Holiday Ornament Cluster Cheese Balls (Print View)

Colorful cheese ball clusters decorated with rosemary sprigs, perfect for holiday entertaining and gatherings.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheese Ball Mixture

01 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
03 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
04 - 2 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
05 - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
06 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
07 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Ornament Coatings (choose 3 or 4)

08 - 1/3 cup finely chopped pistachios
09 - 1/3 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped
10 - 1/3 cup poppy seeds
11 - 1/3 cup finely chopped parsley
12 - 1/3 cup finely chopped roasted red peppers
13 - 1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts

→ Decoration

14 - 12 small rosemary sprigs

→ Serving (optional)

15 - Assorted crackers or sliced baguette

# How To Make It:

01 - In a medium mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, cheddar, mozzarella, chives, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Blend thoroughly until smooth.
02 - Divide the cheese mixture into 12 equal portions and roll each into a smooth ball.
03 - Place each coating ingredient in separate shallow bowls. Roll 3 to 4 cheese balls in each coating to create colorful clusters.
04 - Arrange cheese balls in groups of 3 or 4 on a serving platter to resemble hanging ornaments.
05 - Insert a small rosemary sprig into the top of each cluster as a decorative hook.
06 - Serve the clusters immediately or refrigerate until ready. Pair with crackers or sliced baguette if desired.

# Expert Insights:

01 -
  • They look absolutely stunning on a holiday platter—people genuinely think you spent hours making them when you really didn't
  • No baking required, just 25 minutes of hands-on fun that feels more like craft time than cooking
  • Everyone with different tastes finds something they love, since you get to choose multiple coatings and flavors
  • They're naturally vegetarian and can easily be gluten-free, so you're not stressing about dietary needs
02 -
  • Room temperature cream cheese is absolutely non-negotiable—take it out of the fridge at least an hour before you start, or your mixture will be grainy and disappointing
  • Don't skip tasting the cheese base before you coat the balls. I made this mistake once and ended up with pretty but bland ornaments that people politely nibbled
  • The coatings stick much better if you press them on firmly but gently—rolling them too lightly means they slide right off by the time guests eat them
03 -
  • Wet your hands slightly before rolling the cheese balls—it prevents sticking and gives you a better finished surface
  • Prepare coatings the morning of, chop everything fresh, and your ornaments will taste like they're made with intention and love
Go Back