Pine Cone Cheese Ball

This simple to make Pine Cone Cheese Ball with Almonds is a fun Christmas Party Appetizer recipe for the holiday season!

PINE CONE CHEESE BALL

Course: AppetizerCuisine: AmericanKeyword: appetizer, cheese ball, christmas, thanksgivingPrep Time: 30 minutesCook Time: 10 minutes0 minutesTotal Time: 40 minutesServings: 12Calories: 175kcal

Ingredients

• 1 8 oz package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup light mayonnaise
• 5 strips of bacon cooked crisp and crumbled
• 1 Tbsp diced green onion
• 1 tsp chopped fresh dill weed
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• 1 1/4 cup whole almonds toasted
• Fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spread almonds on a baking pan and bake for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until golden. Let cool.
3. Combine cream cheese and mayonnaise and mix well in a food processor or blender.
4. Stir in the cooked bacon, green onion, dill weed and pepper.
5. Cover and chill overnight.
6. Shape the cheese mixture into two small pine cones on serving plate.
7. Starting at the narrow end, place almonds into the cheese on a slight angle, forming rows.
8. Garnish pine cone cheese ball with rosemary twigs to resemble pine needles.
9. Serve with crackers.