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    Home » Recipes » Appetizer Recipes

    Christmas Pine Cone Cranberry Cheese Balls

    Updated: Jan 26, 2025 · Published: Dec 1, 2014 by Andrea

    Jump to Recipe

    These Christmas Pine Cone Cranberry Cheese Balls are the most simple and fun appetizer to celebrate the upcoming holidays.

    Ready in just 5 mins, to make these cute cheese balls you only need a few simple ingredients.

    All you have to do is combine the cheese with cranberries and decorate with almonds and fresh rosemary, it couldn't get easier than that.

    It's so fun to make, you can actually ask the kids to help you out, they will love to make these little cuties and eat them too.

    You can customize this easy recipe to meet your own taste.

    Add hot paprika for a spicy note, swap goat cheese with a dairy-free alternative or throw in different dried fruits like apricots or mango.

    These pine cone cranberry cheese balls are completely vegetarian, but if you want them all-meaty, just add some smoked bacon bits for serious flavor.

    Make the pine cone cheese balls  in advance and refrigerate until ready to serve. Give them a try, they're sure to impress your guests at your next winter party.

    Recipe

    Christmas pine cone cranberry cheese balls by the petite cook
    Print SaveSaved!
    5 from 1 vote

    Christmas Pine Cone Cheese Ball

    Prevent your screen from going dark
    This creamy pine cone cheese ball recipe is made with cranberries and almonds for flavor and added crunch, perfect for holiday parties!
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time2 minutes mins
    Total Time12 minutes mins
    Course: Appetizer, Snack
    Cuisine: International
    Serving: 4
    Calories: 525kcal
    Author: Andrea Soranidis

    Ingredients

    • 8 oz whole almonds
    • 8 oz soft goat cheese, well drained
    • ½ cup dried cranberries
    • 2 sprigs of rosemary
    • zest of ½ lime
    • salt and pepper
    • Crackers or crostini, to serve

    Instructions

    • To toast the almonds, heat a pan until medium hot. Add almonds and toast for 2 mins, until crisp and hot.
    • Transfer into a plate and set aside until needed.
    • In a large bowl mix together the cheese and cranberries, season with freshly cracked salt and red pepper. Add lime zest and mix until just combined.
    • Transfer the cheese mixture in the freezer for 5 min, then shape into 4 little pine cones or 2 large ones.
    • Beginning at the narrow end of each shape, arrange almonds in overlapping rows. Garnish with small sprigs of rosemary and serve with your favorite crackers or crostini. Enjoy!
    Did you try this recipe? Tag @thepetitecook or use the hashtag #thepetitecook - Looking at your pictures makes my day!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 525kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 21g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 210mg | Potassium: 438mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 586IU | Vitamin C: 0.03mg | Calcium: 233mg | Iron: 3mg

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

     

     

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    Comments

    1. San Espey says

      December 22, 2018 at 5:01 am

      Please post your recipe for Lemon Granita. Visited Sicily in 2017 where I fell in love with Lemon & Strawberry Granita. Enjoying your blog!

      Reply
    2. Susan Bussone says

      November 27, 2017 at 8:07 pm

      Sounds like just what I'm looking for.....The Christmas Pine Cone Cranberry Chees Balls. Do you just chop up fresh cranberries or can you use Craisins?

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        November 28, 2017 at 8:02 am

        Hi Susan! I've used soft dried cranberries (just amended the recipe to make sure it states dried cranberries), you just need to chop them into bits and mix them with the other ingredients 🙂 Hope you like these fun cheeseballs!

        Reply
    3. Tonya Dieterlen says

      December 26, 2016 at 12:05 am

      SO great! Yummy, easy, and delicious! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        December 30, 2016 at 8:52 am

        So glad you like it Tonya, hope you give these fun pine cones a try 🙂

        Reply
    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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    About Andrea

    Andrea Soranidis, founder of The Petite Cook.


    Welcome to my kitchen!
    I’m Andrea, I'm Italian, and I absolutely LOVE cooking.
    Grab a fork and join me!
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