Description
Rudolph’s festive cheese delight combines seasonal cheer with rich Swiss and cheddar flavors. Creamy ingredients meld perfectly, offering holiday guests a memorable culinary experience you’ll savor with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese (shredded, room temperature)
- 2 (8 oz/226 g) blocks cream cheese (room temperature)
- 1 ½ cups pecans (crushed)
- 1 oz/28 g package ranch seasoning mix
- 2 black olives
- 1 cherry tomato
- 2 pretzels (original-sized)
Instructions
- Preparation: Retrieve cream cheese and sharp cheddar, allowing them to soften at room temperature for smooth blending.
- Mixing: Utilize stand mixer to combine softened dairy ingredients with ranch seasoning, whirling until achieving a uniform, creamy consistency.
- Shaping: Encase the cheese mixture in plastic wrap, forming a compact spherical shape and sealing tightly to prevent air exposure.
- Chilling: Refrigerate the wrapped cheese ball for at least four hours, enabling flavor development and structural setting.
- Coating: Unwrap the chilled cheese sphere and generously roll in crushed pecans, creating a complete nutty exterior.
- Decorating: Craft Rudolph’s character by positioning black olive slices as eyes using toothpicks, then add a cherry tomato slice for the distinctive red nose.
- Finalizing: Insert pretzel sticks at the top of the cheese ball to represent playful antlers, completing the festive reindeer-inspired presentation.
Notes
- Temperature Matters: Allow cream cheese and cheddar to soften at room temperature for 30-45 minutes, ensuring smooth, easy blending without lumps.
- Mixing Magic: Whip cheese mixture on medium speed precisely 2-3 minutes for optimal texture, stopping to scrape bowl sides for even consistency.
- Chill for Flavor: Refrigerate cheese ball minimum 4 hours or overnight to enhance flavor fusion and help maintain structural integrity.
- Decorative Pro Tips: Press nuts gently into cheese surface for secure attachment, and arrange facial features symmetrically for professional presentation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg