This yummy festive Christmas tree cheese ball is the perfect holiday appetizer for any Christmas party! Make this creamy Christmas cheese ball in minutes and serve alongside your favorite crackers and bread!
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Everyone always talks about Christmas cookies, I mean I get it because hello these cherry cheesecake cookies and these molasses cookies are pretty much amazing.
But what about the savory stuff? Christmas appetizers are just as important as Christmas cookies, especially when it comes to hosting the best Christmas party ever!
This Christmas tree cheese ball is not only a fun and festive appetizer, it’s yummy too! Serve it with your favorite bread, crackers, or really anything crunchy for one delicious and decorative snack! You could even serve it alongside this Christmas tree cheese board!
And the best part? It’s SO easy to make. You only need a few minutes and unlike these Christmas Oreo truffles, you don’t even need to let it chill before you enjoy! It’s my new favorite way to serve up some yummy Christmas fun!
Why You’ll Love This Christmas Cheese Ball
- No bake appetizer – sometimes you want something like grape jelly meatballs and something you want something you don’t have to cook like this Christmas tree cheese ball!
- Festive – I’m a huge fan of leaning into the Christmas season and this fun Christmas tree looking appetizer is perfect for that! You could even make it with these ham and cheese Christmas tree appetizers to go all out!
- Easy – there’s really not a lot to this other than mixing up the herbs and shaping your ball! Anyone (even the kids) can do it!
Ingredients
Ingredient notes
- Cream cheese – make sure the cream cheese is softened and at room temperate so you can actually mix it into the herbs
- Herbs – you want to use fresh herbs for this, not dried, especially for the outside. There are a lot of times that you can substitute dried herbs, but this is not one of them! Chop them all finely so it’ll coat the outside of the cheese ball well to create your Christmas tree.
- Parmesan cheese – I recommend using grated parmesan cheese (versus shredded) so it mixes better with the herbs.
- Craisins – you can either use Craisins or just regular dried cranberries.
- Dipping items – I didn’t include this in the instructions but don’t forget to grab some crackers, chips, or crunchy bread to serve with this Christmas cheese ball, you’ll need them.
How to make this Christmas Cheese Ball
Okay so I’ve included step by step photos with the instructions below to help you understand how to do this. The words are a little confusing without the pictures, that’s just how it goes with some recipes!
1 – Mix the Cheese Ball Together
Before you do this, make sure your cream cheese is soft. If it’s not soft, wait until it’s soft – it’s not going to mix the way you want it to if it’s not soft.
Mix 2/3 cup parsley, 2/3 cup coriander, the fresh thyme, parmesan cheese, cream cheese and garlic powder to a large bowl until it’s all well combined.
Mix those well with a spoon, kind of like you would with this spinach artichoke dip. You want it to be a creamy mixture with herbs mixed in throughout.
2 – Make the Tree Shape
Next, you’ll transfer the mixture onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Wrap mixture completely then form into a tree shape. This is easiest done by first making a large cylinder with the mixture and thinning out the top part.
The plastic wrap helps you to shape the ball without having to touch it and have the cheese mixture stick to your hands. Once the tree is formed, take it off and your tree should stand on its own.
3 – Coat the Christmas Tree Cheese Ball
Using the plastic wrap again, roll the “tree” in the remaining 1/3 cup parsley and 1/3 cup coriander so that it coats the outside and gives it the illusion of being a Christmas tree.
3 – Decorate the Cheese Ball
Place your finished “tree” on the plate you’re going to serve it from and then it’s time to decorate! It should hold it’s shape pretty well when you stand it up but if not, you can gently reshape it into your Christmas tree shape.
Add diagonal lines of pine nuts around the tree to look like strings of lights. Then add cranberries for ornaments all around the tree.
Finish it off with a couple of walnuts on the top to look like a star (or at least a tree topper of some sort). You could also just put a cheese star on top like I did with this pesto crostini Christmas tree if you prefer.
5 – Chill and Serve
Place the Christmas tree cheese ball in the fridge until right before you’re ready to serve. If you’re going to eat it right away, it doesn’t need to be chilled – just if you’re not eating it now!
Serve the cheese ball with all sorts of dippers – different crackers, veggies, even bread slices are great in this! It’s such a fun and festive centerpiece for any holiday spread!
Tips and Storage Info
Chop the herbs finely and mix them well so people don’t get huge chunks of herbs with any bite.
Store in the fridge after making it until you’re ready to eat. It should be ready to go immediately but if you’re not serving right away, put it in the fridge to chill until you’re ready to serve.
Change up the decorations to things you like if pine nuts and cranberries aren’t your thing. This would be good with pomegranate seeds, any other kind of nuts, and even things like pumpkin seeds.
Recipe FAQs
How long will this cheese ball last?
Keep the cheese ball wrapped in plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.
More Christmas Appetizers
Finish off your holiday appetizer tray with one of these delicious Christmas appetizers that is perfect to go with this Christmas cheese ball!
- Cranberry baked brie with honey – the best baked brie ever!
- Christmas charcuterie board – this fun wreath shaped charcuterie is easy to put together and oh so festive!
- Caprese salad skewers – a healthyish red and green appetizer that will balance out all of the Christmas desserts!
- Bisquick sausage balls – these are what they sound like, a super quick Christmas appetizer everyone will enjoy!
- Bacon brie bites – a sweet and salty holiday snack!
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Christmas Tree Cheese Ball
Ingredients
- ½ cup fresh parsley
- ½ cup fresh coriander
- ¼ cup fresh thyme
- 3 TBS shredded parmesan cheese
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1 TBS garlic powder
- pine nuts (to decorate tree)
- dried cranberries (to decorate tree)
Instructions
- Combine 2/3 cup of parsley, 2/3 cup coriander, thyme, parmesan cheese, cream cheese and garlic powder in bowl and mix well.1/2 cup fresh parsley, 1/2 cup fresh coriander, 1/4 cup fresh thyme, 3 TBS shredded parmesan cheese, 8 ounces cream cheese, 1 TBS garlic powder
- Place mixture on large piece of plastic wrap and wrap completely. Shape into a “tree” by creating a cylinder and thinning out the top.
- Remove the plastic wrap and roll “tree” in remaining 1/3 cup parsley and 1/3 cup coriander.1/2 cup fresh parsley, 1/2 cup fresh coriander
- Place “tree” on plate and decorate with pine nuts and dried cranberries. Add a pecan for a star.pine nuts, dried cranberries
- Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
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