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Parsley-covered cheese ball shaped like a Christmas tree, with pomegranate ornaments and a cheese star
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Christmas Tree Cheese Ball

Prep Time 30 minutes
Chilling (minimum) 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings 10 servings
A creamy, tangy Christmas tree cheese ball with goat cheese, cheddar, dried cranberries and a little lemon zest, covered in fresh parsley and finished with pomegranate ornaments and a cheese star. Festive enough to steal the table, but very easy to make!
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Ingredients
  

For the cheese ball

  • 9.2 oz full-fat cream cheese (260 g)
  • 3.5 oz soft goat cheese (100 g)
  • 4.2 oz cheddar (120 g), finely grated
  • 1.8 oz dried cranberries (50 g), finely chopped
  • 0.35 oz fresh parsley (10 g), finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • salt as needed

For decorating

  • 0.9 oz fresh parsley (25 g), finely chopped
  • 1.8 oz pomegranate seeds (50 g)
  • 1 thick slice cheddar or scamorza for the star

For serving

  • crackers, crostini, or breadsticks as needed

Instructions
 

  1. Let the cream cheese and goat cheese sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes so they soften slightly.
  2. Transfer them to a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low speed until smooth and creamy.
  3. Add the grated cheddar, lemon zest, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Mix until everything is well combined.
  4. Add the chopped parsley and dried cranberries and fold them in with a spatula.
  5. Taste and add salt only if needed, keeping in mind the natural saltiness of the cheddar and goat cheese.
  6. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the mixture for at least 1 hour, so it firms up and becomes easier to shape.
  7. Place two sheets of plastic wrap on the work surface in a cross shape. Transfer the cheese mixture to the center and wrap it tightly.
  8. Shape the mixture with your hands into a cone with a wide, stable base and a well-defined tip.
  9. Keep the cone wrapped in plastic and refrigerate again for at least 1 hour, or until firm.
  10. Finely chop the parsley for the decoration.
  11. Carefully remove the plastic wrap and place the cheese ball on a serving plate.
  12. Cover the entire surface with parsley, gently pressing it onto the cheese so it adheres.
  13. Scatter the pomegranate seeds over the surface like small Christmas ornaments.
  14. Use a small star-shaped cookie cutter to cut a star from the slice of cheddar or scamorza. Carefully insert a toothpick into the bottom of the star and place it on top of the tree.
  15. Keep the Christmas Tree Cheese Ball refrigerated until ready to serve.
  16. Serve with crackers, crostini, or breadsticks.

Notes

Cheese: Let the cream cheese and goat cheese sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before mixing. They should be slightly softened, not warm.
Chilling: Don’t skip either chill. Refrigerate the mixture for at least 1 hour before shaping, then chill the shaped tree for at least another 1 hour, or until firm enough to decorate.
Salt: Taste the mixture before adding salt. The goat cheese and cheddar may already provide enough.
Serving: Keep refrigerated until ready to serve. If using a toothpick to secure the cheese star, remove it when the star is taken off.

Nutrition

Calories
190 kcal
Carbohydrates
7 g
Protein
6 g
Fat
15 g
Saturated fat
9 g
Sodium
210 mg
Fiber
0.6 g
Sugar
5 g

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate and should only be used as an approximation.