| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 45 min |
| Active: | 15 min |
| Yield: | 8 to 10 servings |
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 8 ounces sharp Cheddar
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
- 2 to 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 3 scallions, sliced
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup very finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
- 2 tablespoons pomegranate seeds
- Buttery crackers, such as Ritz, for serving
Instructions
- Add the cream cheese, Cheddar, cayenne, Worcestershire, scallions, lemon juice and some salt and pepper to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is almost smooth; you still want a few bits of cheese in there. Remove with a rubber spatula to a piece of plastic wrap and wrap up the cheese mixture. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
- Shape the cheese mixture with your hands into a Christmas tree/cone using the plastic wrap to keep it together. Mix the chopped parsley and dill together on a plate or work surface. Coat the shaped cheese in the chopped herbs.
- Transfer the cheese tree to the center of a platter. Decorate with the pomegranate seeds as ornaments. Serve with buttery crackers.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 8 servings |
| Calories | 241 |
| Total Fat | 20 g |
| Saturated Fat | 11 g |
| Carbohydrates | 6 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
| Protein | 9 g |
| Cholesterol | 59 mg |
| Sodium | 321 mg |
Reviews
Eh. It really just tasted like cream cheese to me. I’d need to figure out a way to tweak it to make again.
Perfect and delicious
Looking at the ingredient list I knew it would be delicious. I’m so glad I made this as an appetizer for a Christmas party. It was a hit. This could easily be made into a ball and serve anytime during the year for any occasion. I will be making this again. The herbs add a great texture and added flavor. I read other reviews and added colored bell peppers as ornaments and plated with townhouse crackers. Not sure why others gave it a one star and did not give details to their review.
I make this every year in the tree shape! I used diced red and yellow peppers for the ornaments and yellow pepper star. * I have special tip* I like to use in forming the tree- a plastic disposable pastry bag. Put the cheese mixture inside the bag, tie it off, and refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours. Remove from pastry bag by cutting away the plastic pastry bag, then roll in the fresh parsley/dill mixture, or you can press on by hand, then add the “ornaments”. This is so easy to prepare. I had to double the mixture one year because it was that good! Lol! I served my cheese trees with veggies like thin cut celery, carrot sticks, and town house crackers. I don’t care for the Rtiz crackers, as they don’t hold up too well and crumble easily when spreading with cheese mixture. Just my preferences.
Made this for Christmas Day and it was cute and very delicious! I made it exactly as the recipe states. Was a little leery about the dill mixed with the parsley but it was absolutely delicious-a wonderful combination! Will make again for sure!
Great base recipe! I mixed in some fresh crab meat and chopped artichoke hearts and some parmesan. Ooh decadent!
Fantastic!! I added finely chopped basil to the mix, which truly made it delicious. It was loved by all. I’m making it every Christmas season-very festive!!
This was so good and was a hit on Christmas Eve. Everyone commented on how pretty and festive it was. It was actually my first attempt at a cheese ball and was so easy to make. I will definitely make this again.
Made this appetizer for the first time this Christmas and it was absolutely beautiful and delicious!!! The tree came out perfect! My family now requests this dip during BBQs, basketball and football games, and family gatherings! I even tried mixing the outside herbs (parsley and dill) inside the dip and it was just as good!! Super happy to have found a delicious cheese dip!!
Oh my goodness!! I couldn’t believe what a hit this at Christmas. My husband even put it on Hawaiian rolls with ham!! I made it again for our New Year’s Eve party and just made it into a ball shape and our friends went crazy for it!! I’m now expected to make it for every get together with friends. The pomegranate seeds give it an extra sweet/sour crunch!!