Last Updated on June 10, 2021 by Slow The Cook Down
This Christmas Tree Cheese Ball is an easy and fun recipe - perfect for a holiday appetizer or a finger food for a holiday party. A simple cream cheese mix is covered in pistachios and cranberries and can be made ahead of time for easy entertaining.
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Hands up who is ready for Christmas?! I'll be honest, there has been zero preparation in our house, but it's just going to be the two of us this year and two weeks off will mainly consist of staying in PJs, playing video games and eating and drinking without worry....PERFECT!
I thought I'd get into the festive spirit though with this Christmas Tree Cheese Ball appetizer.
Super easy and fun to make and a perfect centre piece for fuss free entertaining.
It's no secret I love cheese, and if you like it as much as me, be sure to check out my Marinated Feta Cheese and Crostini Canapés, both perfect for easy entertaining.
Why you will love this recipe!
- Simple ingredients: This tasty holiday cheese ball comes together with just a handful of basic ingredients.
- Make ahead: This is a perfect make ahead appetizer, so you can be the hostess with the mostest!
- So festive: This is such a fun recipe and I guarantee it will be a hit when you bring it out. It doesn't just look good, but it tastes pretty amazing too!
Ingredients
- Cream cheese: I use Philadelphia, but any brand will work well. I prefer to use full fat for the best texture and flavor. Low fat will do the job if you prefer.
- Shredded cheese: I used a mix of mozzarella and cheddar, but any shredded cheese will work well. This ups the flavor and also helps to thicken the cream cheese.
- Seasonings: Black pepper and garlic powder. You can easily use other seasonings too, try adding some chili flakes or some paprika for an extra flavor kick.
- Pistachios and dried cranberries: Placed on the outside of the cheese to create the colors of a Christmas tree. You can make this with any nuts or dried fruits.
How To Make a Christmas Tree Cheese Ball
Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!
- Mix together the ingredients for the cheese ball (except the toppings).
- Cover with clingfilm and use your hands to form a shape of a Christmas tree and chill.
- Press the pistachios and cranberry into the cheese.
- Chill til ready to serve.
How to serve
I finished off the Christmas Tree Cheese Ball with a star cut out of cheddar for an extra added flare.
While you can serve this by itself with a selection of crackers, if you have a tonne of guests you could use this as a centrepiece for a larger cheese board or charcuterie board. Add a mixture of blue and hard cheeses, cured meat, dried fruit and nuts and you will have yourself a show stopping platter!
Can you make it ahead of time?
The beauty of this Christmas Tree Cheese Ball is that it's super freakin' easy to make, and it can also be made ahead of time so you're not slaving in the kitchen and ignoring your guests.
Once you have made the Christmas Tree Cheese Ball, you can keep it covered in the fridge for up to 24 hours, giving you plenty of time to get party ready. It's the perfect option if you are entertaining, just bring it out of the fridge about 10 minutes before you want to serve it.
Can you freeze it?
Yes, if you want to make this cheese ball further ahead of time, you can freeze it with or without the fruit and nut topping. Wrap it in a couple of layers of plastic wrap and foil before freezing and it will keep well for up to up to 2 months.
It can take a little time to thaw fully from frozen, so it's best to allow 24 hours for it to full defrost in the fridge.
Top Tips to Make A Christmas Tree Cheese Ball
- Ensure that you use enough plastic wrap to fully cover the cheese when you are shaping it.
- Let the cheese sit in the fridge for at least an hour before you add the pistachios and cranberries.
- Take the cheese tree out of the fridge about 5-10 minutes before serving it.
- Place the cheese tree on parchment when you serve it on a board for easy clean up.
- You can make this 24 hours ahead of time - cover in plastic wrap and keep refrigerated.
We know at Slow The Cook Down, I'm all about maximum flavor with less effort, and this cheese appetizer is exactly that. It's super easy to put this together and it's certainly enough to feed a crowd. It's so fun to share and kids and adults of all ages are going to love it!
Happy Cheesemas!
More Christmas Recipes
- Mini Christmas Present Cakes
- Roast Potatoes with Garlic, Herbs and Parmesan
- Christmas Dinner Burger
- Red Onion Gravy From Scratch
- Mince Pie Tear and Share
- Christmas Red Wine Sangria
I love hearing from you!! If you have tried this yummy Christmas Tree Cheese Ball recipe, be sure to scroll down, give it a star rating and let me know what you thought!
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Christmas Tree Cheese Ball
Ingredients
- 24 oz Philadelphia (680g)
- 7 oz shredded cheese (I used a mix of mozzarella and cheddar) (200oz)
- ½ tbsp black pepper
- ½ tbsp garlic powder
- 2.8 oz shelled pistachios (80g)
- handful of dried cranberries
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together the cream cheese, shredded cheese, pepper and garlic powder.
- Lay some clingfilm flat on a work surface, and then lay another piece across the top to form an '+' shape.
- Place the cheese mixture in the centre of the clingfilm, and bring the clingfilm up to cover the cheese. Using your hands, for the cheese into a Christmas tree shape. Put in the fridge for at least 60 minutes to chill.
- While the cheese is chilling, put the pistachios in a zip lock bag and use a rolling pin to break them up. You don't want to create crumbs, rather just break them into smaller pieces.
- When ready, take the cheese out of the fridge and unwrap the cling film. Press the pistachio pieces into the tree to cover the surface. Then, press in the dried cranberries randomly around.
- Place a piece of parchment paper onto a board and put the Christmas tree on top. Cut a star out of a piece of cheddar and place on top. Serve with crackers.
Notes
- Ensure that you use enough plastic wrap to fully cover the cheese when you are shaping it.
- Let the cheese sit in the fridge for at least an hour before you add the pistachios and cranberries.
- Take the cheese tree out of the fridge about 5-10 minutes before serving it.
- Place the cheese tree on parchment when you serve it on a board for easy clean up.
- You can make this 24 hours ahead of time - cover in plastic wrap and keep refrigerated.
Merry Christmas!! We made this today - sooo easy AND Delicious!!!
Ah so glad you enjoyed it Kristina! Happy Christmas!
I found this recipe just now after discovering your blog via Tailwind, and it looks amazing!! Like a volcano about to explode. Now I just wondering if I should wait till next Christmas or make it next week.
Hey Corrie, thank you so much!! Personally, I say there is never a bad time for cheese! 🙂
Best Christmas tree I've seen this year!
Ha ha! I won't disagree with that! 🙂