Christmas Wreath Cheese Ball

Delight guests with this visually stunning Christmas Wreath Cheese Ball, a festive blend of creamy cheeses, savory bacon, and zesty jalapeños. Discover an easy-to-make, make-ahead holiday centerpiece perfect for adding flavor and flair to your seasonal gatherings.

Course Appetizers

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 2

Total Time 2 15

Servings servings

Calories 346kcal

Author Jenny Bullistron

Ingredients

16 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature
¼ cup sour cream
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup bacon cooked and chopped
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup shredded jalapeno Havarti cheese
2 large jalapeños minced (seeds and stems removed)

Toppings

2 tablespoons fresh chives minced
¼ cup dried cranberries

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper on high speed until smooth.
Use a spatula to stir in bacon, cheddar, Havarti, and minced jalapenos. Stir until mixed well.
Line the inside of a 6” round cake pan with food-safe plastic wrap and spray lightly with non-stick cooking spray. Let the edges of the plastic wrap come higher than the cake pan so that you can easily lift the plastic wrap later to remove the cheese ball from the pan.
Cover the outside of a 2” diameter jar or cup with food-safe plastic wrap and lightly spray the outside with non-stick cooking spray.
Place the covered jar in the middle of the 6” cake pan. This is used to create the hole in the middle of the wreath.
Hold that jar in place while you use a spatula to fill the cake pan with the cheese ball mixture. Press the cheese firmly into the cake pan.
Wrap the filled cake pan with food-safe plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least two hours.
After the cheese ball has set, remove the cheese ball wreath from the cake pan by gently lifting on the plastic wrap. Place the cheese ball wreath on a charcuterie board, large cutting board, or round serving dish. Remove the plastic wrap.
Remove the plastic-wrapped jar from the middle of the cheese ball wreath. Remove it gently so you don’t crack the cheese ball.
Add the minced chives and dried cranberries to the top of the cheese ball wreath in whatever pattern you’d like. Slightly press down to stick them to the top of the cheese ball.

Notes

Use the block style cream cheese, not the spreadable kind you’d use on a bagel.
Store the leftover cheese ball (in a sealed food-safe container) in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Nutrition