Christmas Cheeseball (2 Ways!)

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Are you looking for a fun and easy way to add some holiday cheer to your party spread? Look no further than the classic Christmas Cheeseball! With just a few simple ingredients and a little bit of creativity, you can transform this humble appetizer into a show-stopping centerpiece that is sure to be a hit with guests of all ages. In this post, we’ll share two fun ways to jazz up your Christmas cheeseball: by decorating it to look like Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer or shaping it into a Christmas tree. These cute and tasty creations are sure to be a hit on your holiday party platter, along with your favorite crackers and cold cuts of meat. So let’s get started!

QUICK TIP

Looking for some other fun and festive appetizers to add to your holiday party spread? We have an entire post dedicated to Christmas-themed veggie trays! You’ll find instructions for creating a colorful ornament tray, a cute train-shaped tray, and a show-stopping Christmas tree tray, all made with fresh vegetables.

Image of the Christmas Cheeseball on a plate

A One Ingredient Cheeseball!

December can be one of the busiest months of the year, so who doesn’t love a few kitchen shortcuts? For these festive Christmas cheeseballs, we’re using just ONE ingredient to make things even easier: Boursin cheese.

If you haven’t tried Boursin cheese before, you’re in for a treat! This delicious spread is made from a mixture of cow’s milk cheese and butter, and is flavored with herbs and spices like garlic, parsley, and chives. It has a smooth and creamy texture that is perfect for spreading on crackers or bread, or for using as a filling in sandwiches or wraps. Boursin cheese is widely available in grocery stores and comes in a variety of flavors, like garlic and herb, pepper, and spicy chili. We love the garlic and herb-flavored version for these Christmas cheeseballs.

Process shots-- images of the Boursin being rolled into a ball

Two Christmas Cheeseball Options:

  1. Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer: To create this festive cheeseball, start by shaping the Boursin cheese into a round ball. Then, roll the ball in crushed pecans to give it a brown, reindeer-like appearance. Next, attach sliced black olives for eyes and a halved cherry tomato for the nose to create the image of Rudolph. Use twist pretzels to create antlers.
  2. Christmas tree: For this holiday-themed cheeseball, shape the Boursin cheese into a cone or triangle shape to resemble a Christmas tree. Coat the cheeseball in coarsely chopped parsley to give it a festive green color. Attach pomegranate arils and sliced almonds around the cheeseball to create the appearance of ornaments. Use a bell pepper to cut out a tree topper for the top of the tree. 

Process shots of christmas cheeseball-- images of the ball being rolled in crushed pecans Image of the reindeer snack plate

What To Serve Alongside Your Christmas Cheeseball

With so many options to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect accompaniments for these festive cheeseballs.

  • Crackers: Serve your cheeseball with a variety of crackers such as crispy breadsticks, butter crackers, or pita chips.
  • Bread: You can also serve your cheeseball with slices of toasted bread or baguette, or with mini crostini.
  • Vegetables: Fresh vegetables such as carrots, celery, bell peppers, olives, and cherry tomatoes make great dippers for a cheeseball.
  • Meat: Pair your cheeseball with cold cuts of meat such as prosciutto, salami, or ham for a more substantial appetizer.
  • Fruit: Fresh fruit such as grapes, apples, or pears can be served alongside a cheeseball for a sweet and refreshing contrast.
  • Dips: Consider serving your cheeseball with a complementary dip such as hummus, guacamole, or spinach and artichoke dip.

Process shots of christmas cheeseball-- images of the Boursin being shaped into a tree and rolled in fresh parsley

Here are a few tips for decorating your Christmas cheeseball:

  • One easy way to shape your cheeseball is to use plastic wrap. Simply wrap the cheeseball in plastic wrap, shape it into your desired form, and chill it in the refrigerator until it is firm. This will help the cheeseball hold its shape and make it easier to decorate.
  • Don’t be afraid to get creative with your cheeseball decorations! There are no strict rules, so have fun coming up with unique and festive designs. Use your imagination and be creative. And if you come up with any particularly creative ideas, be sure to share them in the comments.
  • Make a double batch: Cheeseballs are always a hit at parties, so consider making a double batch so you have plenty to go around. You can also freeze half of the mixture for a quick appetizer at a later date.
  • Toast the pecans: Toasting pecans is a quick and easy way to enhance their flavor and add crunch to dishes like the Rudolph-decorated cheeseball. See “quick tip” box below for how to toast pecans.

QUICK TIP

To toast pecans, spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F (180°C) for 5-10 minutes or until fragrant and lightly browned, or heat a dry skillet over medium heat and cook the pecans, stirring frequently, until fragrant and lightly browned.

Image of the christmas tree snack plate ready to be enjoyed

More Festive Christmas Dishes:

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Christmas Cheeseball

5 from 1 vote
Are you looking for a fun and easy way to add some holiday cheer to your party spread? Look no further than the classic Christmas Cheeseball! With just a few simple ingredients and a little bit of creativity, you can transform this humble appetizer into a show-stopping centerpiece that is sure to be a hit with guests of all ages. In this post, we'll share two fun ways to jazz up your Christmas cheeseball: by decorating it to look like Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer or shaping it into a Christmas tree. These cute and tasty creations are sure to be a hit on your holiday party platter, along with your favorite crackers and cold cuts of meat. So let's get started!
Print Recipe

Christmas Cheeseball

5 from 1 vote
Are you looking for a fun and easy way to add some holiday cheer to your party spread? Look no further than the classic Christmas Cheeseball! With just a few simple ingredients and a little bit of creativity, you can transform this humble appetizer into a show-stopping centerpiece that is sure to be a hit with guests of all ages. In this post, we'll share two fun ways to jazz up your Christmas cheeseball: by decorating it to look like Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer or shaping it into a Christmas tree. These cute and tasty creations are sure to be a hit on your holiday party platter, along with your favorite crackers and cold cuts of meat. So let's get started!
Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine American, Healthy, Vegetarian
Keyword Christmas Cheeseball
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 6 servings (per cheeseball; as an appetizer)
Calories 146kcal
Author Chelsea Lords
Cost $8.19

Equipment

  • Plastic Wrap

Ingredients

Christmas Tree

  • 1 pkg. (5.2 oz) Boursin Cheese (Note 1)
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • 1/4 cup sliced almonds
  • 2 tablespoons pomegranate arils
  • 1 yellow pepper

Rudolph

Serving suggestions: crackers, cold cuts of meat, etc. (Note 3)

    Instructions

    • CHRISTMAS TREE: Begin by laying out a large sheet of plastic wrap. Take the Boursin cheese, unwrap from packaging, and place it on the plastic wrap.
      Wrap the cheese tightly in the plastic wrap, shaping it into a cone shape that resembles a pine tree. Freeze the cheese for 15 minutes, or refrigerate it until you are ready to serve it.
      Just before serving, unwrap the cheese pine tree and roll it in finely chopped parsley, gently pressing the parsley into the cheese to cover it evenly. Decorate the tree with sliced almonds and pomegranate arils, pressing them gently into the cheese.
    • CHRISTMAS TREE CONT.: Use a sharp paring knife to cut a star shape out of the yellow pepper, and press it into the top of the cheese pine tree. Serve the cheese pine tree with crackers and cold cuts of meat, if desired.
    • RUDOLPH: Toast pecans if desired (for more flavor--see Note 2!) Let pecans fully cool then add to a small food processor and pulse until you have fine crumbs (don't over-pulse or you'll get pecan butter!) Pour the crumbs into a shallow bowl and set aside until ready to use.
      Pull out a large sheet of plastic wrap. Unwrap Boursin cheese and plop onto plastic wrap. Wrap it tightly then shape it into a round ball. Freeze for 15 minutes or refrigerate until ready to serve.
    • RUDOLPH CONT.: Just before serving, unwrap the ball shape and roll it in the finely chopped pecans, gently pressing the nuts into the ball. Press 2 pretzels on top to resemble antlers. Cut 2 olives oil half and press into ball to resemble eyes. Cut a cherry tomato in half and press into the ball to resemble the red nose. Serve with crackers and cold cuts of meat as desired.

    Recipe Notes

    Note 1: Boursin Cheese: Boursin cheese is widely available in grocery stores and comes in a variety of flavors but we love the garlic and herb-flavored version best for these Christmas cheeseballs. Picking up Boursin is a nice ONE ingredient short-cut during the business of the holidays! If you'd rather make your own cheeseball from scratch, check out our Cheese Ball Recipe or Pistachio Goat Cheese Ball as an alternative.
    Note 2: Toasting Pecans: To toast pecans, spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F (180°C) for 5-10 minutes or until fragrant and lightly browned, or heat a dry skillet over medium heat and cook the pecans, stirring frequently, until fragrant and lightly browned.
    Note 3: Serving Suggestions: Here are some ideas to accompanying these cheeseballs: crackers (crispy breadsticks, butter crackers, pita chips, etc.), bread (slices of toasted baguette or mini crostini), and/or vegetables (such as carrots, celery, bell peppers, olives, and cherry tomatoes).
    Note 4: Calories are for the Christmas Tree Cheeseball.

    Nutrition Facts

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 146kcal | Carbohydrates: 4.8g | Protein: 7.3g | Fat: 11.3g | Cholesterol: 24.3mg | Sodium: 162.2mg | Fiber: 1.3g | Sugar: 0.9g

    We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed.

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