Pineapple Cream Cheese Ball Recipe

Party Pineapple Cheese Ball Recipe

• 2 packages (8 ounce each) cream cheese
• 1 can (8 ½ ounce) crushed pineapple – drained
• 2 cups pecans chopped fine (1 cup in cheese mixture and one cup to roll on outside)
• ¼ cup sweet peppers (green bell peppers are fine but red or other colors are nice too)
• 2 TBS onion chopped very fine

1. Let the cream cheese sit out an hour or so before mixing. It will be much easier to get a smooth mixture if the cream cheese is softened a bit.
2. Drain pineapple until as much liquid is removed as possible.
3. Put the cream cheese in the mixing bowl.
4. Add the pineapple to the cream cheese.
5. Chop bell pepper and onion by hand - do NOT use food processor or chopper as these will make too much liquid.
6. Add one cup pecans and chopped peppers and onion to cream cheese mixture.
7. Stir until all the ingredients are evenly mixed with the cream cheese.
8. If the mixture is too soft and messy to handle. Refrigerate the cheese mixture so that it thickens up. It’s fine to chill the cream cheese mixture overnight and work with it after it’s fully chilled.
9. Form the mixture into one or two balls. This cheese ball recipe serves approximately
   25 people. I prefer to make two cheese balls and have two dishes ready for
   parties or visitors.
10. Either way (on the spot or after chilling) roll the ball or balls in the chopped pecans. Wet your hands with water and the mixture will be easier to handle.
11. Chill the cheese ball or balls until ready to serve.
12. Top the pineapple cheese ball with a slice of pineapple and a maraschino cherry in the center for an extra special display. If adding the pineapple slice and cherry, do that right before serving.
13. Serve the cheese ball on a decorative holiday cheese dish or cheese tray with assorted crackers.