Pine Cone Cheese Ball Recipe

Learn How to Make Pine Cone Cheese Ball Recipe as a perfect Festive Appetizer using Almonds. Skip Cream Cheese and enjoy Cheese Mixture using our famous Garlic Homemade Cheese Dip instead.

Serve with farmers bread slices, bell peppers, sesame crackers, tortilla chips, raw seed cracker bread, chaffle chips, or everything bagel crackers.

Christmas Recipes

To help you decorate the Christmas holiday table in the best and most colorful way possible, some of the easy recipes need to be mentioned. No need to use any home decor. Our food will do it all.

We have meals that are a must, like our sauerkraut soup or “Potato” salad.

But then we do have food that is great looking. Especially colorful looking. How Christmas should be. Full of colors and brightness.

And here comes our perfectly shaped Christmas Tree Cheese ball, Christmas tree cupcakes decorated with sprinkles.

Santas Hats are an excellent addition for more redness and in between a whole gingerbread village.

What is a cheese ball?

A cheese ball is a spread shaped like a ball coated with various nuts, herbs, or seasonings. Because of the shape of the ball, it represents Christmas Ball and is a trendy appetizer around the Thanksgiving or Christmas holidays.

You can make various shapes, and more and more ideas are popping up. From cheese ball that looks like a turkey, hedgehog, Christmas tree, or even Easter eggs or hearts for Valentine’s.

Pine cone cheese ball appetizer

Years ago, I kept seeing this idea everywhere. Country living magazine, Martha Stewart, Buzzfeed, HGTV, you name it. I got hooked immediately.

Our pine cone shaped cheese ball is a perfect holiday appetizer not only for Christmas. Result is a beautiful and perfect recipe to make as a decoration for a party, brunch, autumn get together, Thanksgiving, holiday gathering or a New Years. A perfect make ahead recipe.

You can add few more fun and easy party Appetizers from our collection. 

Why you’ll love this homemade pinecone cheese ball recipe

Just look at it. It was love at first site for me. And when I found out how easy it is to make, I was convinced.

I have picked my favorite childhood cheese spread that everyone I serve it to loves.

That is the first and most crucial point.

You can, of course, use your favorite cheese ball recipe.

It is:

• Beautiful to the look
• Simple and easily make
• It contains all of the traditional flavors
• Tastes amazing
• Extra healthy
• Easy to store

Gluten-free and keto-friendly cheese ball

Of course, we can not mention all of the friendliness of our homemade wonder. Since we live in a low-carb and gluten-free world, our appetizer is a part of it.

Fully keto, grain-free, and diabetic-friendly cheese balls are here for you. Our cheese ball is so easy to make that you will be using it over and over again.

How do you make an easy pine cone cheese ball recipe?

Making this cheese ball recipe is super straightforward. All you have to do is make your cheese spread and shape that into a pine cone half balls on your serving plate.

Garnish with rosemary sprigs, fresh dill weed, or the actual pine needles of a Christmas tree. If you do not have any of those, you can slice the ends of green onions and form a bouquet.

Once the base is set, add your nuts, and your table centerpiece is ready. You can even sprinkle a few fresh pieces of cranberries for extra red color.

What type of nuts to use?

As you see from the pictures, I have used whole almonds. Almonds, together with skin, look like a pine cone the most. If you can, I suggest using activated almonds, as they are much easier to digest.

You can also use pecan nuts, walnuts, or any other nuts. You can also pick toasted almonds, slivered almonds, or sliced nuts.

How to make homemade pine cone cheese ball with almonds

Kitchen gadgets needed:

• Mixing bowl
• Plastic wrap
• Icing bag
• Big serving platter

Ingredients needed:

• Hard Cheese
• Garlic
• Sour Cream
• Salt and pepper
• Almonds

*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR PINECONE CHEESEBALL

First step: Prepare all ingredients

Prepare all of your ingredients.

Regarding cheese spread, I have picked my childhood’s favorite mixture. Lots of garlic in, and so delicious.

Almonds could be activated, toasted, or you can use slices as well.

Cheese depends on your taste. Any hard cheese you shred at home will work. Make sure your cheese is shredded at home to avoid all the necessary starches.

Second step: Prepare Cheese mixture

Into a big bowl, add all of the grated cheese. Into it, press your garlic cloves and sour cream. You can add a pinch of salt and pepper for extra taste.

Gently mix well all of the ingredients together until you get a perfect cheese mixture.

You can also mix it using a stand mixer with paddle attachment.

Wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for a few hours.

Refrigerating the mixture is essential. Once you are shaping on a plate, it is much easier with a thicker consistency.

Third step: Make a pine cone

Pick a big serving plate. Into the middle place rosemary sprigs, fresh dill weed, or the branches of Christmas pine trees.

Take out your cheese mixture and fill one of the icing bags for easier assembly.

As you see in the video, start piping the whole mixture on a plate forming two egg shape looking half balls.

Try to make sure the amount is identical on both sides.

Using a knife or a spoon, finish shaping the balls to look like a pinecone.

Fourth step: Decorate with almonds

Starting at the narrow end, spread almonds into the cheese. Gently push the thicker edge into the cheese spread with a slight angle.

Keep placing all of your almonds until both of the balls are covered.

Once you are done, with the palm of your hands, press on all the almonds to hold them together and make a unified layer.

TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST CHEESE BALL

• Cheese – pick any of your favorite hard cheese. Even cheddar cheese, blue cheese, or goat cheese will work.
• Almonds – best is activated almonds, but you can use roasted almonds, sliced almonds, walnuts, pecan nuts, or any other nuts of your choice.
• Sour Cream – can be swapped with softened cream cheese, ranch dressing together with ranch seasoning or even a Worcestershire sauce for that extra unique taste.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What to serve with your cheese ball appetizer

The best is to serve with crackers that are part of our lifestyle as they are a bit easier to eat with, such as:

• Farmers bread
• Sesame crackers
• Tortilla chips
• Raw seed cracker bread
• Chaffle chips
• Everything bagel crackers

Can I make a pine cone cheese ball with almonds ahead of time?

It is a great idea to make our appetizer ahead, even a day before. Once you are finished, cover it with clingfilm and place it into your fridge. The mixture will set even better.

Once you are ready to serve, let the pinecones stand at room temperature 15 minutes and serve.

Appetizers for the Holidays

Some additional Appetizer for your get-together:

• Yogurt chaffle sandwiches
• Stuffed mushrooms
• Cheese puffs
• Spinach salmon roulade
• Cloud egg crisps
• Holiday tree cheese ball
• Stuffed zucchini mini bites
• Pickled daikon
• Crunchy Taco cups
• 50+ Keto appetizers

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Full Recipe with printout option

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