How to Make an Easy Pine Cone Cheese Ball With Almonds & Bacon + Pictures & Video

Wanna be a rock star at your next Christmas or holiday party? This easy Easy Pine Cone Cheese Ball with Almonds & Bacon is a fun and delicious appetizer... and it's impressive!! It's also a keto-friendly recipe - with cheese, bacon, and almonds!

If you need a little inspiration, make this cheese ball for a Christmas party, church get-together, or family gathering and you can instantly amp up your holiday spirit!

Easy Pine Cone Cheese Ball Recipe With Almonds & Bacon

I've always been a big fan of cheeseballs. Or just cheese 😉. Especially cream cheese. And bacon. Oh, and almonds... since we're on that topic. But seriously - this easy pine cone cheese ball is not only delicious, but it's also fun and impressive when you set it on the table for a party!

I don't know anybody who doesn't love a terrific cheese ball with snack crackers and/or fresh veggies.

Here are two other cheese ball recipes I've shared, and one is a dessert cheese ball!

• Festive Cookie Dough Dessert Cheeseball
• Cheese & Bacon Mini Cheese Ball Bites

So here's the deal. As stated, I love cheese balls. But I don't make them often. There's this friend at church who ROCKS a cheese ball and since everybody expects dessert from me, I let her do the cheese balls and I do the desserts.

Until now.

Because now, I've made this Easy Pine Cone Cheese Ball with Almonds & Bacon and well... I'm the self-declared new queen of cheese balls.

Before we get into that, I do make a few other rock-star appetizers... here are some of my faves:

Appetizers for the Holidays

• Creamy & Spicy Corn Dip
• 3 Ingredient Sweet & Spicy Meatballs
• Creamy Bacon Cheese Dip
• Strawberry Jalapeno Baked Brie
• Marinated Cheese Appetizer: Perfect Party Food!
• Easy Layered Shrimp Dip Recipe

So, now let me show you how to make the Pine Cone Cheese Ball. First, the ingredients.

Ingredients for a Pine Cone Cheese Ball with Almonds & Bacon

• Cream Cheese
• Cheddar Cheese (shredded)
• Buddig Beef (diced)
• Green Onions
• Dill Weed
• Bacon (diced)
• Whole Almonds
• Fresh Rosemary Sprigs
• Crackers (for dipping)

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Cream Cheese

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Bacon

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Cheddar Cheese

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How to make a Pine Cone Cheese Ball with Bacon & Almonds

First, this recipe is truly easy. You won't need a blender or cookie sheet or oven! 

You're only going to need a bowl to mix it up in and a pretty plate or serving platter to put it on. That's it!

So first, you're going to combine cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, beef, green onions, dill weed, and bacon in a large bowl.

Tips for the Shredded Cheddar & Cooked Bacon

This may seem contradictory, but I'm going to tell you one shortcut I approve of and one I don't.

Cheddar Cheese. While I know how easy it is to buy shredded cheddar cheese (I do it all.the.time!) ... if you want the very best flavor, please buy a block of cheddar cheese and shred it yourself. It's just better.

Cooked Bacon. Freshly cooked bacon is absolutely better but, cooking, cooling then chopping bacon is a lot of work and a whole other level of "extra steps". The splattering grease is my main objection... just so annoying.

So for this recipe and similar ones, I love buying pre-cooked Real Bacon Crumbled Pieces.

Knead until well combined. Use a large spoon to stir the mixture or put on some food-safe gloves if you don't want to use your bare hands to knead it. You could even toss it in your Bosch mixer with a paddle blade.

Roll the cheese mixture into a large ball and place it on a pretty serving plate or serving platter. Then shape it into a pine cone shape or long triangle.

Starting at the wider end, cover the entire pine cone cheese ball in whole almonds, keeping them slightly slanted as you go.

Place the fresh rosemary sprigs at the top for pine needles.

Surround with crackers.

Serve and enjoy! So not only is this cheese ball delicious, it's also pretty and festive for the holidays!

Gluten-Free and Keto-Friendly Cheese Ball

Anywho, in addition to being delicious and easy, apparently, this cheese ball accidentally checks a couple of boxes with special diets.

I'm not a follower of either of these diets, but if you are, then I have great news! This cheese ball recipe is both keto-friendly and gluten-free. Or at least that's what I'm told. 😀

When served with crisp, fresh veggies, it might even be called diet food. Okay, not really, but you know... I had to try.

See my Gluten-free, Soy-free, Egg-free & Dairy-free Chocolate Cake and Frosting here..

Can I prep this holiday pine cone cheese ball ahead of time?

Why yes, yes you can prep this recipe ahead of time!!

Since holidays and parties are so busy to put together, I welcome any food that can be made ahead of time. And cheeseballs can definitely be made ahead of time.

If you're using fresh ingredients, you can safely make a cheese ball up to 2 weeks ahead of time. If you're going to chill it for more than a couple of days, though, do not put the nuts on. Save that task for the day you're going to serve it (or no more than two days before).

Personally, I like to prep this one a day or two before the party, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then let it chill until party time. I actually think the flavors meld together and it tastes better after sitting a day or two so this is a win-win plan!

FAQ, Substitutions, & Omissions for a Cheese Ball Recipe

• Can I substitute low fat cream cheese or shredded cheddar? Yes, you can. Personally, I prefer the texture and flavor of full-fat cheeses but if you want to reduce the calorie and fat content, absolutely go for it!
• Can I freeze a cheese ball? Gut reaction? No, you cannot freeze a cheese ball. Because cheese dries out and crumbles after freezing, I don't recommend it. And the texture of cream cheese after being frozen is less than appetizing. However, if you go over to this post, you'll see instructions for how to carefully freeze a cheese ball. Proceed at your own risk.
• Buddig Beef in a Cheese Ball Recipe is a super popular ingredient - in fact, many people just search for "Cheese Balls with Buddig Beef" because I'm pretty sure it's one of the most popular cheese balls. But there are other options if you want to make a substitution. Armor Dried Beef also works great and if you can't find that, you could omit it altogehter and still have a delicious cheese ball.
• What's the best cheese for a cheese ball? I really love cheddar (mild, medium or sharp), but you could easily substitute another cheese that you love - including mozzarella, colby or gouda.
• What kind of nuts can I use to roll a cheese ball? Whole almonds are what make this cheese ball look like a pine cone, but if the look is not imporant to you, feel free to change it up! My mini cheese balls are rolled in chopped walnuts. I also love chopped pecans or sliced almonds. Wanna skip the nuts altogether? Roll it in chopped green onion, chopped bacon, or parsley.
• What seasonings or spices are good in a cheeseball? For this recipe, I use dill and green onions. But the sky is the limit here... go with what you love. Maybe dried parsley, garlic powder, dried oregano, ground black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce...

More Appetizer Recipes You'll love:

• How to Make Candied Bacon in the Oven
• Cold Veggie Pizza with Crescent Rolls (An Easy Appetizer)
• Marinated Cheese Appetizer: Perfect Party Food!
• Cheese & Bacon Mini Cheese Ball Bites
• Creamy & Spicy Corn Dip
• Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball (Easy Fall Appetizer)

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