Description
This festive cheese ball is a fun and delicious appetizer perfect for your Easter celebrations. With a creamy, tangy base blended with fresh herbs and a crunchy coating of nuts and seeds, it’s as eye-catching as it is tasty. Serve with crackers or vegetable sticks for a crowd-pleasing starter!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Cheese Ball:
- 16 oz (450g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives (or green onions)
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For the Coating:
- 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans (or walnuts)
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
- Zest of 1 lemon
For Serving:
- Assorted crackers, sliced baguette, or fresh vegetable sticks
Instructions
- Mix the Base: In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, cheddar, Parmesan, mayonnaise, and minced garlic. Mix until smooth and well incorporated.
- Add Herbs & Season: Stir in the chopped chives and parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Shape the Cheese Ball: Scoop the mixture onto a piece of parchment paper and shape it into a ball (about 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter).
- Prepare the Coating: In a small bowl, combine the chopped nuts, sesame seeds, and lemon zest.
- Coat the Cheese Ball: Roll the cheese ball in the coating mixture until all sides are evenly covered.
- Chill: Wrap the cheese ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to firm up.
- Serve: Remove from the fridge and serve with your favorite crackers, sliced baguette, or fresh vegetables.
Notes
For an extra festive touch, shape the cheese ball into a bunny or egg shape using a mold or by hand, and decorate with additional herbs or edible flowers.
You can substitute or add other herbs like dill or basil according to your taste.
The cheese ball can be made up to 1 day in advance and kept refrigerated until serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ~2 oz
- Calories: ~150 kcal
- Sugar: ~2g
- Sodium: ~250mg
- Fat: ~13g
- Saturated Fat: ~7g
- Unsaturated Fat: ~6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: ~3g
- Fiber: ~0.5g
- Protein: ~5g
- Cholesterol: ~20mg