0 from 3 votes
Cranberry Walnut Holiday Cheese Ball
Snag some leftover cranberry sauce and swirl it into this super luxe cranberry walnut holiday cheese ball! Kick it up a notch with sprinkle of cinnamon, a drizzle of honey, and a whole lot of flavor!
Prep Time
20 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 30 servings
Calories: 81 kcal
Course:
Appetizer
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 16 oz cream cheese, slightly softened
- 1/2-3/4 cup leftover cranberry sauce
- ½ cup dried cranberries (chopped)
- 1 TBSP ground cinnamon plus extra to taste
- 3-4 TBSP honey
- ⅓ cup baking walnuts (finely crushed)
- 2-4 TBSP fresh chopped parsley
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine softened cream cheese with cranberry sauce, cinnamon, and honey.
- Using a hand mixer or a fork and some elbow grease, mix well.
- Swipe a taste with a cracker or celery stick and add any extra to taste.
- When it comes to the walnuts, you have two delicious options. You can keep them on the outside only, as a crunchy, nutty coating with a smooth creamy center or amp up the flavor + texture by mixing extra walnuts into the cranberry cream cheese mixture before shaping your ball. In my opinion, the more walnuts the better! Add anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 cup crushed walnuts to the inside of your cheese ball.
- Use a silicone spatula to scoop out the cheese mixture and shape into a ball with your hands. If mixture is too soft, place on a large sheet of plastic wrap and squeeze into a ball, then pop it in the fridge to chill until it holds shape.
- Place your ball on a sheet of parchment paper or cutting board.
- Sprinkle with a little extra cinnamon if you're as cinna-crazy as we are!
- Next combine your chopped/crushed walnuts, cranberries, and parsley and press firmly into the cheeseball to coat. Pile it on!
- Surround with your favorite extras from the list above and dig in!
- Leftovers taste deeeeeelicious spread on pretty much everything in sight the following day and will keep for up to 4 days.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- The links above are for my delish crock-pot cranberry sauce. Need it fast? This speedy stove-top cranberry sauce is ready in just 10 minutes!
- speedy stove-top cranberry sauce
- Serve this heavenly spread at room temperature with sliced green apple, whole grain crackers, fruit and nut crackers, pretzels, and crunchy celery sticks. Or just go crazy and spread it on everything in sight!
- Nutrition Facts below are estimated for the cheese ball using an online recipe nutrition calculator. Adjust as needed and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Calories
81kcal
(4%)
Carbohydrates
6g
(2%)
Protein
1g
(2%)
Fat
6g
(9%)
Saturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Cholesterol
17mg
(6%)
Sodium
50mg
(2%)
Potassium
29mg
(1%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
5g
(10%)
Vitamin A
227IU
(5%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
19mg
(2%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 30servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 81
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 81kcal | 4% |
| Carbohydrates | 6g | 2% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 6g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 17mg | 6% |
| Sodium | 50mg | 2% |
| Potassium | 29mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 227IU | 5% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 19mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.