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Cozy Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball with Crispy Bacon

cranberry pecan cheese ball - featured image
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A quick and easy cheese ball made with cream cheese, sharp cheddar, dried cranberries, pecans, and crispy bacon. Perfect for holiday parties or a cozy night in, this crowd-pleaser comes together in under 20 minutes of active prep with just a 30-minute chill.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 16 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • ½ cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped
  • ½ cup pecans, finely chopped (plus ¼ cup for coating)
  • 6 slices crispy bacon, crumbled (reserve 1 tablespoon for garnish)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • Pinch of salt
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon honey

Instructions

  1. Cook the bacon until crispy (bake at 400°F for 15 minutes on a foil-lined sheet). Let cool completely, then crumble into small pieces. Reserve about 1 tablespoon for garnish.
  2. Soften cream cheese at room temperature for at least 45 minutes (or microwave in 10-second bursts).
  3. In a large mixing bowl, beat softened cream cheese and shredded cheddar with a hand mixer on medium speed until smooth and well combined, about 1-2 minutes.
  4. Add garlic powder, black pepper, and a pinch of salt. Mix to incorporate. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  5. Fold in chopped cranberries, chopped pecans, crumbled bacon (reserving 1 tablespoon), and fresh chives until evenly distributed.
  6. Place a large piece of plastic wrap on the counter. Scoop cheese mixture onto the center. Gather edges of plastic wrap and twist to shape into a ball (about softball size).
  7. Freeze the wrapped cheese ball for 30 minutes (or refrigerate for at least 2 hours) until firm.
  8. While chilling, mix extra chopped pecans and extra chopped dried cranberries on a plate for coating. Add reserved bacon if desired.
  9. After chilling, unwrap the cheese ball and roll gently in the pecan-cranberry mixture, pressing lightly to coat all sides.
  10. Place coated cheese ball on a serving plate and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes before serving. Can be made up to 2 days ahead.

Notes

For best results, toast pecans at 350°F for 5-7 minutes before chopping. Let cheese ball sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving for ideal spreadability. Can be frozen for up to 1 month.

Nutrition

Keywords: cheese ball, cranberry, pecan, bacon, appetizer, holiday, party, cream cheese, cheddar

Find it online: https://sofiaspice.com/cozy-cranberry-pecan-cheese-ball-with-crispy-bacon/