Ingredients
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1/4 cup cranberry juice cocktail
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1/2 cup dried cranberries, snipped, divided
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1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
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1 cup shredded sharp white Cheddar cheese
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1/4 cup butter
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2 tablespoons snipped fresh chives, divided
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1/2 teaspoon orange zest
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1/2 teaspoon packed brown sugar
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1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
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1/4 cup pecans, toasted and finely chopped
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crackers, crostini, and/or vegetable dippers for serving
Directions
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Gather all ingredients.
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Bring cranberry juice just to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat. Add 1/4 cup dried cranberries. Cover; set aside.
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Place cream cheese, Cheddar cheese, and butter in a large bowl. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
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Drain cranberries, reserving 1 tablespoon juice. Add plumped cranberries and reserved juice to the bowl with the cheese mixture. Add 1 tablespoon chives, orange zest, brown sugar, and garlic powder. Beat with an electric mixer on medium until light and fluffy.
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Place cheese mixture on a sheet of plastic wrap. Use the plastic wrap to shape the mixture into a ball (it won’t be a perfect shape at this point). Wrap in the plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 3 to 24 hours.
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Now you can make a better ball shape by rolling the wrapped mixture on your work surface.
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Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup dried cranberries, remaining 1 tablespoon chives, and the pecans on a sheet of plastic wrap or waxed paper. Roll cheese ball in the mixture to coat.
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Let stand 15 minutes before serving with crackers, crostini, or vegetable dippers.
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Make Ahead
Instead of refrigerating, place ball in a freezer container and freeze up to 1 month. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Roll in coating before serving.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
| 134 | Calories |
| 11g | Fat |
| 6g | Carbs |
| 3g | Protein |
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings Per Recipe 16 | |
| Calories 134 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 11g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat 6g | 31% |
| Cholesterol 29mg | 10% |
| Sodium 113mg | 5% |
| Total Carbohydrate 6g | 2% |
| Dietary Fiber 0g | 2% |
| Total Sugars 5g | |
| Protein 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin C 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium 67mg | 5% |
| Iron 0mg | 1% |
| Potassium 37mg | 1% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.
