Description
This recipe makes a festive snowman-shaped cheese ball coated with toasted pistachios and za’atar. It’s an easy, make-ahead appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings and comfort food lovers.
Ingredients
Scale
- 225 g (8 oz) cream cheese, full-fat, softened
- 100 g (3.5 oz) feta cheese, crumbled, microbial rennet
- 50 g (1.75 oz) goat cheese (chevre), softened
- 2 cloves garlic, minced very finely
- 15 g (0.5 oz) fresh dill, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest, from 1 small lemon
- 0.25 teaspoon fine sea salt, or to taste
- 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 80 g (2.8 oz) shelled pistachios, roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons za’atar spice blend
- 1 small baby carrot, peeled and pointed at one end
- 3 pitted black olives, halved
- 3–4 strands fresh chives
- 2 small pretzel sticks
- 30 g (1 oz) fresh pomegranate arils
Instructions
- Soften & Mix Cheese Base: In a large bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, crumbled feta, and softened goat cheese. Use a fork or electric mixer on low speed to blend until the mixture is mostly smooth and creamy. Then, add the finely minced garlic, chopped fresh dill, lemon zest, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper, mixing until all ingredients are evenly incorporated and fragrant.
- Shape & Chill for Firmness: Divide the cheese mixture into two portions (one larger, about 2/3, and one smaller, about 1/3). Roll each portion into a smooth ball. Place the cheese balls on a plate lined with parchment paper and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or until firm enough to handle easily.
- Prepare Flavorful Coating: While the cheese balls chill, spread the roughly chopped pistachios on a dry 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Toast for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant and lightly golden. Remove from heat and let cool completely. In a shallow dish, combine the cooled toasted pistachios and the za’atar spice blend, mixing well.
- Coat & Assemble Your Snowman: Remove the chilled cheese balls from the refrigerator. One at a time, gently roll each cheese ball in the pistachio-za’atar mixture, pressing lightly to ensure an even, generous coating. Place the larger, coated cheese ball onto the center of a serving platter, then gently place the smaller, coated cheese ball on top, pressing slightly to secure it.
- Decorate with Flair & Final Chill: Decorate your snowman: insert the pointed baby carrot for the nose, position two olive halves for the eyes, and arrange chive strands around the (neck) for a scarf. Insert two pretzel sticks for arms and place the remaining olive halves down the front for buttons. Scatter pomegranate arils around the base. Chill the decorated cheese ball for another 30 minutes to firm up everything before serving.
Notes
If the cheese mixture is too sticky to roll even after chilling for 30 minutes, try chilling for another 30 minutes until it firms up more. For decorations that don’t stick, use a tiny dab of cream cheese as (glue) to secure them. Experiment with other fresh herbs like chives or parsley, or add a pinch of red pepper flakes for heat. Other coating variations include finely chopped walnuts and dried cranberries.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Bake, Chilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 40 g)
- Calories: 140 calories
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 170 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 13 mg
Keywords: snowman, cheese ball, appetizer, holiday, festive, make-ahead, party food, za'atar, pistachios, easy snack