Holiday Cheese Ball Recipe

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This homemade Holiday Cheese Ball Recipe is a must have at holiday parties every year. It's a super simple appetizer to make with few ingredients that is going to be a big hit!

We love having an assortment of appetizers for holiday gatherings and family celebrations. Set the food out and let everyone help themselves. No need to be standing over the stove or have your face in the oven the whole time your family is over. Appetizers make eating more fun, and leaves more time for family games and visiting. There is always a cheese ball surrounded with crackers and it has to be creamy, rich and flavorful. This cheese ball is exactly that! It is so easy to make and any cheese fan is going to fall in love with this super tasty appetizer.

Holiday Cheese Ball Ingredients

• Cream Cheese
• Shredded Gruyere Cheese
• Shredded Swiss Cheese
• Garlic Powder
• Onion Powder
• Salt & Pepper
• Dried Parsley

Tips for the Best Holiday Cheese Ball

1. Use softened cream cheese so the mixing is a lot easier.
2. Not sure about Gruyere cheese, use white cheddar, sharp cheddar, or a blend of your favorite cheeses.
3. Shred your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheese has an anti-caking agent and additives that can alter the texture and flavor.
4. Want a little crunch, add some chopped pecans or peanuts to the outside with the parsley.
5. Serve the cheese ball at room temperature so it is easier to carve and spread.
6. Get creative! You can form and shape it into anything you want, snowman, log, tree, etc...

How to Make a Holiday Cheese Ball from Scratch

1. In a stand mixer or with a hand beater, beat cream cheese until smooth and there are no lumps. No mixer, use a wooden spoon or strong spatula.
2. Beat in shredded cheeses, garlic and onion powder, salt and pepper until the cheese is well blended.
3. Scrape sides of bowl with spatula and form the cheese into a ball, no need to be perfect it will get shaped later.
4. Wrap the cheese in plastic wrap and then form the cheese into a more smoother ball.
5. Chill the cheese ball for at least 1 hour.
6. Unwrap and shape the ball into a more smooth ball if needed.
7. Roll the cheese ball in parsley, or sprinkle the parsley over the ball and gently pat it down.
8. Serve with an assortment of crackers.

How to Make Holiday Cheese Ball Recipe in Advance

This is a great recipe to make 1-2 days ahead. Once the parsley is all over the cheese ball, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and store in the fridge. If you decide to add chopped nuts to the outside, add those before you set the cheese ball out to come to room temperature. If you store the nuts on the cheese for too long, they will  lose their nice crunch.

How Long Can a Cheese Ball sit out?

Once the cheese ball has come to room temperature it should not sit out for more than 2 hours.

What to Serve with a Holiday Cheese Ball

• Assortment of Crackers
• Cut Up Veggies
• Pretzels
• Bagels
• Sliced Deli Meat
• Thinly Sliced Baguette or French Bread

More Delicious Appetizers

• Everything Bagel Dip
• Homemade Guacamole 
• Sugared Cranberries
• Fruit Salsa
• Homemade Queso Cheese Dip
• Onion Soup Mix Dip
• Fruit Pizza
• Turkey & Zucchini Meatballs

Give this easy and delicious Holiday Cheese Ball Recipe a try at your next holiday party and let me know how it goes in the comments below, along with a star rating please! Pictures encouraged on Instagram with the hashtag #heathershomemadekitchen You can also follow me on Social Media to see what other crazy things my family and I are doing! If you like what you see, please share with your friends and family!

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