Why buy a boring store bought Holiday Cheese Ball when it’s so easy to make your own? This Pomegranate Cheeseball recipe is a savory Christmas Cheese Ball with a vibrant taste of sweet and sour pomegranate seeds. Make it in the simple shape of an ornament and you’ll have an appetizer that everyone will love!
Pomegranate Cheese Ball
Mmmmm pomegranates. Aren’t they just the coolest fruit ever? I love that brilliant splash of seasonal color, not to mention the delicious flavor. They’re the perfect way to bring holiday color into your entertaining, and even your decor!
You know I’ve been making so many fun cheeseballs lately for your Christmas entertaining. It’s because they are so easy to make and SO delicious to eat!
You’ve got to check out my reindeer bacon cheese ball, my pesto cheeseball wreath, and this darling snowman dessert cheeseball.
It’s true, I love cheeseballs in every shape, flavor and style. Who can argue with ALL.THE.CHEESE? I’ve got your ultimate cheese ball guide right here – it’s a round up of everything you need to know to make a killer cheeseball appetizer!
For this holiday cheese ball appetizer, I knew I wanted to combine the vibrant color and flavor of pomegranate arils with a savory, creamy cheese blend.
It’s delicious with crackers, wine, and all your other holiday entertaining favorites. In fact, I may have eaten this pomegranate cheeseball for dinner on the day I made it. No shame to my game!
I like to give a lot of detail in my recipe posts to guide readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, feel free to click “jump to recipe” right under the title of this post and you’ll head straight there!
Ingredients in this Holiday Cheese Ball
Homemade cheeseballs are so simple to make, and they are truly a cut above most of the store bought versions you can find at this time of the year. It’s worth it to take a few extra steps to create this delicious appetizer, I promise!
- Butter- Use salted butter here. You can use any butter you have on hand, but the added salt adds a little flavor to this cheese ball!
- 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- White cheddar is actually the same as every other cheddar cheese, did you know that? It’s simply the addition of annatto coloring that creates the deeper golden/orange color of most cheddar cheeses. I like freshly shredded white cheddar for this recipe because it was a prettier contrasting interior to the vibrant red pomegranate anis on the outside of this holiday cheese ball!
- Minced Garlic- Garlic adds a flavorful touch to this cheeseball that makes it so delicious with crackers of all kinds.
- Green Onion- More fresh green flavor in this vibrant green onion addition!
- Pepper- Just a little touch of this spice gives this cheese ball so much additional flavor.
- Pomegranate Arils- these are the vibrant red exterior of your ornament, but they aren’t just for show! They add a huge pop of sweet and juicy flavor that perfectly matches the cheese in this recipe. You can of course slice a pomegranate to get your own arils, but I always prefer a shortcut here. You can buy pre-packaged fresh pomegranate arils in most produce sections of your grocery store, or even Amazon.
- Rolo- for the top of this cute ornament, of course!
Step by Step Christmas Cheese Ball Instructions
- Freshly shred your white cheddar. Don’t skip this step, as it really contributes to the creamy flavor of this cheeseball.
- In a food processor or mixer, combine butter, cream cheese, and white cheddar. Add your garlic, green onion and ground pepper as well.
- While you’re combining your cheeses, allow your pomegranate arils to dry as best as possible. I suggest placing them on paper towels and patting dry to soak up moisture.
- Form your cheese mixture into a ball shape.
- Roll into your pomegranate arils, covering as much as possible of the surface.
- Add more seeds if necessary to coat and cover any open spots.
- 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.
Pomegranate Cheeseball Tips
While this pomegranate cheese ball is not difficult to make, it’s even easier with the following tips.
- As I mentioned before, please please shred your own cheddar. This is a non-negotiable step, friends!
- As for your pomegranates, save that final step where it’s rolled in pomegranate anis for after refrigeration. You’ll want your cheese shape to stay very firm before rolling.
- Be sure to cover your cheddar cheese ball tightly. This not only helps it keep its shape when you refrigerate, but it prevents air from getting inside and drying your Christmas cheese ball out before it’s ready to serve.
- Use pieces of any herbs you have for an extra elegant touch. I added a tiny ribbon bow and a stem of rosemary to give my ornament an even more festive appeal.
- This is delicious at room temperature but it can certainly be served cold right out of the fridge. Great either way, which is why it’s such a perfect make-ahead party food!
What to Serve with Your Pomegranate Cheeseball
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.
What do you think? Are you ready to make this delicious pomegranate cheese ball for your next holiday party? I hope it gets rave reviews!
If you try this holiday cheese ball recipe, please come back to share using my 5 star rating in the comments below! Not only do I appreciate it, but I know readers do, too! For more easy recipes and simple living ideas, subscribe to my newsletter!
Ornament Cheese Ball Printable Recipe:
Ornament Cheese Ball | Cute Holiday Cheeseball Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 8 ounces white cheddar shredded
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons green onion chopped
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper ground
- 1 cup pomegranate arils fresh
- 1 rolo candy unwrapped, for ornament top
Instructions
- Freshly shred your white cheddar. Don't skip this step, as it really contributes to the creamy flavor of this cheeseball.
- In a food processor or mixer, combine butter, cream cheese, and white cheddar. Add your garlic, green onion and ground pepper as well.
- While you're combining your cheeses, allow your pomegranate arils to dry as best as possible. I suggest placing them on paper towels and patting dry to soak up moisture.
- Form your cheese mixture into a ball shape.
- Roll into your pomegranate arils, covering as much as possible of the surface.
- Add more seeds if necessary to coat and cover any open spots.
- Refrigerate until firm, at least 30 minutes. Add Rolo candy to the top to create the stem. Serve with crackers and veggie slices.
Notes
- As I mentioned before, please please shred your own cheddar.
- As for your pomegranates, save that final step where it’s rolled in pomegranate anis for after refrigeration. You’ll want your cheese shape to stay very firm before rolling.
- Be sure to cover your cheddar cheese ball tightly. This not only helps it keep its shape when you refrigerate, but it prevents air from getting inside and drying your Christmas cheese ball out before it’s ready to serve.
- Use pieces of any herbs you have for an extra elegant touch. I added a tiny ribbon bow and a stem of rosemary to give my ornament an even more festive appeal.
- This is delicious at room temperature but it can certainly be served cold right out of the fridge. Great either way, which is why it’s such a perfect make-ahead party food!
- 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.
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!