Name: Orange Cranberry Cheese Ball
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1-8 oz. package cream cheese, room temperature; 1 T. water; 1 T. fresh orange juice; 1 T. orange zest, preferably organic; ½ c. dried cranberries, chopped and divided; ½ c. pecans, finely chopped; 1 T. fresh parsley, finely chopped

With just seven ingredients, this Orange-Cranberry Cheese Ball appetizer is delicious and takes just minutes to pull together. The addition of fresh orange juice and zest is the key to this recipe’s success, adding a subtle hint of sweetness that sets it apart from other recipes. Plus, it’s perfect for any party!

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Why you’ll love this recipe

Easy to make: There’s no cooking involved in this recipe so it is simple to create any time you need it – just leave a little time to refrigerate the mixture.
Flexible recipe: The cheese ball is ideal for anything from an appetizer to a part of a cheese board.
Simple to swap: You can also swap out many of the ingredients for what you have or enjoy best.

Ingredients

Cream cheese: You can use full-fat or reduced-fat cream cheese in this recipe but make sure it is at room temperature before you start the recipe.
Orange juice: Go for a no-bits on for the dish.
Orange zest: You can use packet zest if you can find it but grab a fine grater and make your own fresh for the best results. You can even then juice the orange for the orange juice you’ll need.
Cranberries: Dried fruit is best for the recipe, chop them so they aren’t too large and will roll around the ball.
Pecans: Make sure you either get finely chopped pecans or chop them more yourself.

Grab the full ingredients details and instructions in the recipe card below!

Substitutions and Additions

Pecans: You can use candied pecans if you want a sweeter dish or swap it for any other type of nut that you enjoy.
Cranberries: Other dried berries would also work in the recipe if you prefer their flavour.

Instructions

Step 1: Mix the coating

Add the cream cheese, water, orange juice, orange zest, and one-third cup cranberries to a medium-sized mixing bowl and stir to combine.

Use a silicon spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl to ensure all ingredients are incorporated into the mixture.

Step 2: Prepare the cream cheese

Place a piece of plastic wrap on a clean, dry work surface and use the silicon spatula to gently scoop the cream cheese mixture on top of it.

Step 3: Creating the cheese ball

Wrap the plastic wrap around the cream cheese and gently shape into a ball with your hands. Cover the cheese ball completely in the plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes.

Step 4: Combine the pecans and cranberries

Meanwhile, toss the pecans and fresh parsley with the remaining cranberries in a small bowl until combined.

Step 5: Add the coating to the cheese

Remove the cheese ball from the refrigerator and discard the plastic wrap. Place the ball on a round serving plate and gently press the cranberry-pecan mixture into the surface to cover.

Step 6: Serve the dish

Serve immediately with your choice of crackers, fresh fruit, and/or sliced vegetables.

Recipe tips

Make it sweeter: Some recipes call for the cream cheese mixture to be sweeter and add some powdered sugar. Make sure you mix it thoroughly if you add this to the cream cheese to avoid lumps.
Add more toppings: For an added touch, sprinkle herbs or nuts on top before serving.

Recipe FAQ

How do you serve a cheese ball appetizer?

If you’re looking for a more elevated presentation, try serving your cheese ball on top of a slice of baguette or a toasted crostini.

You can also incorporate the cheese ball into other dishes such as wrapping it in thinly sliced prosciutto and serving on a platter or mixing it with breadcrumbs and shaping into patties to fry into crispy fritters.

When all else fails, I like to serve my cheese ball with crackers, pepperoni slices, and grape tomatoes for a simple yet tasty combination.

Storage & reheating

Fridge: Keep any leftovers in the fridge and use within 3 days. Don’t worry if the cheese gets a little stained from the berries, that’s normal.
Freezer: This recipe can be prepared in advance. Once the cheese ball is tightly wrapped in plastic wrap (Step 2 below), place it in a freezer bag and freeze for up to one month. When ready to serve, thaw at room temperature and coat in cranberry-pecan mixture described below.

More recipes

Want more ideas? Check out these other related recipes!

Yield: 6-8 portions