Pine Cone Cheese Ball

Chef John's show-stopping pine cone cheese ball is a welcome addition to any holiday party spread and a guaranteed crowd pleaser.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 30 mins
• Calories: 176 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 4 ounces goat cheese, softened
• 1 cup whole almonds, or as needed
• 3 large fresh rosemary sprigs
• 0.5 clove garlic, minced, or more to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Stir cream cheese, goat cheese, parsley, tarragon, thyme, garlic, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper together in a bowl until smooth and well-mixed.

Step 2

Turn cheese mixture out onto a serving platter and form into a tapered oval shape to resemble a pine cone.

Step 3

Starting at the tapered end, press almonds into the cheese cone so that the tip of the almond is facing out and down, and cheese cone is completely covered with almonds and resembles a pine cone. Place rosemary sprigs at the top to resemble pine needles.