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Easy Holiday Cheese Ball with Cranberries & Pecans (No-Bake Recipe)

A quick and festive Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball bursting with sweet cranberries, crunchy pecans, and creamy cheese. This easy holiday appetizer takes just 15 minutes to make and delivers elegant flavor with minimal effort.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Calories: 160
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Optional substitutions: walnuts almonds, pistachios, dried cherries, goat cheese, cheddar, nutmeg, or allspice

Method
 

  1. Set up your workspace with a large bowl, spoon or mixer, and plastic wrap.
  2. In a large bowl, mix softened cream cheese, dried cranberries, pecans, Parmesan cheese, sugar, and cinnamon until well combined.
  3. Transfer the mixture to plastic wrap and shape into a compact ball.
  4. Wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight for best flavor.
  5. Remove from refrigerator 15 minutes before serving and serve with crackers or bread slices.

Notes

Use room temperature cream cheese for smooth blending. Can be made up to 5 days ahead. For a lighter option, substitute half the cream cheese with Greek yogurt or use light cream cheese. Wrap tightly and refrigerate or freeze for later use.