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+ servings
Christmas tree shaped cheese ball with Ritz crackers around it
5 from 18 votes

Christmas Tree Cheese Ball

A Christmas Tree Cheese ball is a tasty and festive holiday appetizer, perfect for your Christmas parties. You’ll love how easy it is to make.
Author Diana
Servings 20 servings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Chill time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 x 8 ounce/(225g) packages cream cheese softened
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt

To decorate

  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • ¼ of each yellow and red bell peppers diced
  • 1 tablespoon pistachios roughly chopped, optional
  • 1 tablespoon pine nuts optional

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, beat together the cheeses, then add in the parsley and seasonings and beat until well combined.
  • Transfer the mixture onto plastic wrap, tightly cover and shape into a cone. Refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours, and preferably overnight.
  • Transfer the cheese ball cone onto a serving plate to decorate. Lightly press some of the parsley into the cheese, then dot the pine nuts to create a string light effect. Decorate next with bell pepper pieces and pistachio nuts to resemble baubles or ornaments.
  • Press in the remaining parsley to fill in any gaps. Then cut a star from a thick slice of cheese using a small cookie cutter. I attached it to the top of the tree with a toothpick to keep it secure.
  • Serve with crackers, bread, or sturdy chips.

Notes

Nuts are Optional: You can make this a nut-free cheese ball. Add a few more pieces of yellow or red pepper in place of them while decorating the tree. 
Other Decorations: You can get creative with decorating your Christmas Tree Cheese Ball. Try adding sliced green olives, roasted red peppers, pieces of red onion, or even chopped bacon. 
Soften the Cream Cheese: Don’t try to mix this up until your cream cheese has softened to room temperature.

Nutrition

Calories: 158kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 222mg | Potassium: 68mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 560IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 1mg