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Pomegranate & White Cheddar Cheese Ball

December 16, 2020 by Caitlin Monson Leave a Comment

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This cheese ball is the perfect appetizer to serve this holiday season! It’s fun and festive, super easy to make and is loaded with smuch flavor too!

Only 6 ingredients make up this healthier cheese ball! It's made with cream cheese, white cheddar cheese, pecans, green onion, salt and pomegranate arils!

Christmas is almost upon us loves and I cannot wait for our big family gathering! (Or the food for that matter too! 😉 ) And I just lovve that every year I’m in charge of appetizers. Usually I’ll try to make somehting new or come up with a fun meat and cheese spread but lately they’ve all been requesting one thing…cheese balls. More specifically this pomegranate and white cheddar cheese ball. (I tell ya, I made this ball one time on a whim for a different family gathering and ever since then they just can’t get enough of it. ) But who am I to deny them this ball of cheesy goodness right?! It’s so easy to make, has a ton of different flavors going on and looks absolutely stunning when it comes time to serve!

This delicious cheese ball recipe is perfect for all of your holiday gatherings! It's easy to make, full of so much flavor and looks so pretty too!

Ingredients

I think the reason I love making cheese balls for a party is because they’re just so simple! They’re minimal ingrediets (most are pretty cheap too), they take no time at all to form and mix together AND they deliver big time on flavor! For this fun holiday cheese ball you only need the six ingredients listed below!

  • Cream cheese: Gives the ball it’s creaminess and holds all of your ingredients together. (I used redued fat cream cheese but any kind will work too!)
  • White cheddar: Adds a ton of flavor and compliments the pomegranates so well. (You can also replace it with regular cheddar or even parmesan/asiago cheese too!)
  • Green onion: Gives your cheese ball that little bit of freshness!
  • Pecans: Adds some texture along with a sublte nutty flavor. (Can be replaced with walnuts or almonds.)
  • Salt: Helps to bring out each individual flavor in your ball.
  • Pomegranate arils: Adds flavor and freshness and makes your ball look absolutely stunning!
This is the best and easiest appetizer you will ever make! This festive cheeseball is loaded with so many different flavors and just screams Christmas too!

How to make a cheese ball

I’m not gonna lie, I used to think cheese balls were so hard to make… But they’re actually one of the easiest appetizers to put together! Here’s how you do it!

  1. Let the cream cheese sit out at room temperature until it’s slightly softened. Then place it in a bowl and mix it with your cheddar cheese, pecans, green onion and salt. Form the mixture into a ball and place it on a serving tray.
  2. Next, take a few small handfuls of your pomegranate arils and gently press them around the ball to form a “crust”. (Don’t press too hard though or they’ll burst!)
  3. At this point you can either serve it immediately with crackers or carefully wrap the ball in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.

It’s that easy!

Your guests won't be able to resist this cheese ball! It's sweet, creamy and so perfect for holiday and Christmas parties! (Plus gluten free too!)

What do I serve with my pomegranate & white cheddar cheese ball?

  • Crackers: Any type of sea salt or multigrain crackers work perfectly with this appetizer. (Honestly if you’re able to find Milten’s Gluten Free Crackers – do it! This isn’t sponsored by them in any way. I just geniuely love their super crunchy texture and they have so many good flavors too!)
  • Bread slices/crostini: Serving these will make this appetizer a little heartier which is perfect if you have a large group of people to feed.
  • Apple slices: I would suggest using a sweet apple like Fuji or Honeycrisp to compliment the bold flavors in your cheese ball. Also, keep the apple slices thin! (This is a great option for the more healthy conscious people in your life. 😉 )

Tips for making this cheese ball

  • Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperture before mixing! This makes it much easier to mix all of your other ingredients together and helps the pomegranates to stick to outside too.
  • Make your cheeseball ahead of time. I’ll usually make this appetizer the morning of or even the night before I know I’ll be serving it for a party. Not only does it help the falvors to blend together but it makes serving so much easier and stress free!
  • Serve with extra pomegranates! I love scattering a few extra pomegrante arils around the ball and crackers when serving. It makes your spread look so pretty and your guests can enjoy even more with their crackers and cheese!
More recipes you might like:
  • Easy Baked Cranberry & Brie Bites
  • Mexican Street Corn Dip
  • Lightened Up Green Chile Chicken Dip
  • Cranberry BBQ Turkey Meatballs
  • Roasted Grape, Goat Cheese & Basil Crostini

[Made one of my recipes? Make sure to tag my social media @kalefornia_kravings – I love seeing what you create!]

Only 6 ingredients make up this healthier cheese ball! It's made with cream cheese, white cheddar cheese, pecans, green onion, salt and pomegranate arils!
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Pomegranate & White Cheddar Cheese Ball

This festive cheese ball is the perfect appetizer to serve at all your holiday parties this year! It's quick and easy, tastes amazing and is always a crowd favorite!
Prep Time10 mins
Total Time10 mins
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American, Easy, Gluten free, Holiday
Keyword: cheese ball, cream cheese, easy, gluten free, pomegranate, white cheddar
Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients

  • 8 oz. cream cheese (I used reduced fat)
  • 1 cup shredded white cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup pecans, chopped*
  • ⅓ cup green onion, sliced
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1½ cups pomegranate arils, for the coating

Instructions

  • Let the cream cheese sit out at room temperature until it’s slightly softened. Then place it in a bowl and mix it with your cheddar cheese, pecans, green onion and salt. Form the mixture into a large ball and place it on a serving tray.
  • Next, take a few small handfuls of your pomegranate arils and press them gently around the ball to form a “crust”. (Don’t press too hard though or they’ll burst!) At this point you can either serve it immediately with crackers or carefully wrap the ball in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.

Notes

*You can replace the chopped pecans with walnuts or almonds too!
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Filed Under: Appetizer Tagged With: appetizer, cheese ball, cream cheese, finger food, healthier, holiday, party food, pomegranate, white cheddar

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Meet Caitlin

Hey there!

I’m Caitlin and I’m here to simplify California cuisine! I’m just your every day Cali girl with a huge passion for cooking and sharing simple healthy eats with a few sweet treats.

Welcome to my kitchen!

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AVOCADO, TOMATO & MOZZARELLA SALAD! Can I get a he AVOCADO, TOMATO & MOZZARELLA SALAD! Can I get a hell yeah?!🙌🏻
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One thing you’ll learn about me - I put avocado on EVERYTHING!🤗 (Which is a little ironic considering I hated avocados as a kid...😳 Weird...I know.) But dangg was it delicious in this salad! It’s super simple to make, loaded with fresh & bright flavors & a fun spin on your classic caprese!😍
P.S. Try it on some sourdough for a fun toast topping too!
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Hope you’re all having a great Thursday loves!😊💕
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Avocado, Tomato & Mozzarella Salad🥑
Cherry tomatoes, halved
Mozzarella balls
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Fresh basil, sliced thin
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar (you can add 1 Tbsp of coconut sugar to this too if you like it sweeter)
Salt & pepper, to taste
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1. Bring your balsamic vinegar (& sweetener if using) to a boil in pot on the stove over medium high heat. Let it simmer for 8-10 minutes or until it’s slightly thickened. Let it cool completely.
2. Then add your tomatoes, mozzarella, avocado & fresh basil to bowl & toss with your balsamic “dressing”.
3. Sprinkle it with salt & pepper to taste & serve immediately. 
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#kaleforniakravings #dinner #caprese #capresesalad #salad #healthydinner #easyrecipes #easymeals #dinnerideas #healthyeats #healthylunch #wholefoods #lunchideas #healthfood #healthyfood #quickmeals #foodblogger #glutenfreerecipes #glutenfreefood #feedfeed #healthyrecipes #huffposttaste #realfood #thekitchn #healthyfoodshare #mealprep #foodblogfeed #goodmoodfood #healthyfoodporn @thefeedfeed @thekitchn @huffposttaste
Another day, another salad... And I’m about to d Another day, another salad... And I’m about to dive head first into this CHOPPED APPLE & MANDARIN SALAD with CREAMY POPPY SEED DRESSING!😍 [Ad]
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Does anyone else love making their own salad dressings? Because SAME. HERE!🙋🏼‍♀️ (It actually feels a little weird whenever I use store bought dressing now...😳) But I just love that I can tailor them to fit my taste buds & use better for you ingredients too. Just like this easy poppy seed dressing!🤗 It’s protein packed with Greek yogurt & helps support a healthy immune system with a good dose of apple cider vinegar. Not to mention it’s absolutely delicious on this fresh & fruity salad too!😉 (Side note: @sprouts is the only place I get my ACV because they have the best pricing for all organic vinegars.) So pop on over to your local @sprouts & pick up all these ingredients ASAP!
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Hope you’re having a great Tuesday loves!😊💕
(Full recipe & tips are on my website. Link in bio⬆️)
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Chopped Apple & Mandarin Salad🍎
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Currently craving a big ol’ bowl of this ONE POT Currently craving a big ol’ bowl of this ONE POT BROCCOLI MAC & CHEESE!🤗
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Creamy, cheesy & made with minimal ingredients too?? It doesn’t get much better than that in my book by loves! (And the fact that it only takes 10ish minutes to make too is just icing on the cake.😉) Bring on all that cheesy goodness please!😍
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3. Once the broccoli is cooked, add your cheese, ground mustard & pepper & stir until the cheese has melted. Serve immediately!
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#kaleforniakravings #macandcheese #macaroni #healthydinner #dinnerideas #healthylunch #lunchideas #comfortfood #easyrecipes #healthyeats #simplerecipes #wholefoods #easymeals #quickmeals #feedfeed #meatlessmonday #foodblogger #huffposttaste #glutenfree #glutenfreefood #healthyrecipes #healthyfood #realfood #foodblogfeed #healthyfoodshare #healthfood #easydinner #goodmoodfood #healthyfoodporn @thefeedfeed @thekitchn @huffposttaste
Weekend plans include: Devouring this SOURDOUGH FR Weekend plans include: Devouring this SOURDOUGH FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE with BLUEBERRIES & all the maple syrup!🤗
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French toast has always been my jam. (Even as a little one!) But I’ve never tried making a casserole with it until now. All I can say is...holy moly have been missing out!😱 It’s super soft & “custardy” in the center, perfectly toasted on top & then you get that juicy burst from a warm blueberry... Ohhhh baby, that’s breakfast heaven right there!🤤 Swipe ➡️ to see that close up!
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(Full recipe & tips are on my website. Link in bio⬆️)
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Sourdough French Toast Casserole🍞🫐
5 cups sourdough bread, cut into cubes
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1. Whisk the eggs, milk, syrup, vanilla & cinnamon together & set it aside.
2. Spray a 7x11” pan with nonstick cooking spray & spread half of your bread cubes on the bottom. Then sprinkle half of your blueberries over the top & repeat the layers.
3. Pour your egg mixture over the top and cover the pan with foil. Let the pan sit in the fridge for 2 hours - overnight.
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#kaleforniakravings #frenchtoast #frenchtoastcasserole #breakfastideas #healthybreakfast #brunchideas #breakfastrecipes #breakfastlover #dairyfree #comfortfood #quickmeals #wholefoods #easyrecipes #easymeals #simplemeals #healthyish #foodblogger #huffposttaste #thekitchn #thefeedfeed #healthyrecipes #healthyfrenchtoast #realfood #healthyfood #healthyfoodshare #thenewhealthy #feedfeed #goodmoodfood #healthyfoodporn @thefeedfeed @huffposttaste
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