Looking for a new spin on your festive holiday cheese ball? Look no further than this delightful dried plum and pecan cheese ball. This perfect crowd-pleaser can be prepared in under 20 minutes and requires no fuss. Simply pair it with a box of crackers, and your appetizer is ready to go!
I think cheese balls are one of my all-time favorite holiday appetizers. They are so simple to make and so customizable. Odds are, you probably have everything you need on hand. Because cheese balls are so customizable, I decided to make this cheese ball using dried plums aka prunes.
Plums pair well with goat cheese, honey, and ginger if you want to make a dessert cheese ball.
Did you know that prunes support digestive health. They do this by allowing more water to enter the body – which increases moisture and ultimately helps regulate digestion.
The base of is an 8 oz block of cream cheese. Simply add in shredded cheddar, green onions, chopped dried plums, chopped pecans and some garlic powder.
Mix all these ingredients in a large bowl and shape them into a ball with your hands. Then, roll the mixture in a blend of chopped pecans, dried plums, and green onions. Serve it with crackers.
Cheese balls can be a beautiful centerpiece. You can form into a pumpkin, snowman, or any shape you desire.
Pecan and Plum Cheese Ball
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, cheddar cheese, ½ pecans, ½ cup dried plums, and green onion, and garlic powder until well combined.8 ounces cream cheese, 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 1 cup chopped dried plums, divided, 1 cup chopped pecans, divided, 1/4 cup chopped green onions, 1 tsp garlic powder
- Form mixture into a ball.
- Just before serving, combine remaining ½ cup pecans, ½ dried plums, and 2 tablespoon green onions on a flat surface or cutting board. Roll cheese ball in dried plum-pecan mixture.1 cup chopped dried plums, divided, 1 cup chopped pecans, divided, 1/4 cup chopped green onions
- Serve with crackers
Notes
Krystal Dunham, MS, RDN, LD, is an award-winning licensed and registered dietitian nutritionist based in Tulsa. A former NCAA Division II soccer player for Southwestern Oklahoma State University (Go Dawgs!), Krystal’s journey in nutrition has been both dynamic and impactful. She earned her Master’s in Nutrition and Food Science from The University of Central Oklahoma while completing her Dietetic Internship. A Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Krystal brings a global perspective to her practice. She specializes in helping individuals heal their relationship with food while managing chronic health conditions, offering compassionate and evidence-based support.