Description
This visually stunning Pinecone Shaped Cheese Ball appetizer combines creamy Neufchatel and Gruyere cheeses with savory onion soup mix and toasted almonds to mimic the look of pinecones. Garnished with fresh rosemary and served with Wheat Thins, it’s a festive, flavorful centerpiece perfect for holiday gatherings and parties.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Mixture
- 2 packages (8 oz each) Neufchatel cheese, softened
- 1 envelope (1 oz) dry onion soup mix
- 4 oz Gruyere cheese, shredded
Nuts and Garnishes
- 1 cup almonds, toasted (whole almonds)
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted (slivered almonds)
- 6 sprigs (5 inches each) fresh rosemary
To Serve
- Wheat Thins
Instructions
- Mix Cheese Base: In a medium bowl, beat the softened Neufchatel cheese and dry onion soup mix together until fully blended and smooth.
- Add Shredded Cheese: Stir in the shredded Gruyere cheese thoroughly to combine evenly with the cheese mixture.
- Divide Mixture: Separate the cheese mixture into two equal portions.
- Shape into Pinecones: Shape each half into an oval approximately 5 inches long by 2 1/2 inches wide, tapering to a point on one end to resemble a pinecone.
- Place on Serving Plate: Arrange the two pinecone-shaped cheese balls on a serving plate with enough space around them for decoration.
- Insert Nuts: Insert the whole toasted almonds at a slight angle and in horizontal rows into one cheese ball. Insert the toasted sliced almonds in the same fashion into the other cheese ball, creating a pinecone scale effect.
- Add Rosemary Branches: Tuck the fresh rosemary sprigs around the pinecones on the serving plate to mimic pine tree branches.
- Chill: Refrigerate the cheese pinecones for 2 hours to firm up and allow flavors to meld.
- Bring to Room Temperature: Remove from refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving to soften slightly for easier spreading.
- Serve: Present with Wheat Thins for guests to enjoy scooping the flavorful cheese ball.
Notes
- To toast almonds, place them in a dry skillet over medium heat and stir frequently until golden brown and fragrant, about 3-5 minutes. Cool before use.
- Neufchatel cheese is a lower-fat alternative to cream cheese; using it gives a lighter texture and flavor.
- For a vegetarian option, ensure the dry onion soup mix does not contain meat-based powders.
- These cheese balls can be made a day ahead and refrigerated until serving.
- Allowing the cheese balls to soften slightly before serving improves spreadability and flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1/10 of total recipe
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 290 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
