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This recipe is PERFECT for the holidays! Packed with delicious seasonal flavor, this appetizer is absolutely delicious and super simple to make! It will quickly become a new favorite
I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and happy holidays! It has been so fun to just take a break and spend time with family. I adore my family :) Can you believe 2016 is in just a few short days?! It is so hard for me to even fathom another new year is here. It seems like just yesterday it was the first day of 2015 and I was making and setting new goals for the new year. The days are flying by, almost too quickly.
New Years is one of my FAVORITE Holidays! I love the idea of starting clean, fresh, anew. I also love ALL the yummy appetizers! My husband adores cream cheese, so he gets pretty excited to see the menu line up each year.
As I was pondering some new appetizer ideas, it dawned on me to make this Cranberry Orange Cheese Ball. The flavor is perfect for this time of year and it tastes like perfection! The craisins provide such a wonderful pop of color and texture while the orange gives it such a refreshing taste.
How to make candied pecans:
- 1/2 cup sugar or brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons water
- 2 cups pecans
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until liquid is evaporated.
If you are looking for a fun, delicious and unique appetizer, then give this one a try! It is sure to be a huge hit!
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Cranberry Orange Cheese Ball
This recipe is PERFECT for the holidays! Packed with delicious seasonal flavor, this appetizer is absolutely delicious and super simple to make! It will quickly become a new favorite!
Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes minutes
Servings 16
Calories 187kcal
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup craisins
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- 1 Tablespoon orange juice
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Coating
- 1 cup chopped candied pecans
- 1/2 cup craisins
- 1 Tablespoon orange zest
Instructions
Stir softened cream cheese until smooth.
Stir in craisins, orange zest, orange juice and powdered sugar until well combined.
Set bowl in fridge and allow to firm up for about 10 minutes or just long enough to be able to form a ball.
Roll into a cream cheese mixture into a ball and place on a plate or tray and place in freezer to soft set for 10 minutes.
While cheese ball is soft setting, combine coating ingredients onto a large tray or plate. Roll cheese ball into the topping ingredients to coat on the outside completely.
Cover with saran wrap and store in fridge until ready to serve.
Serve with crackers.
Nutrition
Calories: 187kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 117mg | Potassium: 47mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 385IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Tried this recipe?Tag @nikki_chefintraining in your picture on Instagram so we can see what you have been up to in your kitchen!
Enjoy!
Leave a Comment
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Roxana
This cheese ball definitely would be a hit in my household - it's beautiful, and I'm a big fan of cranberries, orange and pecans together! Awesome job!
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Barbara Looney
Looks like a great recipe.
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Tiffani Marshall
I'm excited to try this. I really want to try using marscapone and making pastries with this mixture.
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Joette
4
How do you candy the pecans? I expected that to be on the recipe. I can Google it, but wanted it to be just like the photo. Can't wait to try this recipe! Thank you!
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Amanda
5
I made this cheese ball for Thanksgiving and it was amazing! It was a big hit with family and friends who asked for the recipe. I plan to make it next year as well.
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Pamela
I have made this for years
I serve mine with ginger snaps. Trader Joe's have the best. The ginger thins are good also -
Kathy
How far in advance can this cheeseball be made?
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Cindy
Wonderful blend of flavors, but it is very sweet. I haven't yet found quite the right cracker to go with it, but it is yummy. Maybe I'll try it with fewer cranberries next time.
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Mary
5
I recently made this cheese ball for a party I attended and it was a huge hit - I received lots of recipe requests too :) Not only is it beautiful, it is absolutely delicious! Perfect addition to any Fall/Winter gathering or for a snack in front of the TV. (Notes: I didn't have candied pecans so I used regular. Also, I chopped the pecans and the craisins up with a small paring knife to make the cheese easier to spread.) Thank you Nikki for another wonderful recipe!
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Amber
Just made this and instead of making one big ball I made small bite sized balls. I'll add pretzel sticks tomorrow right before eating. Great recipe!!
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Jennifer
Can I substitute honey for the powdered sugar? How much? Also, if I plan to put this together the night before, will the nut topping get soggy?
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Susan
can you make this a day or so ahead of time?
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Stephanie
5
This was so easy to make and delicious. I live the sweet and creaminess. I added my own spin by substituting the OJ with blood orange bitters. Then I added chopped green onion to add a splash of green and make it a bit more savory.
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Suzanne
This looks so good! What a simple and beautiful appetizer to bring to the holidays!
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Vanessa
Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?
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Margaret Snider
5
Please tell me how to get candied pecans. I’ve never seen them in a store. Do you have a recipe for them?
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Chef in Training
I use a combo of 1/2 cup sugar or brown sugar, 2 Tablespoons water and 2 cups pecans and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until liquid is evaporated. I hope that helps.
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Patricia
Extremely easy, nice change in flavor to the "normal" cheese ball. The serving size was large! I'm going to try and freeze one of the balls.
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Connie Lewis
5
I made this for Thanksgiving, and to quote one of my grown children, it was "killer". I plan to make one as a gift for a co-worker for Christmas. I highly recommend serving with Pretzel Crisps. A great combination
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Sue Hayes
5
Absolutely delicious!
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Sandy
Wondering if you make candied pecans or just use regular pecans.
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Chef in Training
I make my own candied pecans but you could probably buy some too!
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Chef in Training
I use a combo of 1/2 cup sugar or brown sugar, 2 Tablespoons water and 2 cups pecans and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until liquid is evaporated. I hope that helps.
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