Valedón Cheese Ball
Add a bit of festive flair and elevate the bland cheese balls of past holiday get-togethers. Pair with candied Ritz Crackers for a fancy touch, and get ready for scores of compliments.
Ingredients
CHEESE BALL
- 4 ounces cream cheese 8 ounces Valdeón rind removed
- 1 cup dried whole cranberries plus 2 tablespoons roughly chopped dried cranberries
- 2 tablespoons roughly chopped chives
- 2 tablespoons roughly chopped roasted and salted pistachios
CANDIED RITZ CRACKERS
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 6 ounces 1 sleeve Ritz Crackers
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay
Instructions
CHEESE BALL
- Add cream cheese and Valdeón to the bowl of a stand mixer and blend on low until creamy. Fold in whole cranberries and chives. Form mixture into a ball, then cover with cling wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Roll the ball in chopped cranberries and pistachios. Refrigerate until needed.
CANDIED RITZ CRACKERS
- Heat oven to 350°F.
- Melt butter and brown sugar in a medium skillet over medium heat until well combined.
- Toss crackers in the brown sugar mixture in a large mixing bowl, then evenly spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Combine salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and Old Bay in a small bowl. Evenly sprinkle mixture over the crackers and bake for 8 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Serve with Valdeón cheese ball.