For your next holiday party!

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup cranberry juice cocktail
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries, snipped, divided
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
• 1 cup shredded sharp white Cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 tablespoons snipped fresh chives, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
• 1/2 teaspoon packed brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 cup pecans, toasted and finely chopped
• crackers, crostini, and/or vegetable dippers for serving

Directions

Step 1

Bring cranberry juice just to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat. Add 1/4 cup dried cranberries. Cover; set aside.

Step 2

Place cream cheese, Cheddar cheese, and butter in a large bowl. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Step 3

Drain cranberries, reserving 1 tablespoon juice. Add plumped cranberries and reserved juice to the bowl with the cheese mixture. Add 1 tablespoon chives, orange zest, brown sugar, and garlic powder. Beat with an electric mixer on medium until light and fluffy.

Step 4

Place cheese mixture on a sheet of plastic wrap. Use the plastic wrap to shape the mixture into a ball (it won’t be a perfect shape at this point). Wrap in the plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 3 to 24 hours.

Step 5

Now you can make a better ball shape by rolling the wrapped mixture on your work surface.

Step 6

Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup dried cranberries, remaining 1 tablespoon chives, and the pecans on a sheet of plastic wrap or waxed paper. Roll cheese ball in the mixture to coat.

Step 7

Let stand 15 minutes before serving with crackers, crostini, or vegetable dippers.

Recipe and image sourced from: https://www.allrecipes.com/cranberry-cheese-ball-recipe-8726774