Description

A festive and creamy Pomegranate Christmas Cheese Ball perfect for holiday parties. This cheese ball features a blend of cream cheese, shredded white cheddar, and savory garlic and green onions, coated generously with fresh pomegranate arils for a colorful, crunchy exterior. Garnished with a Rolo candy and rosemary sprig, it serves beautifully with crackers and veggie slices, offering a delightful combination of flavors and textures.

Ingredients

Scale

Cheese Ball

2 tablespoons salted butter, softened
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
8 ounces white cheddar block, freshly shredded
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
3 tablespoons green onion, chopped
⅛ teaspoon black pepper, ground

Ornament Garnish

1 cup pomegranate arils, fresh and patted dry
1 Rolo candy, unwrapped (for ornament top)
1 sprig rosemary, optional

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Combine Ingredients: In a food processor or mixer, combine the softened butter, cream cheese, and freshly shredded white cheddar. Add the minced garlic, chopped green onions, and ground black pepper. Blend or mix until all ingredients are well combined and smooth.
Form the Cheese Ball: Using your hands, shape the cheese mixture into a ball. Alternatively, place the mixture onto the center of a 12″ x 12″ piece of plastic wrap (saran wrap) and pull each corner up tightly to form a ball, then release the wrap.
Coat with Pomegranate: Spread the fresh pomegranate arils on a plate. Roll the formed cheese ball in the pomegranate seeds, pressing gently with your hands to ensure the seeds cover the entire surface evenly.
Chill: Tightly wrap the coated cheese ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes until firm and chilled through.
Garnish and Serve: Add the unwrapped Rolo candy on top of the cheese ball to resemble the ornament stem. Optionally, place a rosemary sprig and tie a small bow around it for decoration. Serve with crackers and vegetable slices for dipping.

Notes

Shred cheddar fresh for the best texture and flavor.
Serve at room temperature for the creamiest texture, though it can also be served immediately after chilling.
For serving, consider low-carb and gluten-free options like carrots and celery, as well as crostini, pretzels, or buttery crackers.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 2 tablespoons)
Calories: 150
Sugar: 2g
Sodium: 180mg
Fat: 13g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Unsaturated Fat: 4g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 3g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 4g
Cholesterol: 35mg