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Cue the carols, because nothing screams “it’s the holiday season!!” quite like making a cheese ball that looks like a pinecone. And I’m here for it.
This stunning appetizer will surely put you and your guests in a festive mood. It’s tasty, it’s easy to make (you can make it a day in advance, just do the nuts day-of), and it makes for an excellent centerpiece to any holiday snack spread.
If you are in the mood for smaller cheese balls, for single servings or easy social distancing snacks, head over to my bite-sized cheese balls shaped like a turkey (you could easily shape them into a tree too).
How to Make a Pinecone Shaped Cheese Ball
Cheese balls are so simple to make, they are delicious, and this pinecone-shaped one is out-of-this-world festive. I used this delicious recipe from SnackWorks. Here are some tips for making this particular cheese ball.
Ingredient list and recipe below.
- I used Neufchatel cheese for this but you can use cream cheese. They are very similar in flavor and texture. More on the differences below!
- Make sure your cheese (whichever you choose) is softened before mixing. It will make your life a lot easier and the mixing much faster.
- Pro tip, I used gruyere like the recipe called for here. It’s so rich in flavor and tasty! Any shredded cheese will do okay, but I highly recommend the gruyere.
- To shape this beauty, I just used my hands. It can get a little sticky but it worked okay. I’m sure an offset spatula, or large flat spoon could work too. I’ve heard that allowing the cheese mixture to harden up in the fridge a bit first can help make the shaping easier.
- When you go to serve it, it’s best to let the pinecones stand at room temperature for 15 minutes (so that it can soften just a bit) before trying to stick a cracker into it.
Two Versions Using Two Different Nuts
I made two different versions of the pinecone using two different kinds of almonds, whole and sliced. They actually look wildly different! Apparently your nut choice can give your cheese ball a different personality all together. Play around and find which one you like best. Here are some options:
- Regular almonds: The ones I use are plain, unsalted, roasted almonds. Depending on the flavors in your cheese ball you could try flavored almonds as well. Using whole almonds will give your pinecone cheese ball more of a classic pinecone look.
- Slivered almonds: I usually reserve these for salads and baking projects, but they look so cool next to the whole almonds. The color variation on each one, white inside and dark brown outside, lends an interesting depth and design element. Plus they’re a bit easier to eat.
- Pecans: These will give your pinecone more visual texture. Pecans are softer nuts than almonds, but they have a great flavor.
How to Garnish Your Pinecone Cheese Platter
The pinecone really doesn’t need much around it, it’s such a show stopper! But adding in a bit of greenery can make it look less like a porcupine and more like an actual pinecone. To add some holiday flair to your board or platter, here are few things to help make it a real centerpiece.
- Sugared cranberries, so tart, sweet and delicious, not to mention beautiful.
- Greenery, any herbs like rosemary or sage look so festive, just make sure guests know not to eat them.
- Edible flowers, if you want to add a pop of color and really play up the nature theme.
- Crackers or baguette slices, tastefully surrounding your cheese ball with a beautiful array of dipping vessels.
Cream Cheese vs. Neufchatel
They are so similar in taste, it’s really hard to tell them apart. But, they do actually have very distinct differences.
Neufchatel Cheese is French, and it is thought to be the oldest cheese from that region. It is name-protected, meaning that only cheese made in that specific region can be labeled Neufchatel. (Just like Parmigiano Reggiano!)
The only ingredient difference is Neufchatel is made from milk, rather than cream cheese which is made with milk and cream—this creates a slightly higher fat content in cream cheese, but slightly higher moisture content in Neufchatel. Which one do you like better?
Pine Cone Cheese Ball How-To Video
Show Me Your Cheese Balls
I want to see the pinecone cheese balls that you make! Nothing makes me happier than seeing cheese boards inspired by my posts. If you make a pinecone cheese ball, please tag @ainttoooproudtomeg and #AintTooProudToCheese so I can see and share!
And, If you liked this recipe, please rate and review.
Pinecone Shaped Cheese Ball
Description
Ingredients
- 2 pkg. 8oz each Neufchatel cheese, softened
- 1 env. 1 oz. Dry onion soup mix
- 4 oz. Gruyere cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Almonds, toasted
- 1/4 cup Sliced Almonds, Toasted
- 6 Sprigs 5 inches Fresh Rosemary
- Wheat Thins
Instructions
- Beat Neufchatel cheese and dry soup mix in medium bowl until blended.
- Add shredded cheese; mix well.
- Divide cheese mixture in half.
- Shape each half into 5×2-1/2-inch oval that is slightly pointed at one end to resemble a pinecone.
- Place on serving plate, leaving spaces around sides of both pinecones.
- Insert nuts, at a slight angle and in horizontal rows, into cheese mixture as shown in photo. Whole almonds on one pine cone and Slivered almonds on the other pine cone.
- Tuck rosemary sprigs around pinecones to resemble tree branches.
- Refrigerate 2 hours. Let pinecones stand at room temperature 15 min. before serving to soften slightly.
- Serve with Wheat Thins
What a festive and wonderful idea! Definitely trying this!
So elegant! I’m going to try this with some vegan cream cheese & shredded cheese….I can’t wait to taste them!
This is so creative! Can’t wait to try it
I made this for a quiet evening at home tonight. I “might” have tasted it as I was putting it together. It was delicious and looks soooo pretty! It was also super easy to make. I will definitely be making it again very soon!
So cute and festive!
Almost too cute to eat!
I am going to make these pretty little pine cones for Christmas Eve. The beautiful pictures and clear instructions give this newbie confidence!
I love this so much! So festive and so fun! I cannot wait to give this a try!!
So pretty! Especially with the sugared cranberries and rosemary. the perfect touch.
I talk so incessantly about adorable cheese boards that I turned my officemate onto @ainttooproudtomeg. She sent me this post and said it’s the cutest thing she’s ever seen… And I need to make it for her! As soon as our office opens again, I’m going to show up with it!
Omg this is too cute. Must recreate on a board!
SO CUTE! I’m gonna see if I can make these using vegan cheeses!!! <3
ohhhhh that sounds amazing. let me know how it goes.
Love this and am going to try this for one of my boards during the holidays!
So clever! Almost too cute to eat!
The sugared cranberries are the perfect finishing touch.
I made this for girls night the other night and let me tell you, everyone loved it!! Super cute and super yummy!!!
That makes me so happy! Glad you all loved it!
Can’t wait to do this for Christmas!
This is such a cute idea!!
How festive! ????
It’s so beautiful and I’m pretty sure it’s so delicious ????
This looks easy to make & a super cute holiday app!
This is Gorgeous! I will definitely add it to my holiday board this year.
Fun and creative idea!
I love how cute and creative these are! I can not wait to try.
Used the pinecone recipe for a wedding I did this weekend! The crowd loved it! I’ll be tagging you in the pictures this week!!!
so exciting!!! yay!
These look great! I love the idea of the 2 different almond choices.
I love these pinecones! The tips and suggested alternative ingredients are so helpful. I need to try this with pecans ASAP!
These look fantastic!! And seem like something I could manage to create!!
This is absolutely incredible! Your boards are always so creative! And delicious!
This seems like a great way to just add that little extra umph!!! I’m absolutely going to have to remember to give this a try!
Your creativity astounds me! Can’t wait to make these pine cones! ✨
Love this look! Very elegant! I cant wait to try it!
This is too cute. I’m hoping to wow my book club ladies with mini ones in snack packs.
I can’t wait to make this over Christmas break!
I love this idea! This is so festive and so unique! Definitely giving this a try!
This fits my skill set perfectly! I’m making this for Christmas Day snacking.
These look so delicious!
These pinecones are so dArn cute , now I want to make one !
These are adorable!!!
Brilliant! Cheese balls are so tasty but imo they generally look gross. This is the cutest way to give them the appeal they deserve!
Love these!
I love the colors and texture of this! And it’s a different spin on the holiday board I want to try at my next gathering!
These are so pretty! Big wow factor, yet something I could easily make. Who doesn’t live a good cheese ball?, but make it cute! Love it and can’t wait to try this!
Very interested in making these cheese balls! They look so freakin cute!
I cannot wait to make this cheese ball recipe. It’s so cute!
This is amazing and I am doing this for my Christmas app ;):)
This is wonderful! Saving for 2021. Can’t wait to gather again with family! Happy Holidays ????????
Love this! So festive!
I had just pinned this! I love a cheeseball and hoping that Christmas 2020 we will be able to have friends and family over and I am definitely making this????
So creative and festive! Love it!
So cute! Can’t wait to make it!
These are so cute! I’m making these for our Christmas Eve and New year’s festivities!
Can’t wait to try!
This looks stunning! I would love to try this sometime.
Yummyyyyy
game changer!
These looks so fun and easy to do. Thanks for the inspiration for holiday yum!
Love this – so doable for so many of us and striking! Started following you after seeing you on Home and family!
So cute! Definitely gonna give this a try
These are so cute and will be perfect for the holidays- I love anything with gruyere! Thank you for telling us the difference between cream cheese and Neuf… I don’t know how to spell it lol, but I have always wondered! ❤️
will be making this for christmas!! so excited ❤️
Can’t wait to try this!! Looks amazing!!
Love this. Using it for our Christmas Eve dinner.
Love this! Going to attempt to recreate for New Year’s Eve!
This looks easy and adorable! No way it won’t be a crowd pleaser all winter.
These look adorable! The difference in nuts makes such a difference in appearance.
These are so beautiful and festive! Thankyou for sharing such wonderful recipes & ideas!!!
So cute, so simple. Love this idea!
Can’t wait to try this!
These look so tasty. Perfect for a winter party! ????
I made these for Christmas and they were amazing. I used sliced almonds on both “cones” and my guests loved it.
Fantastic–we love this and will be making it again and again!!! zyum!!!!!!!!!! THanks!!!!!!!
Tina—
Do you add the one cup of almonds to the cheese ball mixture? They’re listed in the ingredients but there’s no instructions for using them. Thank you
Hi. The nuts go on in Step 6 for decor. I added an extra sentence in that step to be clear that it was the almonds. I hope that helps 🙂
Everyone loved it! So easy to put together and so festive!!
So unique and delicious
Love this . One of your best!
I made this board a few times last holiday season. It went over so well I was just asked to bring it to a holiday party next week!