Best 3 Pine Cone Cheese Ball Recipes

If you're looking for a unique and festive appetizer that is sure to impress your guests, the Pine Cone Cheese Ball is the perfect choice. This fun and creative appetizer features a delicious and creamy cheese ball shaped and decorated to look like a pinecone. It's perfect for holiday parties, winter potlucks, or any special occasion. The cheese ball is made with a combination of cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and mozzarella cheese, along with a variety of herbs and spices. It's then coated in crushed pretzels and decorated with sliced almonds and rosemary sprigs to create the look of a pinecone. Along with the Pine Cone Cheese Ball, this article also includes several other delicious cheese ball recipes, including a classic Cheddar Cheese Ball, a Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball, a Cranberry Walnut Cheese Ball, and a Spinach Artichoke Cheese Ball. Each recipe includes step-by-step instructions and helpful tips to ensure that your cheese balls turn out perfectly.

Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!

PINE CONE CHEESE BALL

Pine Cone Cheese Ball image

Any cheese ball is a welcome addition to a holiday party spread, but when you bring one that looks like a pine cone, you're talking about a real showstopper.

Provided by Chef John

Categories Appetizers and Snacks Dips and Spreads Recipes Cheese Dips and Spreads Recipes Cheese Ball Recipes

Time 30m

Yield 16

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
4 ounces goat cheese, softened
3 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
½ clove garlic, minced, or more to taste
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 cup whole almonds, or as needed
3 large fresh rosemary sprigs

Steps:

Stir cream cheese, goat cheese, parsley, tarragon, thyme, garlic, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper together in a bowl until smooth and well-mixed.
Turn cheese mixture out onto a serving platter and form into a tapered oval shape to resemble a pine cone.
Starting at the tapered end, press almonds into the cheese cone so that the tip of the almond is facing out and down, and cheese cone is completely covered with almonds and resembles a pine cone. Place rosemary sprigs at the top to resemble pine needles.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 175.9 calories, Carbohydrate 2.9 g, Cholesterol 36.4 mg, Fat 16.4 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 5.6 g, SaturatedFat 8 g, Sodium 129.7 mg, Sugar 0.7 g

PINECONE CHEESE BALL

Pinecone Cheese Ball image

I found this recipe in Kraft's 'What's Cooking' magazine. It is very impressive looking, so I decided I had to try it.

Provided by Jaime in Winnipeg

Categories Spreads

Time 3h

Yield 1 cheese ball, 16 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 5

Ingredients

1 (250 g) package cream cheese, softened (light works fine)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (the recipe calls for tex mex cheese, but I used medium cheddar, and I'm sure swiss would work well,)
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons chopped canned green chilies
1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Steps:

Mix cream cheese, shredded cheese, and Dijon mustard in a blender or food processor until well blended.
Stir in green chilies.
Place in freezer for 20 minutes so that it is easier to handle and shape.
Remove from freezer and place on wax paper.
Shape into what resembles a pinecone.
Stick the almonds into the cheese ball in rows that completely cover the cheese ball.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Let the cheese ball stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.
Serve with crackers.

THE HEAVYSET CHEESE BALL

The Heavyset Cheese Ball image

Provided by Food Network

Categories appetizer

Time 8h35m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups whole natural almonds
1 (8-ounce) package of cream cheese
1/2 cup real mayonnaise
3 crispy cooked bacon slices, crumbled
1/2 teaspoon dill weed
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon chopped green onion
Sprigs, for garnish

Steps:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
Place and spread all the almonds on a cookie sheet or in a shallow pan, pushing the almonds around until they turn color, about 20 minutes.
Mix together the cream cheese and the mayonnaise. Add the bacon, salt and pepper, dill, and onion. Chill overnight.
On a serving platter, make 2 pine cone shapes with the cheese. Begin to press the almonds at a slight angle into the cheese, starting at the narrow end of the pine cone shape.
Do this in rows, continuing to overlap rows until all the cheese is covered. Garnish with fake sprigs, or real ones, or with rosemary.
Serve at room temperature and spread on crackers.

Tips:

For a more pronounced flavor, toast the pine nuts before adding them to the cheese ball.
If you don't have fresh parsley, you can use dried parsley instead. Just use half the amount.
To make the cheese ball even more festive, roll it in chopped cranberries or chopped walnuts before serving.
Serve the cheese ball with crackers, bread, or vegetable crudités.
You can also use a food processor to make the cheese ball. Just be sure to process the ingredients until they are well combined but not too smooth.

Conclusion:

The pine cone cheese ball is a delicious and festive appetizer that is perfect for any occasion. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste. So next time you are looking for a fun and easy appetizer, give the pine cone cheese ball a try!