture out of the food processor and form with your hands into the shape of a large almond. Place on a platter.Press the round ends of the almonds into the cheese ball with the points slightly leaning toward the pointed end of the cheese ball form. Cover the cheese ball completely with almonds. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Garnish the platter with fresh herbs and serve with crackers or cut vegetables.

OLIVE CHEESE BALLS

Steps:

• Lay the olives on a paper towel-lined plate and gently pat them dry.
• Slice a small piece of cream cheese about 1/4 inch thick and place 1 olive in the center of the slice. Wrap the cream cheese around the olive and roll it between your hands so it is completely covered and forms a smooth ball. Repeat until all of the olives are covered in cream cheese.
• Mix the walnuts and parsley in a bowl or shallow dish. Roll each ball in the mixture to completely coat. Refrigerate the coated olives, uncovered, until chilled, at least 1 hour. These can be made a day in advance.
• Slice in half before serving.

CHRISTMAS TREE CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• Add the cream cheese, Cheddar, cayenne, Worcestershire, scallions, lemon juice and some salt and pepper to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is almost smooth; you still want a few bits of cheese in there. Remove with a rubber spatula to a piece of plastic wrap and wrap up the cheese mixture. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
• Shape the cheese mixture with your hands into a Christmas tree/cone using the plastic wrap to keep it together. Mix the chopped parsley and dill together on a plate or work surface. Coat the shaped cheese in the chopped herbs.
• Transfer the cheese tree to the center of a platter. Decorate with the pomegranate seeds as ornaments. Serve with buttery crackers.

CRANBERRY-PECAN CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• Combine the cream cheese, cheddar, gorgonzola, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne, garlic, light scallion parts, ¼ cup dried cranberries, the salt and pepper in a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is almost smooth (you still want a few bits of cheese and cranberries in there).
• Finely chop the remaining ½ cup dried cranberries, the dark green scallion parts and the pecans and toss in a shallow dish.
• Scoop the cheese mixture from the food processor with a rubber spatula and add to the dish with the pecan mixture. Coat your hands with cooking spray and shape the cheese mixture into a ball. Roll and press the ball in the pecan mixture to coat. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 8 hours. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before serving. Serve with crackers.