Description
Creamy cheese ball adorned with sweet pineapple and crunchy pecans brings Southern hospitality to party spreads. Guests will savor this classic appetizer that blends tangy cream cheese with tropical fruit and nutty richness.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 can (8 ounces / 226 grams) crushed pineapple, well drained
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1/4 cup finely chopped green pepper
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
- 1 tablespoon seasoned salt
Instructions
- Blend softened cream cheese with thoroughly drained crushed pineapple in a spacious mixing bowl until smooth and uniform.
- Incorporate finely chopped green pepper, minced onion, and seasoned salt into the creamy mixture, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Gently shape the combined mixture into a compact, rounded sphere using clean hands, pressing ingredients together firmly.
- Carefully roll the cheese formation through a bed of finely chopped pecans, rotating consistently to achieve complete and even external coverage.
- Encase the pecan-crusted cheese sphere tightly in plastic wrap, securing all edges to prevent moisture loss.
- Refrigerate for minimum 60 minutes at 40°F, allowing flavors to meld and texture to solidify.
- Remove from refrigerator 10-15 minutes before serving to soften slightly and enhance spreadability.
- Present alongside crisp crackers or thinly sliced French baguette for an elegant appetizer experience.
Notes
- Drain pineapple thoroughly to prevent excess moisture from making the cheese ball soggy and losing its shape.
- Toast pecans lightly before coating to enhance their nutty flavor and add a delightful crunch to the exterior.
- Adjust seasoned salt gradually to control the overall saltiness and balance the sweet-tangy pineapple notes.
- Make the cheese ball ahead of time and refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to meld and develop a more complex taste profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Rolling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 267
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 510 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg