Pinecone Cheese Ball with Almonds

This Pinecone Cheese Ball is an adorable holiday appetizer made to look like a pine cone! With crunchy almonds and spicy peppers, this cheesy dish is full of flavor and so perfect for the winter season.

Ideal for sharing with love ones, you’ll love how easy it is to make this quirky appetizer centerpiece. The combination of flavors and textures is a guaranteed crowd pleaser!

Why You’ll Love This Homemade Pinecone Cheese Ball Recipe

If you’re searching for unique and tasty party appetizers for this holiday season, these pine cone cheese balls are a great option! As much as I love the classic deviled eggs, stuffed mushrooms, or baked brie sometimes I want something that looks really elegant and super fancy.

Made in the shape of a pine cone, this homemade cheese ball is a fun and festive dish that’s sure to be a hit. Your guests will love the fun presentation paired with savory and comforting flavors.

Serve this on a really pretty serving plate at any holiday party. You can garnish the plate with any of these:

• add greenery like fresh rosemary sprigs, dill weed stems, fresh thyme leaves and fresh tarragon.
• Adding a few fresh cranberries amongst the greenery and fresh herbs looks beautiful!

For another creamy and tasty appetizer recipe, try this Crab Rangoon Dip! Or how about this cute heart shaped charcuterie board loaded with meats, cheese, crackers and candies too! Or, we love pairing with this Prosciutto Wrapped Brie – it’s an elegant and delicious appetizer for Christmas parties!

 

Ingredients

• whole almonds – these add a nuttiness and some texture, as well as serving as the “scales” of the pine cone.
• cream cheese – forms the base of your cheese mixture
• jalapeno or serrano peppers – provides some extra heat to your dish.
• Colby jack and cheddar cheese – add extra cheesiness!
• ham – introduces a subtle smokiness to the cheese mixture.
• cumin – warms up the flavors of this appetizer.
• salt and pepper – help tie together and highlight all the flavors.

 

How to Make Homemade Cheese Balls

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Spread almonds out on a baking sheet, and bake for 20 minutes.
   

   Roasting the almonds brings out some of the flavors and makes them just a bit easier to eat as well.

2. In a large bowl, soften the cream cheese with a spoon or spatula.
3. Add the ham and diced jalapeno.
   

   Adding ingredients like peppers and ham make this cheese ball so flavorful!

4. Add the cheddar and Colby jack cheeses, then mix well to incorporate.
   

   Of course you’ll need lots of cheese for this recipe!

5. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Chill overnight.
6. On a serving platter, divide cheese mixture into 2 portions and shape each like a pine cone.
   

   It might be helpful to keep a real pine cone handy for reference while decorating.

7. Press the almonds at a slight angle into the cheese, starting at the narrow end of the pine cone shape. Do this in rows, continuing to overlap rows until all the cheese is covered.
   

   The almonds replicate the look of a pine cone for a festive and quirky appetizer!

8. Garnish with seasonal decor of your choice or garnish with rosemary sprigs.
9. Serve at room temperature with quality crackers or bread.

 

FAQs

How long will a homemade cheese ball keep?

This cheese ball will last up to 2 weeks in the fridge, which means this is a perfect recipe to make ahead of time if need be! Be sure to store it in a plastic container or wrapped tightly to prevent any drying out or loss of flavor.

Freezing your cheese ball isn’t recommended as cheese typically doesn’t freeze and thaw well.

How do you firm up a cheese ball?

The easiest way to make your cheese ball firmer is to chill it for an appropriate amount of time.

If you find it gets too soft while you’re attaching all of the almonds, place it back in the fridge for ten or so minutes and continue the process. The longer it chills, the better it will hold its shape.

How do you eat a cheese ball?

Serve your cheese ball at room temperature with some crackers or crusty bread to dip. It may be best to include a cheese spreading knife as well to prevent dipped items from breaking.

Serve with Red Wine Poached Pears or a round of Coconut Bourbon Eggnog for a truly festive snack!

 

 

Popular Variations and Substitutions

For other great serving suggestions, feel free to try these variations:

•  try pairing your pine cone cheese ball with pretzels, cooked potato wedges, pear slices or apple slices, tortilla chips, pita, or toasted mini bagels.
• Pecans are another delicious option for a coating, but you’ll lose some of the pine cone appearance without the almonds.
• Add about 1/2 cup sliced almonds to your mixture for an additional boost of nutty goodness.
• Add some sour cream for extra creamy texture and softness.
• Mix in bacon bits, green onions (or add onion powder), poppy seeds, garlic powder or even something like Ranch seasoning for lots of flavor variations. You could also try a more distinct cheese like blue cheese.
• Some lemon, hot sauce, or Worcestershire sauce will help cut through the richness of the cheese if you find it too dense.

 

Pine Cone Cheese Ball Recipe

If you enjoy this recipe for homemade cheese balls, please be sure to rate it 5 stars below! And print this off or save it to your recipes folder!

originally published Nov 2021; latest update October 2024