Christmas is a great opportunity to feel creative. This Christmas Tree Cheeseball is a fun and festive addition to any holiday table. It’s made with a creamy mix of cheddar, cream cheese, and fresh herbs, shaped into a Christmas tree and decorated with colorful, edible “ornaments.” It’s easy to make, great for parties, and always a crowd-pleaser. Just add crackers or pretzels and let everyone dig in.
If you’re looking for more appetizers to make this holiday, look no further; we’ve tested these for you to try: Turkey Cranberry Pinwheels and Cranberry Brie Bites.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Festive and eye-catching
- Easy to make
- Customizable
- Delicious
- Great starter to fill a hungry belly
Helpful Items for This Recipe
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KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer, Blue Velvet
Ingredients to make our Christmas Tree Cheeseball
Recipe Ingredients
Cream cheese – It’s the creamy base of this cheeseball; you’ll use plenty of it.
Worcestershire sauce – We love it because it adds a savory umami flavor that pairs well with fresh green onions and cheese.
Smoked paprika – It adds a subtle smokiness; you can use regular or hot paprika if desired.
Fresh parsley – It’s used both inside and outside of the cheeseball. It provides a fresh green that makes this Christmas cheese tree so beautiful.
Green onion (green part only) – It provides an extra flavor kick, don’t omit it.
Garlic powder – Another hint of taste that complements the fresh herbs of this cheesy appetizer.
Shredded cheddar cheese – You need a lot of white shredded cheddar and then a small piece of it to make the star.
Fresh rosemary – We used 2 to 3 sprigs to give the tree a tridimensional look.
Cherry tomatoes – Chopped in halves, cherry tomatoes work great as Christmas tree balls.
Dried cranberries – Another way of resembling tree balls, but with a sweet note.
Slivered almonds – We used them to add some crunchiness to the cheeseball and to create a garland at the same time.
Pretzels and Ritz crackers – Add them to the base of the tree just before serving.
How to Prepare this Christmas Tree Cheese Ball
Mix all the ingredients for the cream cheese mixture, except shredded cheddar, in a stand mixer until smooth.
Incorporate shredded cheddar with a spatula until well combined.
Use your hands to shape the mixture into a cone or triangle that looks like a Christmas tree.
Press the chopped parsley into the cheese tree until fully coated. This part can get messy, so wash or wipe your hands as needed to keep the shape clean.
Refrigerate the cheese tree for 30–60 minutes, or until firm.
Once set, decorate it however you like. We created garlands with slivered almonds and added “ornaments” using dried cranberries and halved cherry tomatoes. A few rosemary leaves help give the tree a more realistic look.
For the star on top, simply cut a small piece of cheddar using a mini cookie cutter or by hand.
Serve with pretzels and Ritz crackers on the side.
Recipe Pro Tips
How to Store Leftovers
Wrap the cheeseball tightly in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container and refrigerate it. It will keep well in the fridge for 3–4 days.
What other garnishes could I use to decorate the tree?
Garnishes are endless; you can use your favorites or whatever you have on hand. Some possible substitutions could be:
Pomegranate seeds or diced red bell pepper instead of cherry tomatoes for a red pop that will create a beautiful contrast as well.
Thyme sprigs or chives cut into small pieces instead of fresh rosemary, for a similar “pine needle” look.
Chopped pecans, chopped walnuts, sunflower seeds, or even pretzel sticks cut into small bits for extra crunch as a replacement for slivered almonds.
Swap pretzels and Ritz crackers with pita chips, baguette slices, breadsticks, wheat crackers, vegetable sticks, or gluten-free crackers.
WANT MORE FESTIVE IDEAS FOR APPETIZERS?
We love serving up a holiday appetizer to get the festivities going!!
Christmas Tree Cheese Ball
Ingredients
Cream Cheese Mixture
- 16 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/3 cup fresh parsley chopped and packed
- 1/4 cup chopped green onion green part only
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 3 cups shredded white cheddar
Toppings
- A small piece of cheddar to make the star
- 2-3 sprigs of fresh rosemary
- 6-8 cherry tomatoes sliced in half
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley packed and thinly chopped
- 2 tbsp dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 1 cup pretzels to serve
- 1 cup Ritz crackers to serve
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients for the cream cheese mixture, except shredded cheddar, in a stand mixer until smooth.
- Incorporate shredded cheddar with a spatula until well combined.
- Use your hands to shape the mixture into a cone or triangle that looks like a Christmas tree.
- Press the chopped parsley into the cheese tree until fully coated. This part can get messy, so wash or wipe your hands as needed to keep the shape clean. Refrigerate the cheese tree for 30–60 minutes, or until firm.
- Once set, decorate it however you like. We created garlands with sliced almonds and added “ornaments” using dried cranberries and halved cherry tomatoes. A few rosemary leaves help give the tree a more realistic look.
- For the star on top, simply cut a small piece of cheddar using a mini cookie cutter.
- Serve with pretzels and Ritz crackers on the side.
Let us know what you think!
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