Holiday Tree–Shaped Cheese Balls
Ingredients
- 3 packages 8 oz each cream cheese, softened
- 4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese 16 oz
- 2 tablespoons basil pesto
- 1 tablespoon grated onion
- ¼ teaspoon yellow mustard
- Red pepper sauce
- ¼ cup finely chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
- ¼ cup sliced almonds or pine nuts
- 2 tablespoons chopped red bell pepper
- Assorted crackers and raw vegetables if desired
Instructions
- In large bowl, stir together cream cheese and Cheddar cheese; divide in half.
- Stir pesto into one portion; stir onion, mustard and 2 or 3 drops pepper sauce into other portion.
- Cover; refrigerate about 4 hours or until firm enough to shape.
- Place cheese mixtures on large plate.
- Shape each into cone shape to look like a pine tree.
Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:
Make-Ahead Magic After shaping the trees, wrap tightly and freeze up to 1 month. Thaw in wrapper in refrigerator 12 hours before serving. Continue as directed in Step 3.
Festive Touch Cut a star shape from a piece of lemon peel to place atop the tree. Place the tree in the middle of a platter covered with a cloth napkin “tree skirt,” and surround it with crackers of all shapes and sizes for the “gifts.”
