Christmas Party Appetizer Ideas: Christmas Tree and Snowman Cheese Ball Recipes

Christmas Tree and Snowman Cheese Ball Recipes

As we enter the hustle and bustle of the holiday season with all of its festivities, your social calendar is sure to get jam packed with events. By the time you get through all the holiday gatherings with family, friends, and coworkers you’re sure to be partied out! In addition to making sure you aren’t overbooked, you’ll probably need to figure out what exactly to bring to each of these parties.

If you want to bring a dish that’s a crowd pleaser and relatively inexpensive and easy to prepare, consider a cheese ball. After all, what holiday party would be complete without a yummy cheese ball? The correct answer is none!

Since it’s the holidays, forget the traditional round cheese ball and jazz things up. You’re sure to impress guests when you show up with a snowman cheese ball or a Christmas tree cheese ball. Granted, these Christmas themed cheese balls are almost too pretty to eat. Notice I said “almost”! Once everyone digs in they’ll discover that this snowman cheese ball (or Christmas tree cheese ball) is as delicious as it is adorable.

Christmas Party Appetizer Ideas: Christmas Tree and Snowman Cheese Ball Recipes

Adapted from Betty Crocker for shaping directions. The cheese ball recipe is a family favorite of Lynne’s. It’s a must try!

INGREDIENTS:

2, 8oz. cream cheese blocks, softened
8oz. Extra Sharp Cracker Barrel Cheddar Cheese, room temperature
2 tsp. onion, grated very fine
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tablespoon dried parsley flakes + extra to roll the outside in if you choose
1 cup chopped pecans

Additional Ingredients Needed for a Christmas Tree Shape:
1 Red Bell Pepper, cut into small cubes
1 Yellow Bell Pepper, cut into a star shape
1/2 cup pine nuts

Additional Ingredients Needed for a Snowman Shape:
2 cups blanched almonds, chopped fine
1 cucumber
1 baby carrot
2 pretzel sticks
several pieces of sliced black olive
several capers
fresh thyme
several toothpicks

DIRECTIONS:

Shred the cheddar cheese with the shredding blade of a food processor. Then add all of the ingredients except for the NUTS to the food processor and blend well with the mixing blade. Shape into 2 balls and wrap them separately in wax paper and refrigerate them until firm. Before serving roll it in finely chopped nuts and/or parsley flakes. Serve with crackers. Triscuits are really good with it.

Additional Directions to Shape the Christmas Tree and Snowman Cheese Balls:

Divide one of the cheese balls into two portions. Form a larger one for the base of the snowman and a smaller one for the head. Roll the balls in finely chopped blanched almonds. Place the smaller ball on top of the larger one and press together slightly. Insert the pretzel sticks for arms. Cut a slice for the base of the hat. Cut a second larger piece for the top of the hat. Toothpick together and press into the head for the hat. Press two capers into the head for eyes. Trim down a baby carrot to be the size and shape needed for a nose. Cut bell pepper into small squares and press them in a line to form the mouth. Press the sliced olives into the body of the snowman for buttons. Wrap a strand of fresh thyme around the “neck” for a scarf.

(These items for decorating the Tree and the Snowman can be different items you may have on hand. Feel free to use your creativity to decorate differently if you wish.)

These holiday themed appetizers will quickly become a favorite Christmas tradition. Best of all? No one at the party needs to know how simple these Christmas cheese balls are to make. That’ll be our little secret! What are you awaiting for? Grab a cracker or baguette and enjoy your beautiful snowman cheese ball or Christmas tree cheese ball before it’s all gone!

These adorable Christmas tree and snowman cheese balls were crafted by the skilled hands of Lynne Morris, a professional food stylist for 9 years who has worked with companies including Kroger, Procter & Gamble, John Morrell and HoneyBaked Ham just to name a few. View more of Lynne’s creations.

The individual responsible for bringing Lynne’s handiwork to life is Larry White. He has been a professional food photographer for 15 years and has also worked for many of the who’s who in the industry. Learn more about Larry and his impressive work.

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Christmas Tree and Snowman Cheese Ball Recipes

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Christmas tree and snowman cheese balls. Almost too adorable to eat..almost!

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Ingredients

• 2, 8oz. cream cheese blocks, softened
• 8oz. Extra Sharp Cracker Barrel Cheddar Cheese, room temperature
• 2 tsp. onion, grated very fine
• 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 1 tsp. dry mustard
• 1/2 tsp. paprika
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 tablespoon dried parsley flakes + extra to roll the outside in if you choose
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Additional Ingredients Needed for a Christmas Tree Shape:

• 1 Red Bell Pepper, cut into small cubes
• 1 Yellow Bell Pepper, cut into a star shape
• 1/2 cup pine nuts

Additional Ingredients Needed for a Snowman Shape:

• 2 cups blanched almonds, chopped fine
• 1 cucumber
• 1 baby carrot
• 2 pretzel sticks
• several pieces of sliced black olive
• several capers
• fresh thyme
• several toothpicks

Instructions

1. Shred the cheddar cheese with the shredding blade of a food processor.
2. Then add all of the ingredients except for the NUTS to the food processor and blend well with the mixing blade.
3. Shape into 2 balls and wrap them separately in wax paper and refrigerate them until firm. Before serving roll it in finely chopped nuts and/or parsley flakes.
4. Serve with crackers. Triscuits are really good with it!

Additional Directions to Shape the Christmas Tree and Snowman Cheese Balls:

1. Divide one of the cheese balls into two portions.
2. Form a larger one for the base of the snowman and a smaller one for the head.
3. Roll the balls in finely chopped blanched almonds.
4. Place the smaller ball on top of the larger one and press together slightly. Insert the pretzel sticks for arms.
5. Cut a slice for the base of the hat.
6. Cut a second larger piece for the top of the hat. Toothpick together and press into the head for the hat. Press two capers into the head for eyes.
7. Trim down a baby carrot to be the size and shape needed for a nose.
8. Cut bell pepper into small squares and press them in a line to form the mouth. Press the sliced olives into the body of the snowman for buttons.
9. Wrap a strand of fresh thyme around the “neck” for a scarf.