Pomegranate Rosemary Cheese Ball
Pomegranate, rosemary, and goat cheese combine in this grown up version of the classic cheese ball. Serve it at your next get together or party.
Would you guys believe this is the first cheese ball I’ve made in my adult life? How crazy is that? When I was a kid, there was always a cheeseball at the big Christmas meal with the family. It was cream cheese based and had ham on the outside. Slathering some of that cheese and ham goodness on some buttery crackers was a real treat. At least, it seemed like a treat since that was the only time of year we got to eat something like that.
This cheese ball is not the cheese ball of your childhood. It’s a sophisticated cheese ball combining unexpected flavors. The cheese spread itself contains three kinds of cheese: cream cheese, goat cheese, and white cheddar. Then it’s got some rosemary in there as well. After the cheese spread has been formed into it’s ball shape, it’s rolled in my all-time-favorite winter ingredient: pomegranate seeds.
These little jewels are what make the cheese ball shine. They provide a burst of juice that counters the saltiness of the cheese. The crunch they provide balances well with the creaminess of the cheese. Basically, if you can’t find pom arils, don’t make this cheese ball. They make the recipe. If you can find pomegranate seeds, then make this cheeseball for your next get together. Or bring it to a Superbowl party. It might not be traditional football food, but everyone around you will thank you.
Two Years Ago: My Go-To Cream Cheese Frosting and Roasted Pumpkin and Squash Soup with Sage
Three Years Ago: Chocolate Bacon Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting and Spinach with Pan Roasted Red Peppers and Goat Cheese
Four Years Ago: Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies and Overnight French Toast
Five Years Ago: Raspberry Meringue Cookies
Pomegranate Rosemary Cheese Ball
Pomegranate, rosemary, and goat cheese combine in this grown up version of the classic cheese ball. Serve it at your next get together or party.
Yield: Serves 10-12
Ingredients:
8 oz cream cheese, at room temp
4 oz goat cheese, at room temp
5 oz sharp white cheddar cheese, grated
1 sprig fresh rosemary leaves, minced
Salt and pepper, to taste
Arils from 1 pomegranate
Directions:
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the three cheeses and mix on a low speed.
Add the rosemary and salt and pepper, mix again until combined.
Lay a piece of plastic wrap on a flat surface. Using a spatula, transfer the cheese mixture onto the plastic wrap and form into a ball. Wrap the cheese in the plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, remove the arils from the pomegranate and lay out on a towel to dry.
Remove the cheese from the refrigerator.
Place the arils on a large flat plate.
Roll the cheese ball in the arils, pressing down so they stick. You may need to fill in holes with the arils by hand in some places after rolling.
Keep refrigerated until about 20 minutes before serving.
Serve with crackers
Recipe adapted from She Knows
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
This is the perfect recipe for all of the leftover ingredients I have! Hubby made me buy a 3-pound bag of cranberries because he loves them, but you only use 12 ounces for cranberry sauce so I’ve got about 2 pounds of cranberries left to use, plus lots of pumpkins and pecans. This is definitely being made this weekend!
Oh man. That does sound good. And I know it must be if you’re repeating it because I am the same way. I’m going to make a cranberry maple pecan cake on Friday… but this is really tempting too.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Oh, man! If I only had more time for Thanksgiving dessert table – this is certainly one I would try.
Oooh this cake looks so ooey gooey and delicious! I wish there weren’t already so many desserts coming to my Thanksgiving table because I’d totally make this!
Sues
This looks super delicious and your photos look great too! Happy Thanksgiving to you and hubby!
ooooh, my, i must try this 🙂 happy thanksgiving!!
What a fabulous recipe! All the flavors sound delicious to me.
This looks amazing! It looks so moisty yum, I should try to make this sometime, Love your blog! this is my first comment for you so I thought I’d show some appreciation for your blog, because I’ve been drooling over all your recipes for a while
Shandra-http://shandrita.tumblr.com/
Your photos are beautiful! The pictures I took of the actual cake didn’t look to appealing, the photos I took of the bite sized cake bites looked pretty though lol
Good job!!
What a great recipe! You totally had me at caramel/pecan/cranberry topping.
Just finally made this cake and it is astoundingly good! Truly the best dessert I’ve had in…oh, a very long time. Thank you for your post!
I tried to be good, I really did! This cake was so delicious, I not only had seconds, I had a piece for breakfast the next day and for a snack later that day. This one goes on my Christmas menu!
beantownbaker — December 1st, 2013 @ 6:52 pm
I doubled the recipe this time and you’ll remember the middle didn’t quite bake through. It also spilled over a bit, so next time, I’ll put a pan under the cake in the oven.