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This blog post was originally published on November 16, 2021.
By now, a lot of us have our favorite “greatest hits” dishes that we make time and time again during the holidays. Those recipes that are either passed down or that we found on the internet and committed to memory from making them over and over again. I have a few myself (of course I’ve shared them on the blog in recent years!), but I tend to try to refresh my dish arsenal for the holidays in a couple of categories each year: side dishes, and appetizers.
Yummy new side dishes can be a great thing to add to your family gathering, especially if you’re on the hook for something to bring to a party! But I must get the most questions EVER about my favorite appetizers! Easy appetizers that are delicious and look great are not the easiest to come by. I prefer appetizers that are able to be at least MOSTLY made in advance! Whenever I’m hosting, it’s important to me to keep the stress level low and to be able to mingle with my guests. Being stuck in the kitchen assembling food can be such a bummer! I love sharing appetizers that are easy to make ahead of time, and today I’m sharing one of the best!
These little Mini Harvest Cheese Ball appetizers blend all the greatest fall flavors into rich and creamy balls of goodness. They’re easily grabbed and popped onto appetizer plates. I like serving them alongside a range of crackers and pretzels that your guests can choose from. Then, they have their own little individual balls of cheesy dip to feast on. It’s a great one for nicer events as well. My kids even enjoy these, which is saying a lot for an appetizer that isn’t chips! LOL. I hope they make your mingling time easier and more delicious this holiday season.
Ingredients…
(Serves 30)
For the Cheese Balls…
- (2) 8 oz packages cream cheese softened
- 4 oz goat cheese
- 4 oz parmesan shredded cheese (finely cut)
- 1/2 cup roughly chopped dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced chives
For the coating…
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced chives
- 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup chopped dried cranberries
- 30 pretzel sticks
Step 1:
Combine Ingredients and Mix
Combine softened cream cheese, softened goat cheese, finely cut shredded parmesan cheese, dried cranberries, chopped pecans, and chives into a large bowl and mix.
Step 2:
Roll Mixture into Bite-Sizes
Next, take the mixture and make bite-size balls by rolling it into the palm of your hands. Once rolled, set them aside on wax paper.
Step 3:
Combine Coating Ingredients
In a small bowl, combine chives, pecans, and dried cranberries for the cheese ball coating.
Step 4:
Coat Cheese Balls
Coat the bite-size cheese balls by rolling them in the small bowl of chives, pecans and dried cranberries.
Step 5:
Add Pretzel Stick
Place a pretzel stick in the middle of the top of the cheese ball.
Step 6:
Garnish
Add a chive garnish bow to each pretzel stick- place on your Thanksgiving table!
Mini Harvest Cheese Ball Appetizer
Ingredients
- (2) 8 oz Cream Cheese , Softened
- 4 oz Goat Cheese
- 4 oz Parmesan Shredded Cheese, Finely Cut
- 1 cup Dried Cranberries, Roughly Chopped
- 1 cup Pecans, Finely Chopped
- 3/4 cup Chives, Thinly Sliced
- 30 pieces Pretzel Sticks
Instructions
- Combine softened cream cheese, softened goat cheese, finely cut shredded parmesan cheese, dried cranberries, chopped pecans, and chives into a large bowl and mix.
- Next, take the mixture and make bite-size balls by rolling it into the palm of your hands. Once rolled, set them aside on wax paper.
- In a small bowl, combine chives, pecans, and dried cranberries for the cheese ball coating.
- Coat the bite size cheese balls by rolling them in the small bowl of chives, pecans and dried cranberries.
- Place a pretzel stick in the middle of the top of the cheese ball.
- Add a chive garnish bow to each pretzel stick- place on your Thanksgiving table!
Nutrition
