Festive Pecan Cheese Ball Recipe

Name: Festive Party Cheese Ball With Pecans
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 1570 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 8 ounces cream cheese; 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese (grated); 2 teaspoons onion (grated); 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce; 2 teaspoons garlic (finely minced); 2 cups pecans (finely chopped; may also substitute walnuts)

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 0 mins

Chilling time: 26 hrs

Total: 26 hrs 10 mins

Servings: 6 servings

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This cheese ball is a simple combination of cheeses, shaped into a festive ball and rolled in finely chopped pecans.

What sets this cheese ball apart? The secret's in the Worcestershire sauce which adds the perfect tang to this crowd-pleasing snack.

Use finely chopped walnuts if you prefer, or if you don't have pecans on hand. The cheddar cheese can also be substituted with any other grated, semi-hard cheese. You can even try combining several different cheeses for a more complex taste.

If you'd like to add a little kick to this classic appetizer, try mixing in a few shakes of your favorite hot sauce.

You'll need to prepare the cheese ball at least 24 hours in advance, but for those who truly like to plan ahead, this recipe can be made up to three days before your party. Just be sure to refrain from adding the crunchy, nut coating until serving day as it can become soft in the fridge.

Serve the cheese ball with a variety of crackers at your next celebratory gathering.

"I loved the flavor of this cheeseball, and the hints of garlic and onion which really come through once refrigerated overnight. The cream cheese and cheddar cheese was a great combination. The ball held together very well, and chilling it prior to rolling it in pecans was key." —Diana Andrews

Festive Party Cheese Ball With Pecans/Tester Image

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8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
8 ounces grated cheddar cheese
2 teaspoons minced onion
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup finely chopped pecans

Gather the ingredients.

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
Combine cream cheese and cheddar cheese in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer until combined.

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
Add onion, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and salt. Mix well. Cover and chill thoroughly in refrigerator, until firm (this usually takes a few hours).

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
Shape cheese into a ball and cover completely and tightly with a generous amount of plastic wrap, then with foil.

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Refrigerate the ball for at least 24 hours (and up to three days) before serving.

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Remove from refrigerator 2 hours before serving. Take off the foil and plastic wrap. Roll ball in the pecans until entire outer surface is completely covered with nuts.

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Place ball in center of a serving dish, and surround with assorted crackers and veggies.

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
378	Calories
35g	Fat
6g	Carbs
12g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories	378
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 35g	45%
Saturated Fat 16g	78%
Cholesterol 76mg	25%
Sodium 489mg	21%
Total Carbohydrate 6g	2%
Dietary Fiber 1g	5%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 12g
Vitamin C 1mg	4%
Calcium 318mg	24%
Iron 1mg	3%
Potassium 154mg	3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.