Description
Creamy, crunchy, and festive bite-sized appetizers mixing cream cheese, sharp cheddar, dried fruit, and herbs, rolled in nuts or roasted chickpeas. Served on pretzel sticks for elegant holiday snacking.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup shredded white cheddar cheese
- ¾ cup finely chopped dried fruit (apricots, cranberries, or cherries)
- 1–1½ tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1½ cups finely chopped mixed nuts (almonds, pecans, or walnuts)
- 1½ cups finely chopped roasted chickpeas or smoked almonds
- 12 pretzel sticks
Instructions
- Beat softened cream cheese and cheddar cheese until smooth. Mix in Italian seasoning and dried fruit. Season with salt or pepper if desired.
- Place chopped nuts and roasted chickpeas in separate shallow bowls for coating.
- Scoop 1-inch portions of cheese mixture and roll into balls (about 12 total).
- Roll half the balls in chopped nuts, the other half in roasted chickpeas, pressing gently to adhere.
- Arrange balls on parchment, chill 30 minutes to firm. Insert pretzel sticks before serving.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
Use room-temperature cream cheese for easier mixing.
Fine chopping of fruit and nuts ensures cheese mixture holds well.
Chilling maintains shape and texture.
For flavor balance, use sweet fruit and savory coatings.
Add pretzel sticks just before serving to keep crispness.
- Prep Time: 15
- Category: Appetizer, Snack
- Method: No-Cook / Assemble
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bite
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 140mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: mini cheese ball bites, christmas appetizers, bite size party snack, cream cheese nuts recipe, holiday finger food