Christmas Tree Cheese Ball Recipes

Steps:

• Mix cream cheese, Cheddar cheese, onion, and Worcestershire sauce together in a bowl with an electric mixer until completely blended. Turn cheese mixture onto a sheet of waxed paper and form it into the shape of a Christmas tree. Refrigerate cheese 'tree' until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Cut bell pepper into thin strips and 1 star shape.
• Press parsley into cheese tree to cover. Press bell pepper strips in a row to form a 'garland'. Make another 'garland' using chopped pecans. Place bell pepper star at the top of the 'tree'. Carefully transfer 'tree' to a serving platter.

Steps:

• Stir together cream cheese and Cheddar cheese; divide in half. Stir pesto into 1 half; stir onion, mustard and 2 or 3 drops pepper sauce into other half. Cover each half; refrigerate about 4 hours or until firm enough to shape.
• Place cheese mixtures on cookie sheet. Shape each half into cone shape to look like a pine tree.
• If desired, wrap each tree, label and freeze up to 1 month. Twelve hours before serving, remove trees from freezer. Thaw in wrapper in refrigerator.
• Just before serving, roll trees in parsley, pressing it evenly onto trees. Press pine nuts onto trees in string form for garland. Press bell pepper pieces onto trees for ornaments. Top each tree with star shape cut from lemon peel. Serve with crackers.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together the goat cheese, pistachios, dried cranberries, orange zest, rosemary, maple syrup, salt, and pepper with a rubber spatula until well-combined. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes before assembling. The cheese mixture can be made up to 1 day ahead. Refrigerate until ready to assemble and serve.
• To assemble, transfer the cheese mixture to a serving platter and, using gloved hands greased with nonstick spray, mold the mixture into a cone shape.
• Using dry hands, gently press the freeze-dried chives onto the cheese cone to adhere, making sure to coat the entire surface.
• Insert pine nuts into the cone in the pattern of a garland. Dot the "tree" with more dried cranberries for "ornaments". Top with the star-shaped cracker.
• Serve with more crackers and crudités.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Stir together cream cheese and Cheddar cheese; divide in half. Stir pesto into 1 half; stir onion, mustard and 2 or 3 drops pepper sauce into other half. Cover each half; refrigerate about 4 hours or until firm enough to shape.
• Place cheese mixtures on cookie sheet. Shape each half into cone shape to look like a pine tree.
• If desired, wrap each tree, label and freeze up to 1 month. Twelve hours before serving, remove trees from freezer. Thaw in wrapper in refrigerator.
• Just before serving, roll trees in parsley, pressing it evenly onto trees. Press pine nuts onto trees in string form for garland. Press bell pepper pieces onto trees for ornaments. Top each tree with star shape cut from lemon peel. Serve with crackers.

Steps:

• In a bowl combine all the ingredients for the dip and mix until the ingredients are well combined.
• Place a piece of non-stick plastic wrap on a clean bench top or work surface. Scoop the cream cheese mixture out onto the plastic wrap and completely cover with another piece of wrap (you may need two pieces to cover it).
• Use your hands to mould the cream cheese into a tree shape. Then, carefully pick up the tree with one hand and peel off the plastic wrap on the bottom of the tree with your other hand. Place the tree straight onto a serving plate.
• Use a cake spatula to smooth the edges. Decorate with olives, sun-dried tomatoes and rosemary leaves/sprigs, lightly pressing each element into the cream cheese to ensure they stay on. Brush with some sun dried tomato oil from the jar (optional but adds even more flavour)!
• Top with a star cut out of a yellow or orange bell pepper OR a thick slice of cheese.
• Serve with crackers of your choice, salami and prosciutto slices rolled up!
• Recipe Notes.
• The cream cheese is more stable in a wider tree shape rather than a tall, thin tree. The taller tree folds over and collapses.
• If you find your cream cheese has softened too much and won't hold its shape, refrigerate it until it thickens again (about 20 minutes).
• Pat dry each olive and sun dried tomato on a sheet of paper towel before decorating your tree to make sure they stay on, or they may slide off if covered in oil from the jar.