Pine Cone Cheese Ball

4.8
(51)

Any cheese ball is a welcome addition to a holiday party spread, but when you bring one that looks like a pine cone, you're talking about a real showstopper.

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Prep Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
30 mins
Servings:
16
Yield:
1 cheese ball
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Ingredients

  • 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

  • 4 ounces goat cheese, softened

  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

  • ½ clove garlic, minced, or more to taste

  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste

  • salt and ground black pepper to taste

  • 1 cup whole almonds, or as needed

  • 3 large fresh rosemary sprigs

Directions

  1. Stir cream cheese, goat cheese, parsley, tarragon, thyme, garlic, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper together in a bowl until smooth and well-mixed.

  2. Turn cheese mixture out onto a serving platter and form into a tapered oval shape to resemble a pine cone.

  3. Starting at the tapered end, press almonds into the cheese cone so that the tip of the almond is facing out and down, and cheese cone is completely covered with almonds and resembles a pine cone. Place rosemary sprigs at the top to resemble pine needles.

    close up view of a Pine Cone shaped Cheese Ball with fresh herbs on a white plate
    Chef John
174 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

176 Calories
16g Fat
3g Carbs
6g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 16
Calories 176
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 16g 21%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Cholesterol 36mg 12%
Sodium 130mg 6%
Total Carbohydrate 3g 1%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 6g 11%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 69mg 5%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 119mg 3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.