Skip dry, boring store-bought cheese balls and indulge in this easy Pomegranate Christmas cheese ball that’s full of amazing flavor. It’s creamy, sweet and savory, coated in sweet and sour pomegranate seeds!
Add a little garnish to turn it into a memorable crowd-pleasing appetizer!
Pomegranates add a brilliant splash of seasonal color and delicious flavor. They’re the perfect way to add a hint of holiday color.
I love traditional appetizers and hors d’oeuvres for the holidays. In fact, I’ve got an incredible collection of Christmas cheese balls – you’ve got to see them all!
Pomegranate Christmas Cheese Ball
It’s so easy to make and so beautiful to serve!
- Festive
- Few Ingredients in a Few Minutes
- Make ahead!
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Butter – Salted butter adds balance and a hint of flavor. You can substitute unsalted butter if you prefer. Soften butter to room temperature so that it’s easy to work with.
- Cream Cheese- Cream cheese provides the creamy, delicious base for this cheeseball. I’ve got great tips about how to soften cream cheese!
- White Cheddar Cheese – Fresh shredded white cheddar maintains its creamy consistency and packs it with bold flavor. Did you know? Cheddar gets its color from annatto coloring that creates the deeper golden/orange color. White cheddar is a pretty contrast to the vibrant red pomegranate anis on the outside. Learn how to grate cheese here.
- Minced Garlic – Garlic adds a flavorful touch to this cheeseball that makes it so delicious with crackers of all kinds.
- Green Onion – Fresh green onion packs flavor and color.
- Pepper – Thick flakes of black pepper spices it up..
- Pomegranate Arils – Arils aren’t just for show! They add a huge pop of sweet and juicy flavor that perfectly matches the cheese in this recipe. Slice a pomegranate to remove arils or purchase pre-packaged fresh pomegranate arils in most produce section of your grocery store. The seed is the center of the aril, with a juicy membrane exterior. Arils are the pulps of the pomegranate, sweet and juicy.
Optional Ornament Garnish
- Rolo
- Rosemary
- Small Velvet Bow
Variations
- Replace pomegranates with cranberries like in this Santa Hat Cranberry Cheese Ball.
- Add chopped pecans or almonds for a little crunch.
How to Make
For the full printable recipe, see the recipe card below.
- Prep – Shred your cheddar for the creamiest results. Please pomegranate arils on a paper towel or pat dry to soak up moisture. This will allow them to easily adhere to your cheese ball.
- Combine – In a food processor or mixer, combine butter, cream cheese, and white cheddar, garlic, green onion and ground pepper.
- Make a Ball – Form your cheese mixture into a ball shape.
- Coat – Roll into your pomegranate arils, covering as much as possible of the surface. Add more arils if necessary to coat and cover any open spots.
- Chill – Refrigerate until firm, at least 30 minutes. Add Rolo candy (wrapped for the pretty gold foil touch) to the top to create the stem of the ornament.
Tools to Use
- Cheese Grater
- or Food Processor (for shredding the cheese in this recipe)
- Mixing Bowl
Tips
- Shred cheddar fresh for the best texture and flavor!
- Serve at room temperature for the creamiest texture. It can be served immediately after chilling as well.
Serving Suggestions
Providing a few options for your guests with special dietary needs is an easy way to make them feel welcome – and when it’s this delicious, who can argue with that? Serve this Christmas cheese ball with the following:
- Carrots and celery are the perfect low-carb alternative to serve with a cheddar cheese ball.
- Crostini – it’s my favorite pairing! Crunchy crostini is the ultimate way to enjoy a cheese spread, especially when drizzled in olive oil.
- Salty pretzels are so perfect with a festive Christmas cheese ball.
- Buttery crackers are always a kid (and adult!) favorite when served with any kind of cheeseball.
Leftover Ideas
Don’t let this amazing Pomegranate Cheese Ball go to waste! These delicious ideas will have you craving more.
- Use the leftover cheese ball melted into your favorite pasta dishes.
- Spread on sandwiches or wraps.
- Crumble onto lettuce and toss with dressing for a delicious salad.
How to Store
- At Room Temperature – Leave at room temperature for up to two hours to serve.
- Refrigerate – Make up to one day in advance and tightly wrap to store. Store up to 3 days refrigerated for best results.
More Cheese Balls
Pomegranate Christmas Cheese Ball
A sweet, savory and tangy Pomegranate Cheese Ball packed full of creamy white cheddar and green onion flavor and topped with juicy pomegranate seeds.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons salted butter softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 8 ounces white cheddar block, fresh shredded
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons green onion chopped
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper ground
Ornament Garnish
- 1 cup pomegranate arils fresh and patted dry
- 1 rolo candy unwrapped, for ornament top
- 1 sprig rosemary optional
Instructions
- In a food processor or mixer, combine butter, cream cheese, and white cheddar. Add garlic, green onion and ground pepper until well combined.
- Using your hands, form a ball. Alternatively, place mixture onto the center of a 12" x 12" piece of saran wrap and pull each corner up tight to form a ball, then release.
- Add pomegranate arils to a plate. Roll cheese ball to cover the surface. Add more seeds by hand to completely coat the ball.
- Tightly cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate 30+ minutes until firm.
Ornament Garnish
- Add Rolo to the top to create the stem and optional rosemary and bow. Serve with crackers and veggie slices.
Julie’s Tips
- Shred cheddar fresh for the best texture and flavor!
- Serve at room temperature for the creamiest texture. It can be served immediately after chilling as well.
- Carrots and Celery – Low carb and gluten-free.
- Crostini
- Pretzels
- Buttery Crackers
Calories: 170kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 195mg | Potassium: 81mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 516IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 158mg | Iron: 1mg
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
Could I make the cheese ball 2 days ahead and then roll in the Pomegranate Arils before serving?
Possibly, but if the mixture dries at all, it they will be difficult to adhere.
What a great idea and looks so cute. But curious to why butter in this recipe do you have to use butter?
Salted butter adds balance and a hint of flavor. I haven’t tried it without butter, so I’m not sure how it would turn out.
So beautiful!!
This is sooooo amazing!!!
Thank you! That’s the ultimate compliment!
This is just brilliant! I am thinking of making this covered with sesame seeds since we don’t care for pomegranate. How far in advance can it be made? Would it freeze well until needed?
Cream cheese doesn’t freeze well, unfortunately, but you can definitely use sesame seeds or dried cranberries if you prefer. It keeps well refrigerated and sealed tight for a few days. Enjoy!