Pomegranate Jeweled White Cheddar, Toasted Almond and Crispy Sage Cheeseball. {Video!}
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
Appetizer season.
Oh yes that’s right. Is there any other time of year where we go crazy over appetizers and snacks and entertaining goodies? Not quite.
It’s pretty much one of my most favorite things ever.
So much so that about five minutes after I started this blog back in 2009, I did a holiday appetizers 101 entire MONTH. Yeah. Like as if people didn’t know what appetizers were. Cringe worthy and laughable and awesome.
I’m all about apps. Uh, the ones you eat. Not the phone stuff. Remember ten years ago or so when we could say “apps” and people would automatically know we’re talking about cocktail hour?
Yeah. Now it’s like you mention that word to anyone under the age of 20 and you’re immediately discussing cell phone time-sucking things. Seriously. Why am I so old?
But whatever – not only am I all about apps but I’m all about calling them apps too. Drinks and apps! Let do it. Invisible internet friend happy hours. I mean hour. I think.
Now the thing is that this cheeseball is practically sacrilegious in my family’s eyes. See, my grandma (not Mother Lovett, my other one) always always always made a classic cheeseball that my mom still makes today. Their cheeseball is a classic staple – never a party goes by without the same cheeseball.
This is why they want to punch me in the face. Because I never want to keep things the same and always want to try new stuff. Or actually, if I could have it my way I’d love to have a combination of half of the same stuff and the rest new stuff.
New weird stuff.
New weird stuff like a ball of cheese covered in fruit gems.
It’s just so PRETTY.
And it is not boring whatsoever. I jammed a lot of things that I love inside of this cheeseball. I mean, a lot.
First up, sharp white cheddar. Use a GOOD sharp white cheddar. It’s worth it. Use your favorite.
Next, toasted almonds. Obviously you know by now that I can’t stop eating the Trader Joe’s honey roasted almonds. When added to the cheeseball, they get crushed and boost the flavor. If you don’t live near a Trader Joe’s, simply add sliced almonds to a saucepan and toast over low heat until golden and fragrant. There ya go!
And finally – some crispy sage with residual brown butter. GAH. Just stop me please.
I used a combo of cream cheese and mascarpone and practically had to handcuff myself from going at it with a spoon. The pomegranates aren’t just for show either – they add the perfect hint of sweetness. While this made it’s debut on Thanksgiving… I think it reigns supreme for the fancier holiday season. Even add a little green in there? Serve it with these margs?
Ugh I’m so done.
Pomegranate Jeweled Cheeseball
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 10 fresh sage leaves
- 1 (8-ounce) block cream cheese, softened
- 4 ounces mascarpone cheese, softened
- 6 ounces freshly grated sharp white cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup sliced, toasted almonds
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup pomegranate arils
- crackers for serving
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium heat and add butter. Once it’s sizzling, toss in the sage leaves and cook until crispy – flipping once and cooking about 1 minute per side. Remove the sage leaves and place them on a paper towel to crisp up a bit. Set the butter aside.
- In the bowl of your electric mixer, combine the cream cheese, mascarpone and cheddar cheese. Beat until combined, then add in the almonds, sage leaves, remaining butter, salt and pepper. Mix on low speed until combined, about 1 minute, scraping down the sides and the bottom if needed. Take the cheese mixture out of the bowl and mold it into a big ball as best you can. Roll it in plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, place the arils on a paper towel and pat them completely dry. Let them sit out while the cheese is chilling to remove as much liquid from them as possible. This will keep the cheeseball pretty!
- After 30 minutes, mold the cheese into more of a smooth ball. Add the arils to a plate or baking sheet and roll the ball through them, using your hands to press arils into all the cracks and crevices. You will need to gently press so the arils adhere to the cheese. At this time, you can serve it immediately or keep it in the fridge until ready to use. If you want to make it ahead of time, you can rolls the ball 1 to 2 days beforehand. I’d wait until the night before or morning of to add the pomegranate arils, and you may need to let the cheese come to room temp a bit so it’s sticky enough.
Did you make this recipe?
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I appreciate you so much!
Yeah. I did just put butter in cheese.
254 Comments on “Pomegranate Jeweled White Cheddar, Toasted Almond and Crispy Sage Cheeseball. {Video!}”
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That is just the new idea I was looking for. Thanks you.
Ooooh yum!! These sound amazing! I love the flavor of those smokehouse almonds… and… you really can’t go wrong with cheese and bacon! 😛
These mini cheeseballs are so adorable! I love that you used BD’s smokehouse almonds to coat them. Such a great idea! These are perfect for the holidays!
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I made this several years ago, and it turned out great and was a big hit before my friend’s Christmas dinner! But I can’t remember if I used the honey roasted almonds from Trader Joe’s, or just got plain ones. If I use the honey roasted almonds, do I still need to toast them?
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My sister introduced this to me at our family New Years Eve party and it is my FAVORITE now! I never really liked cheese balls before but I use any excuse to make this one! The flavors of sage, toasted almonds, and sharp cheddar blend perfectly with the sweet tartness of the pomegranates! Very hard not to eat the whole thing by yourself!
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Idk if I have rated this before, but I have made this about 10 times in the past few years and it is a hit every time!! I make it exactly as stated…except for frying some extra sage for snacking ;-)
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This was the hit of our Thanksgiving! Beautiful & tasty. Thanks!!
We love this cheeseball, however it makes a HUGE ball! I actually just made it again and split it into two medium sized cheeseballs! YUM!
My daughter needed a recipe for a party, and this is the one I came across that has such a wow factor. She wanted to try it. So she made it yesterday and I got to lick the beater, and it was so incredibly tasty! She came in from her event with an empty platter. She said that her friends really did go in with their spoons, forgoing crackers altogether. I LOVE that it’s retro, but fantastically updated.
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I make these jewel cheese balls every Xmas. My friends love them. Depending on your budget, they are expensive especially if you use the best cheese. Trader Joes has all the ingredients. When I first started making them it was hard to find Mascapone on the shelf and also fresh sage. Enjoy the fragrance!
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I’ve made this cheese all every super bowl sunday since the post was published and it’s fantastic still to this day
This is the best cheese ball I’ve ever made, eaten, or seen. It us the PERFECT combo of classic and modern, and it just tastes incredible. I found the recipe for my daughter, who was attending a party with her book club two years ago. Not only did they ooh and ahh, they devoured it. And nothing came home. Anyway, it’s now a part of our table for Thanksgiving and Christmas, worth the effort, and the calories. Thanks for sharing this!
I have guest that have nut allergies. Can someone suggest a substitute?
first time making, flavor is amazing. I followed the recipe, but wondering if anyone ventured to put the pomegranate in the ball and not just one the ball? I thought about, but didn’t want to ruin and have to make another as I wasn’t sure if that would be too much liquid w/i?
Seriously delicious. I don’t like normal cheese balls and was looking for something with more complex flavor than the norm. This was it. I was slightly confused on if I add the melted sage butter to the cheese ball or not. I did and it was even better. Saving to make every year for the holidays.
I had this just last week at a dinner party. I had never eaten whole pomegranate seeds before, but this was delicious, delicious. Must replicate!
I wanted to love this but it felt like it was missing something. The flavors are very mild (which isn’t bad), I kept waiting for a punch of flavor to break through, like if there was a sweet/tart cream/jelly/jam it would’ve been perfect. I might try it again with some modifications. The crispy sage leaves were genius!