This Bacon Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball is a holiday favorite. The cheese base is made from Cream Cheese and Boursin Cheese, which makes it so creamy and delish. Then, we're coating the outside with cranberries, pecan and crispy bacon. Get ready for an appetizer that is impossible to stop eating!
This is my go to appetizer recipe for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It can be prepped a day ahead, then pulled straight from the fridge and served with crackers.
It's filling so guests won't be starving when you're finishing last minute items for the holiday dinner. Shape it like a log or a ball and serve it with a variety of crackers.
For more of my popular holiday appetizers, try these 4 ingredient Bacon Pinwheels, Jalapeño Pimento Cheese, Ham Crescent Rolls, and Cajun Deviled Eggs.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe:
- Make it Ahead. I love make ahead appetizers on busy holidays & you can leave this one wrapped in parchment paper in the fridge until ready to serve.
- Easy to Make. No difficult directions and great for beginner cooks.
- A Holiday Party Staple. This is an amazing appetizer for Thanksgiving and Christmas and will keep guests busy while you're cooking dinner.
- Big on Flavor. Creamy, cheesy inside with a crispy, savory and sweet exterior makes this Cheese Ball delish!
Looking for other make ahead appetizers? Try these Ranch Oyster Crackers, Crack Pretzels, and Chocolate Covered Pecans.
Ingredients:
Boursin: The Shallot and Chive or the Original Garlic and Fine Herbs both work wonderfully in this recipe. For more Boursin recipes, check out these Boursin Mashed Potatoes and Boursin Pasta Bake.
Bacon: Use original or traditional bacon without added flavors, like maple, for this Cheese ball.
Jalapeños: I use pickled jalapeños from a jar, but you could also use fresh if you want more crunch.
Cranberries: These are dried cranberries, not fresh, and I like the Craisins by Ocean Spray. I always squeeze the bag to make sure they are nice and soft.
*Find the full recipe ingredients and quantities in the recipe card below.
Substitutions and Variations:
- Don't want to make bacon? You can use bacon bits.
- Not big on spicy? Leave out the Jalapeño.
Big on Bacon Recipes? Me too! Make this Bacon Broccoli Quiche, Bacon and Cheese Muffins, Bacon Turnovers, and Bacon Wrapped Peppers.
How to Make this Cheese Ball:
Step 1: In a skillet over medium low heat, cook the bacon until crispy (between 8-12 minutes). Transfer to a paper towel lined plate to remove grease and allow it to cool for a few minutes.
Step 2: Add roughly chopped pecans, dried cranberries, and bacon into a food processor. Pulse 10-15 times until the mixture is a bit smaller. Note: You still want it course, not fine. Set the mixture aside.
Step 3: In a stand mixer or in a large bowl with hand mixer, blend the cream cheese and Boursin cheese on medium low speed for 30 seconds. Add in Monterey Jack cheese and blend for another 15 seconds.
Step 4: Toss in the green onion, Worcestershire sauce, jalapeño, salt and pepper, and only 2 tablespoons of the bacon/cranberry/pecan mixture (save the remaining for the topping). Blend again until combined, about 15-30 seconds.
Step 5: Spread out a large piece of parchment paper on the countertop and drop the cheese mixture into the center of it. Flip the parchment paper up and over the cheese and start rolling it up to form a log shape.
Step 6: Roll up the parchment paper and twist the ends of the parchment paper to close. Place in the fridge for one hour or up to overnight.
Step 7: Cover the cheese log with remaining bacon, pecan and cranberry mixture.
Step 8: Serve beside crackers with a cheese knife. Spread and enjoy!
Expert Tips:
- The cream cheese needs to be softened to room temperature or it will get clumps when mixing.
- Wrapping in parchment paper is the easiest way to form the cheese log. If you want a ball shape, you may want to use plastic wrap instead.
- Make sure to allow it to sit in the fridge for an hour or more to harden. This will make it a better texture to press the bacon topping into.
For more Cheesy Christmas favorites, try this Spinach Artichoke Dip without Mayo, Broccoli Cheese Casserole, Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip, and French Onion Potato Bake.
More Appetizers You'll Love:
If you tried this Bacon Pecan Cranberry Cheese Ball Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
PrintRecipe
Bacon Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball
- Total Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
- Yield: About 1 lb cheese ball 1x
Description
This Bacon Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball is a holiday favorite. The cheese base is made from Cream Cheese and Boursin Cheese, which makes it so creamy and delish. Then, we're coating the outside with cranberries, pecan and crispy bacon. Get ready for an Appetizer that is impossible to stop eating!
Ingredients
- 7 slices of original bacon cut into 1 inch pieces
- 8 ounce cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 5.3 ounce Boursin cheese (Shallot and Chive or Garlic and Herb *either is delish)
- 4 ounce block of Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- ½ cup dried cranberries (Craisins)
- 2 tablespoons green onion or chives, sliced fine
- ½ cup pecans, halves roughly chopped or buy pre-chopped
- 1 tablespoon pickled jalapeños, minced *I try to choose ones without a lot of seeds so it's not too spicy
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium low heat, cook the bacon until crispy (between 8-12 minutes). Transfer to a paper towel lined plate to remove grease and allow it to cool for a few minutes.
- Add roughly chopped pecans, dried cranberries, and bacon into the food processor. Pulse 10-15 times until the mixture is a bit smaller. Note: You still want it course, not fine. Set the mixture aside.
- In a stand mixer or in a large bowl with hand mixer, blend the cream cheese and Boursin cheese on medium low speed for 30 seconds. Add in Monterey Jack cheese and blend for another 15 seconds.
- Toss in the green onion, Worcestershire sauce, jalapeño, salt and pepper, and only 2 tablespoons of the bacon/cranberry/pecan mixture (save the remaining for the topping). Blend again until combined, about 15-30 seconds.
- Spread out a large piece of parchment paper on the countertop and drop the cheese mixture into the center of it. Flip the parchment paper up and over the cheese and start rolling it up to form a log shape.
- Roll up the parchment paper and twist the ends of the parchment paper to close. Place in the fridge for one hour or up to overnight.
- Cover the cheese log with remaining bacon, pecan and cranberry mixture.
- Serve beside crackers with a cheese knife. Spread and enjoy!
Notes
- The cream cheese needs to be softened to room temperature or it will get clumps when mixing.
- Wrapping in parchment paper is the easiest way to form the cheese log. If you want a ball shape, you may want to use plastic wrap instead.
- Make sure to allow it to sit in the fridge for an hour or more to harden. This will make it a better texture to press the bacon topping into.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Fridge Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: appetizer
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Lisa says
Perfect party appetizer! My guests all loved it.
Tara Smithson says
Yay!! Love to hear that. Thanks so much for the review.