Royal Orb Cheese Ball (Printable)

Elegant cheese ball with creamy cheeses, pistachios, and pomegranate for festive occasions.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheese Mixture

01 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - 5 oz sharp cheddar cheese, finely grated
03 - 3.5 oz feta cheese, crumbled
04 - 2 tbsp sour cream
05 - 2 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
06 - 1 garlic clove, minced
07 - ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
08 - ¼ tsp salt (optional)

→ Coating

09 - ½ cup pistachios, shelled and roughly chopped
10 - 1 cup pomegranate seeds (arils)
11 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, blend cream cheese, cheddar, feta, sour cream, chives, garlic, black pepper, and salt until smooth and well incorporated.
02 - Using clean hands or a spatula, form the mixture into a large ball; refrigerate for 10–15 minutes if too soft before shaping.
03 - Wrap the cheese ball tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow it to firm and flavors to meld.
04 - Unwrap the chilled cheese ball and place it on a serving platter.
05 - Gently press chopped pistachios and pomegranate seeds evenly over the surface, alternating to create a jeweled effect; sprinkle with parsley if desired.
06 - Present immediately alongside crackers, crudités, or flatbread.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours in the kitchen when you actually invested maybe twenty minutes of hands-on time.
  • The combination of three cheeses creates a complex flavor that tastes like you really know what you're doing.
  • Pomegranate seeds and pistachios make it feel festive without requiring any special skills or fancy equipment.
  • You can make it hours ahead and just add the jeweled coating right before serving, which is basically a gift to your stressed-out self.
02 -
  • The softer your cheese is at the start, the smoother your final mixture—don't skip letting cream cheese come to room temperature.
  • Pomegranate seeds can weep and stain the plate if added too early, so coat the orb no more than an hour before serving for maximum jeweled brilliance.
  • The mixture will hold its shape for up to three days in the fridge, but add your coating garnish the day you serve it for best presentation.
03 -
  • If your mixture is sliding off the cheese ball while coating, let it chill for another 15 minutes—cold surfaces grip toppings much better than room-temperature ones.
  • Use a light hand when pressing on pistachios and pomegranate seeds so you don't create dents or disturb the shape you worked so carefully to create.
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