10-Minute Mini Cranberry Cheese Balls
on Dec 03, 2023
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Want an easy way to impress this holiday? You can’t get much easier (not to mention tastier) than these easy 10-minute cranberry cheese balls for your next festive cheese board! You’ll love the simple contrast between the tangy cheeses, sweet cranberries, and crunchy walnuts on the outside.
Why you’ll love them
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without cheese and crackers for an evening ‘snack’ on Christmas Day at our house. And by ‘snack’ I mean about 20 crackers with all sorts of delicious cheeses and chutneys piled on top.
Just one more. Mmmm. Well, OK then, another won’t hurt – it’s Christmas! 😉
If you’re a fan of cheese, I’m sure you’ll like these cute and super easy (ready in just 10 minutes!) cranberry cheese balls, too.
The hardest ‘work’ you’ll do will be chopping the dried fruit into pieces. You don’t even need to grate any cheese if you buy ready-grated. It’ll take mere seconds to add the garlic powder and paprika.
These are such a perfect holiday appetizer, but they look beautiful on a cheese board for any occasion!
How to make these mini cheese balls
You’ll mix together the cheeses and few little extras you need to make these truffles in literally minutes (around 10 to be exact).
Once you’ve mixed together the soft creamy cream cheese with the other cheeses (just use a big spoon or spatula to mix, or if you prefer use a food processor or hand mixer!), simply form teaspoons into small balls with your hands.
Roll in the finely chopped dried cranberries and walnuts and refrigerate either in an airtight container or on a serving platter covered well with plastic wrap until ready to serve.
You’re done! Serve the delicious spreadable cheese balls with your favorite crackers on the side and nothing else if you like. That’s what I call easy holiday entertaining.
Easy variations
And of course these cranberry cream cheese balls are extremely customizable. Here are a few ideas for making them your own.
- Add a different sort of cheese instead of cheddar (Monterey Jack, Colby, Swiss cheese, or Gouda).
- Instead of cream cheese, goat cheese, blue cheese or even soft feta cheese such as Danish or French style feta would work. You could also use flavored cream cheese so that you don’t have to add any extra flavors of your own.
- Try rolling in chopped apricots and pistachios, or pecans with dried figs or apples.
- Try rolling the cheese truffles in a little paprika (for a bright dash of red) and some finely chopped fresh herbs such as dill, basil, oregano or parsley. Dried herbs will work, too.
- How about finely chopped jalapeños for a bit of heat? Or dried onions or green onions and chives for a very savory version.
- For a savory, meaty option, how about rolling in fine pieces of crispy bacon?
- Nut allergy in your midst? No worries! Simply skip the nuts for crushed pretzels, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, or your favorite seasoning. Another option is to replace the nuts with grated citrus zest (orange is great) for a zesty variation.
Helen’s top tips
- Make the yummy holiday cheese balls as big or small as you like. I stick with about a teaspoon for each truffle, so that there is plenty of nutty and fruity taste in each bite. However, feel free to make one large cheese ball for sharing instead of individual cheese balls if you prefer!
- Feel free to use a mini food processor (paid link) or chopper to chop the walnuts and cranberries into pieces.
- Use softened cream cheese so it’s easier to mix with the other cheeses. Just take it out of the refrigerator a while before starting.
- Refrigerate the cheese mixture for at least 30 minutes (so that it’s easier to handle). Also refrigerate the finished cheese balls for at least two hours before serving.
- Serve simply with crackers. Alternatively, consider pita chips (these air fryer pita chips are so easy!), tortilla chips, crostini, fresh apple slices or even vegetable sticks such as carrots, cucumber and peppers. Also consider pushing a pretzel stick into the top of each truffle for easy pick-up!
Recipe FAQs
These will keep well in the fridge for up to a week, so they’re great for making ahead. Keep either the cheese mixture or the actual cheese balls in an airtight container between layers of parchment paper or baking paper. Don’t roll in the nuts and dried fruit or other coatings until just before serving, especially if you’re using fresh herbs.
Sticking with a teaspoon for each, you will get about 25 truffles – enough to feed quite a crowd!
Yes! You can freeze the cheese balls with cranberries in batches to use for different occasions.
I’d recommend freezing the cheese mixture (already rolled into balls) for up to 2 months between layers of baking or parchment paper in airtight containers. Freeze without the coatings. Then let defrost in the fridge overnight before rolling in the dried fruits and nuts (or whatever coatings you choose).
More party appetizers to serve with your cheese balls
- Air fried pita chips or no knead Italian focaccia bread
- Easy spinach and feta filo parcels or crispy mushroom filo parcels
- Quick hummus with pine nuts and paprika (and 2-ingredient flatbread!)
- Also try these legendary halloumi fries!
Or check out all easy party food.
10-Minute Mini Cranberry Cheese Balls
Ingredients
for the cheese truffle mixture
- 7 ounces cream cheese, softened (take out of the fridge a little ahead)
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, grated
- ½ cup cheddar cheese, grated (or other tasty grated cheese)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
for the coatings
- ½ cup dried cranberries, chopped finely (I do this in a mini food processor)
- ½ cup walnuts, chopped finely (also done in a mini food processor) (alternatives: chopped apricots or other dried fruit, pistachios, paprika, fresh chopped herbs)
Instructions
- Mix together the cream cheese, grated cheeses, garlic powder and paprika in a bowl, then cover and chill for at least 30 minutes (overnight is perfect).7 ounces cream cheese, ½ cup parmesan cheese, ½ cup cheddar cheese, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon paprika
- Combine your chopped cranberries and walnuts or other chosen toppings on a plate.½ cup dried cranberries, ½ cup walnuts
- Roll teaspoons of cheese mixture into truffle/ball shapes, then roll them in your plate of toppings. Place on a plate or on baking paper, and chill until ready to eat.
I have already eaten my weight in cheese this week and I’m ready for something new. This recipe has 3 of my favorite cheeses and will be making this when I entertain this weekend. Merry Christmas!
Hope you like it, Janette. Merry Christmas to you and your family, too!
These look highly addictive! I love all the festive flavors you have going here 🙂
Hi Denise. Merry Christmas!
These will be perfect for Christmas! And NYE, too! Love them! So easy to make, pinning and sharing!
Thanks, Mira. They’re perfect for any party occasion, and I hope you give them a try!
I wonder how dryed Cherries would be in this . I have a bag I don’t know what to do with them yet.
Hello Joy! I actually think cherries would work fabulously! They’re just as ‘Christmas-y’ as cranberries. I’d chop them finely and then just use in the recipe exactly as you would use the cranberries. Let me know how you get on!
I love how quick and easy these are and that they’re individual – how cute is that?! This is a fantastic addition to any holiday cheese board!
Thanks Kathleen. Cute and very tasty!