Holiday Ornament Cluster Delight (Printable Version)

Colorful cheese ball clusters adorned with herbs and nuts, perfect for festive entertaining.

# Ingredient List:

→ Cheese Ball Mixture

01 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
03 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
04 - 2 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
05 - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
06 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
07 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Ornament Coatings (choose 3 or 4)

08 - 1/3 cup finely chopped pistachios
09 - 1/3 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped
10 - 1/3 cup poppy seeds
11 - 1/3 cup finely chopped parsley
12 - 1/3 cup finely chopped roasted red peppers
13 - 1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts

→ Decoration

14 - 12 small rosemary sprigs

→ Serving

15 - Assorted crackers or sliced baguette (optional)

# Directions:

01 - In a medium bowl, blend cream cheese, sharp cheddar, mozzarella, chives, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined.
02 - Divide the mixture equally into 12 portions and shape each into a smooth ball.
03 - Place coating ingredients separately in shallow bowls. Roll 3 or 4 cheese balls in different coatings to create colorful clusters.
04 - Group cheese balls in tight clusters of 3 or 4 on a serving platter to resemble ornaments.
05 - Insert a small rosemary sprig at the top of each cluster to simulate a hanging hook.
06 - Serve immediately or chill until needed. Offer with crackers or sliced baguette if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • No cooking required—just mixing, rolling, and decorating, which means you can make these while sipping coffee and catching up with whoever wandered into the kitchen
  • They're beautiful enough that people hesitate to eat them, but once they do, the flavor combinations keep them coming back for more
  • You can prep everything ahead and assemble in five minutes, which is exactly the kind of peace of mind you need before hosting
02 -
  • Room temperature cream cheese is non-negotiable—if it's cold, your mixture will be lumpy no matter how much you mix, and those lumps won't disappear when you roll the balls
  • The coating won't stick as well if your cheese balls are too warm or too cold; they should be cool but not icy, which is why gently rolling fresh balls works better than using pre-chilled ones
03 -
  • If you want to add extra dimension, mix a tiny bit of minced fresh garlic or chopped sun-dried tomatoes directly into your cheese base—just remember these will intensify the flavor slightly
  • Keep your hands slightly damp while rolling; it prevents sticking without making the balls fall apart, and it keeps the coating from transferring to your skin
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