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Rudolphs Festive Cheese Delight Recipe

Rudolphs Festive Cheese Delight Recipe


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4.8 from 39 reviews

  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 10 1x

Description

Rudolph’s Festive Cheese Delight brings holiday cheer with its rich, creamy blend of seasonal flavors and playful presentation. Guaranteed to spark joy at winter gatherings, this dish promises delightful moments that connect friends and family around the table.


Ingredients

Scale

Cheeses:

  • 2 (8 ounces/226 grams) blocks cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 3 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded and at room temperature

Nuts and Seasoning:

  • 1 ½ cups crushed pecans
  • 1 ounce/28 grams package ranch seasoning mix

Garnish:

  • 2 black olives
  • 1 cherry tomato
  • 2 original-sized pretzels

Instructions

  1. Gently extract cream cheese and sharp cheddar from refrigerator, allowing them to reach ambient temperature for optimal blending and silky consistency.
  2. Activate stand mixer and combine softened dairy components with ranch seasoning, whirling on medium velocity until transformed into a harmonious, velvety mixture.
  3. Employ plastic wrap to meticulously form the cheese blend into a perfectly rounded sphere, ensuring tight encapsulation.
  4. Nestle the wrapped cheese creation into refrigerator’s cool embrace for a minimum of four hours, permitting flavors to meld and structure to solidify.
  5. Liberate cheese ball from chilled sanctuary, carefully unwrapping its protective layer.
  6. Generously cascade crushed pecans across exterior surface, creating a textured nutty armor.
  7. Craft Rudolph’s whimsical visage by strategically positioning black olive slices as expressive eyes, anchoring them delicately with toothpicks.
  8. Crown the cheese sphere’s surface with a vibrant cherry tomato slice, mimicking Rudolph’s iconic crimson nose.
  9. Complete the festive transformation by inserting crisp pretzel sticks at the apex, representing distinctive reindeer antlers.

Notes

  • Chill cream cheese and cheddar beforehand to achieve a silky, blendable consistency for smoother mixing.
  • Mix cheeses with ranch seasoning using a stand mixer to create a uniform, creamy texture that enhances flavor distribution.
  • Wrap and refrigerate the cheese mixture for minimum 4 hours to allow ingredients to meld and help maintain the ball’s structural integrity.
  • Carefully coat the chilled cheese ball with crushed pecans, ensuring complete and even coverage for a delightful crunch.
  • Decorate with black olive eyes, cherry tomato nose, and pretzel antlers to transform the cheese ball into a festive Rudolph-inspired centerpiece.
  • Serve chilled with crackers or bread for an impressive holiday appetizer that delights guests with its whimsical presentation.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Appetizer, Snacks
  • Method: Mixing
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 10
  • Calories: 162
  • Sugar: 1 g
  • Sodium: 236 mg
  • Fat: 13 g
  • Saturated Fat: 6 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 7 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 4 g
  • Cholesterol: 32 mg