Christmas Cheese Ball

Introducing the “ultimate” Christmas Cheese Ball recipe, boasting bacon, dried cranberries, blue cheese, Cheddar cheese, green onions, and pecans. This flavorful creation combines the traditional Christmas colors into one irresistible cheese ball, perfect for any gathering. With its savory, sweet, and salty flavors, it’s guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser!

The cheese ball is due for a revival, but not as a repetition of the past. Those outdated cheese balls rightfully earned a poor reputation. You know the ones: a blob of artificial orange industrial cheese (i.e., Velveeta) molded into a ball, rolled in nuts, and served with crackers. After sitting at room temperature for a mere 37 minutes, it became so unappetizing that party guests started to avoid it. Yes, that one. That cheese ball needs to disappear for good.

Fortunately, in recent years, cream cheese has replaced the mysterious orange substance. Its tangy, neutral flavor serves as the perfect canvas for countless exciting flavor combinations.

I’ve probably only made a total of four cheese balls in my life. However, after developing this Christmas Cheese Ball recipe several years ago, I’ve come to a firm conclusion: cheese balls deserve a regular spot in my home. They’re simply too delicious to ignore.

What is in the ULTIMATE Christmas Cheese Ball?

This Christmas Cheese Ball showcases the festive colors of red, white, and green, thanks to smoky bacon, sweet dried cranberries, cream cheese, and green onions. These flavors are further elevated with the addition of Cheddar cheese, blue cheese, and pecans, resulting in a truly flavor-packed delight for your taste buds!

When I first created this recipe, our daughter was just 3 years old, and she adored it then—and still does today, 7 years later. It’s become a cherished favorite in our household.

Simple to prepare, you can shape this cheese mixture into a ball, log, or any desired design. Regardless of the form, it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser! For optimal results, allow the cheese ball to chill in the fridge for a few hours to allow the flavors to meld together.

Christmas Cheese Ball Recipe

Let’s get started!

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl.

Stir or knead together until thoroughly combined.

Shape into a ball (or log if preferred) and wrap in plastic wrap.  Refrigerate for at least an hour or up to 2 days.

Toss the outer layer ingredients to combine and spread them out on a plate.  Roll the ball in them to even coat the outer layer.

Serve immediately or wrap it again in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge until ready to use.

Serve with crackers and enjoy!