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Cranberry “Turkey” Cheeseball

Yields1 ServingPrep Time10 mins

This appetizer is addicting! Once you have a little bit, it's hard not to keep eating it! I made this Cranberry "Turkey" Cheeseball for the first time a couple Thanksgivings ago as a little appetizer for people to eat and before I knew it, the whole thing was gone. People really seemed to love that it looked like a turkey too, so I truly believe presentation is very important!

 8 oz. 1/3 less fat cream cheese (softened)
 2 cups lite Mexican blend cheese
 1/2 cup green onions chopped
 1/4 cup chopped cilantro (parsley will also work)
 1 cup dried cranberries (unsweetened)
 1 cup pecans (chopped)
1

Toast the pecans in a 300 degree oven for about 5-6 minutes, making sure to not burn them. This step is optional but it really does add a nice layer of flavor to the dish.

2

In a medium bowl, mix together the softened cream cheese, Mexican cheese blend, onions, and cilantro.

3

Add in the cranberries and mix everything together again. Form into a ball shape.

4

Roll the cheeseball into the pecans so that the outside layer is completely covered in the toasted pecans.

5

This part is optional, but now you want to add some carrots to make the cheeseball look like a turkey. I did this by cutting baby carrots in half and putting them at the back of the ball, like feathers. Then I took one halved baby carrot, added a half of a toothpick to the top of the carrot, and then placed a little piece of carrot to create a head and mouth of the "turkey". The picture will make it clear as to what you need to do. Enjoy with some crackers!

Nutrition Facts

0 servings

Serving size

12-15 servings


Amount per serving
Calories149
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 12g16%

Saturated Fat 4g20%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 20mg7%
Sodium 152mg7%
Total Carbohydrate 5g2%

Dietary Fiber 5g18%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 7g

Potassium 43mg1%

* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.