Description
Festive no-bake mini cheese balls made with cream cheese, sharp cheddar, dried cranberries, walnuts and green onion, rolled in chopped walnuts and parsley for a red, white and green holiday look.
Ingredients
8 ounces (227 g) cream cheese, softened
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For rolling: 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
2. Stir in the shredded cheddar, chopped dried cranberries, 1/2 cup walnuts, green onions, garlic powder, salt and pepper until evenly combined.
3. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, until the mixture is firm enough to shape.
4. Mix the 1/2 cup walnuts and the parsley together on a plate.
5. Scoop the chilled mixture by heaping tablespoons and roll into about 20 balls using your hands.
6. Roll each ball in the walnut and parsley mixture, pressing gently so the coating sticks.
7. Place the balls on a platter or lined tray and refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve cold or slightly cool, with crackers or pretzel sticks.
Notes
Based on the widely published cranberry walnut cheese ball method (cream cheese and shredded cheddar base with chopped dried cranberries, walnuts, green onions, garlic powder, salt and pepper, chilled, shaped and rolled in chopped walnuts or parsley). The sources’ exact amounts were not available, so the quantities, chilling time and yield (20 balls) were developed for Poulef. It is untested, so test one batch before publishing.
Use block cream cheese, not whipped or tub cream cheese, which is too soft to shape.
Roll the coating on just before serving so the walnuts stay crisp.
Yield (20 cheese balls) and nutrition are estimates.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes plus 1 hour chilling
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cheese ball
- Calories: 111
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 97mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 18mg