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Winter Pine Cone Cheese Ball

Name: Winter Pine Cone Cheese Ball
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 24 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 16 ounces (2 packages) cream cheese, room temperature; 10 ounces (about 2 cups) smoked cheddar cheese, grated; 3 green onions, finely chopped (white parts only); 1 clove garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce; 1 teaspoon hot sauce; Â½ teaspoon dried oregano; Â¼ teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 cup whole almonds, plus more as needed; 3-5 large sprigs fresh rosemary; Crackers, pretzels and/or vegetables (for serving)

Give a traditional cheese ball a festive upgrade with a Winter Pine Cone Cheese Ball. Layering whole almonds on top makes this easy appetizer a holiday showstopper.

Jessi Heggan

Print Recipe

Makes: 24 servings
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Recipe Created By: Jodie Shield
Featured In: Illinois Farm Bureau Partners

Ingredients

16 ounces (2 packages) cream cheese, room temperature
10 ounces (about 2 cups) smoked cheddar cheese, grated
3 green onions, finely chopped (white parts only)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon hot sauce
½ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup whole almonds, plus more as needed
3-5 large sprigs fresh rosemary
Crackers, pretzels and/or vegetables (for serving)

Instructions

In the bowl of a hand or stand mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth, about 5 minutes.
Add the cheddar, green onions, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, oregano and pepper. Mix well to combine.
Scoop cheese mixture onto a serving platter and form it into an oval shape with one end tapered to resemble the shape of a pine cone.
Starting at the tapered end, press almonds into the cheese in rows so that the tips of the almonds face out and down. Continue adding almonds until cheese ball is completely covered.
Arrange the rosemary sprigs at the top of the cheese ball to resemble pine needles.
Loosely cover the cheese ball with plastic wrap and refrigerate about 1 hour until firm. Remove cheese ball from refrigerator about 20 minutes before serving. Serve alongside crackers, pretzels and/or vegetables.