Description
Create a festive centerpiece with this Tropical Cheese Ball Christmas Tree a delightful tower of creamy cheese, sweet pineapple, tart cranberries, and crunchy pecans. Perfect for holiday gatherings, it’s both delicious and visually stunning.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup crushed pineapple, well drained
- ½ cup dried cranberries, chopped
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- ¼ cup red bell pepper, finely chopped (optional, adds a festive touch)
- 2 tablespoons chives or green onions, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup chopped pecans (for coating)
- Extra dried cranberries (for decoration)
- Pineapple pieces or a small cheese star (tree topper)
- Crackers, toast, or pita chips for serving
Instructions
- Combine the softened cream cheese, well-drained crushed pineapple, chopped cranberries, pecans, red bell pepper, chives, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a large mixing bowl. Mix until fully combined and smooth.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate the mixture for 1 hour until it firms up and becomes easier to shape.
- Once chilled, use a teaspoon or small scoop to portion the mixture into walnut-sized balls, yielding about 20–25 mini cheese balls. Roll each one gently between your hands to form smooth spheres.
- Place the chopped pecans in a shallow bowl and roll each cheese ball in the nuts until evenly coated.
- On a large serving platter, assemble the cheese balls into a Christmas tree shape by starting with 6–7 balls at the base, then stack rows of 5, 4, 3, 2, and finish with 1 at the top.
- Decorate by placing dried cranberries as “ornaments” and add a pineapple piece or a tiny cheese star at the very top as the tree topper.
- Serve chilled with crackers, toast, or pita chips. Keep refrigerated until ready to enjoy.
Notes
- Sweeter version: Add 1 tablespoon honey.
- Spicy kick: Mix in 1 teaspoon finely chopped jalapeño.
- Extra creamy: Substitute ½ the cream cheese with mascarpone.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cheese ball
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: Christmas, Holiday, Cheese Ball, Appetizer, Festive