Christmas Cheese Ball Recipe
Bring festive fun to your holiday table with this Rudolph Christmas Cheese Ball. Cute, creamy, and packed with flavor, it’s a holiday appetizer everyone will adore.
This crowd-pleasing Rudolph Christmas Cheese Ball is quick to make and extra delightful served with crunchy crackers, crisp veggies, and salty pretzels. Watch it disappear fast!
Festive Ingredients for Rudolph Christmas Cheese Ball
- Salted butter – Softens the mixture and adds rich, savory flavor.
- Sharp shredded cheese – A bold mix like Cheddar, Gruyère, or Blue cheese gives the ball its tangy punch.
- Fresh goat cheese – Adds a subtle tang and creamy texture.
- Cream cheese – Binds everything together and makes the ball smooth and spreadable.
- Scallions – Bring mild oniony freshness and a festive green speckle.
- Hot sauce – A tiny kick balances the creamy cheeses.
- Worcestershire sauce – Deepens the savory notes with umami magic.
- Salted roasted pecans – Add crunch and a nutty coating for texture contrast.
- Black olives & grape tomato – Create Rudolph’s playful eyes and bright red nose.
- Pretzel twists – Form those adorable antlers and double as a crunchy snack.
How to Make Your Rudolph Christmas Cheese Ball
Start by softening the butter and cheeses for easy mixing. Combine them with scallions, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce until smooth and sticky. Chill the mixture so it firms up enough to shape into a ball.
Roll the cheese ball in chopped pecans and fresh parsley if you like extra green flecks. Finish by transforming it into Rudolph: pretzel antlers, olive eyes, and a grape tomato nose bring this cheese ball to life. Let it rest at room temperature for half an hour so it spreads beautifully with crackers and veggies.
Tips for the Cutest Holiday Appetizer
For the best crunch, coat your Rudolph Christmas Cheese Ball in pecans just before serving. This keeps the nuts from softening in the fridge. Add parsley if you love extra color and freshness.
Keep a small spreading knife handy so guests can easily spread creamy bites onto crackers or veggies. Pretzels make adorable antlers and tasty dippers too. For a twist, try rolling the cheese ball in chopped dried cranberries instead of pecans for a pop of color and sweetness.
Keeping Your Rudolph Cheese Ball Fresh
Store your Rudolph Christmas Cheese Ball wrapped tightly in the fridge for up to a week. If making ahead, freeze it without nuts for up to a month, wrapped well and tucked into a freezer-safe bag.
Thaw overnight in the fridge, then roll in fresh pecans before serving. Let it sit out for about 30 minutes so it’s soft enough to spread easily and show off Rudolph’s cute holiday charm.
Your holiday guests will love every festive, creamy bite!
Christmas Cheese Ball Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 4 ounces fresh goat cheese
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheese blend such as Cheddar, Gruyère, or Blue cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons finely minced scallions both white and green parts
- 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce such as Frank’s Red Hot
- 1/2 cup chopped salted roasted pecans
- Fresh chopped parsley optional
- 4 tablespoons salted butter softened
- Black olives trimmed at the ends
- 1 grape tomato halved
- 2 pretzel twists plus extra for serving
Instructions
- Allow the butter, shredded cheese, goat cheese, and cream cheese to soften at room temperature for about 30 minutes before preparing the cheese mixture. Combine the softened cheeses, butter, scallions, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce in a medium bowl, mixing thoroughly by hand or with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on low speed. The mixture will be soft and sticky at this stage. Transfer it onto a piece of waxed paper and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or until firm enough to handle. Remove from the refrigerator and gently shape into a ball. Coat the formed cheese ball in chopped pecans, then roll in parsley if desired. Adorn with pretzel twists for antlers, attach olive ends for eyes, and secure half of the grape tomato for Rudolph’s nose—use toothpicks if needed for stability. Let the cheese ball sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes to soften slightly before serving. Present alongside crisp crackers, pretzels, or fresh vegetables.
