Christmas Tree Cheese Ball
This mini Christmas tree of cheese is guaranteed to get your holiday party started. After shaping the goat cheese mixture into a cone shape, create a pine needle effect using freeze-dried chives. Decorate the cheeseball tree with a pine nut garland, dried cranberry ornaments, and a star-shaped cheddar cracker on top.
Tasty Team
Total Time
35 minutes
35 min
Prep Time
10 minutes
10 min
Cook Time
25 minutes
25 min
Total Time
35 minutes
35 min
Prep Time
10 minutes
10 min
Cook Time
25 minutes
25 min
Ingredients
for 8 servings
- 16 oz goat cheese (450 g), room temperature
- ¾ cup shelled pistachios (95 g), chopped
- ½ cup dried cranberries (50 g), plus more for garnish
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary, about 1 teaspoon
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- nonstick cooking spray, for greasing
- ⅓ cup freeze dried chives (5 g)
- 1 tablespoon pine nuts
- 1 star-shaped cheese cracker
- Tasty's White Cheddar and Chive Cracker, or crackers of choice, for serving
- Crudité, for serving
Included in this Recipe
White Cheddar And Chive Crackers
Nutrition Info
- Calories 321
- Fat 24g
- Carbs 13g
- Fiber 2g
- Sugar 6g
- Protein 15g
Estimated values based on one serving size.
Preparation
- In a large bowl, mix together the goat cheese, pistachios, dried cranberries, orange zest, rosemary, maple syrup, salt, and pepper with a rubber spatula until well-combined. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for 10–15 minutes before assembling. The cheese mixture can be made up to 1 day ahead. Refrigerate until ready to assemble and serve.
- To assemble, transfer the cheese mixture to a serving platter and, using gloved hands greased with nonstick spray, mold the mixture into a cone shape.
- Using dry hands, gently press the freeze-dried chives onto the cheese cone to adhere, making sure to coat the entire surface.
- Insert pine nuts into the cone in the pattern of a garland. Dot the “tree” with more dried cranberries for “ornaments”. Top with the star-shaped cracker.
- Serve with more crackers and crudités.
- Enjoy!
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