Dorothy’s Holiday Cheese Ball

Dorothy’s Holiday Cheese Ball is what every holiday get-together needs. Cream cheese, shredded Havarti cheese, Dorothy Lynch, dried cranberries, and pecans give this classic holiday appetizer an irresistible sweet and savory appeal!

Let the holiday festivities commence! Time for getting together with our loved ones and celebrating and toasting the season. The end of yet another crazy year deserves a good send-off, don’t you agree? This Holiday Cheese Ball is the perfect centerpiece for your next celebration!

A little bit sweet, a little bit savory, slathered on a cracker, or even some raw veggies, this cranberry cheese ball will disappear quicker than the days between Thanksgiving and Christmas! 

This recipe is sponsored by Dorothy Lynch Dressing & Condiment, but the opinions shared and the love of this amazing Nebraska made product are all my own. 

Can you believe that 2021 is almost over? It’s been a wild ride this year, and maybe it’s just my age, but the days and years seem to just keep flying by! I am making the very most of the holiday season, putting dates on the calendar with family and friends, time to connect during the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Taking that time is so important, isn’t it?

Dorothy’s Holiday Cheese Ball 

When you ask that age-old question “what can I bring?” keep this cranberry pecan cheese ball recipe in the back of your mind. It has a pretty presentation, it’s simple to make, and uses only six ingredients. Whip it together, serve it with crackers, or add it to a charcuterie board.

There is no need for any added spices or seasonings. Dorothy Lynch adds all of the zest and flavor the recipe needs. So, if you thought that Dorothy Lynch was “just for salads” then I am here to change your thinking! (of course, it is fantastic on salads, too…)

WHAT IS DOROTHY LYNCH?

“The” Dorothy Lynch was a woman, who created this dressing and condiment in the 1940s, and served it at a restaurant she and her husband ran at the local Legion Club in St. Paul, Nebraska. The dressing and condiment became so popular, that patrons would bring in their own bottles to have Dorothy fill them to eat at home.  

Dorothy Lynch Dressing & Condiment can best be described as a sweet and spicy dressing that has a thick and creamy texture. Because of its color, many will assume it’s just another French dressing, but that simply isn’t true at all. In fact, it tastes nothing like it. French dressing is oil-based, Dorothy Lynch is tomato-based. The best word to describe its taste: Homemade.  

Ingredients in Dorothy’s Holiday Cheese Ball

• cream cheese
• Havarti cheese
• Dorothy Lynch Dressing & Condiment
• Craisins (dried cranberries)
• chopped pecans 
• fresh parsley

To make this recipe lower in fat and calories, substitute Neufchatel Cheese for the cream cheese,  and Dorothy Lynch Light & Lean Dressing & Condiment for the Home Style variety of Dorothy Lynch. 

Find all of the measurements for the ingredients in the printable recipe card a the bottom of this post. 

How To Make the Best Cheese Ball

Step One: In a mixing bowl, with an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth.

Step Two: Mix in the Dorothy Lynch Dressing & Condiment. Blend in cranberries, half of the shredded Havarti cheese, and half of the fresh parsley.

Step Three: Mix the remaining halves of shredded cheese and parsley with the chopped pecans.

Step Four: Form the cheese into a ball. Lay a piece of plastic wrap on the counter, sprinkle about half of the pecan mixture in the middle, place the cheese ball on top and sprinkle the rest over the top. Roll the ball in the pecan mixture until all of the sides are coated.

Wrap in the plastic wrap and place in the fridge for at least an hour before serving.

Serve with crackers.

Love it? Pin it!

Don’t forget where you found this delicious cheese ball recipe! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go, to find it easily. 

WHERE DO I GET MY OWN BOTTLE OF DOROTHY LYNCH DRESSING?

Dorothy Lynch Dressing & Condiment can be purchased at most grocery stores in Nebraska and can be found at select grocery stores around the country, including Walmart and HyVee.  If you can’t find it there, you can always get your pantry stocked with Dorothy Lynch by shopping at Buy Nebraska or Amazon!

Follow along with Dorothy Lynch on their website, and their Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter account for delicious recipes all year long.

Dorothy Lynch Holiday Giveaway

I share a lot of recipes that use Nebraska’s favorite dressing and condiment, Dorothy Lynch. I hear from many people saying they cannot find it where they live and some people loved it when they lived here, but have since moved and can no longer purchase it. So this is your chance to get some Dorothy Lynch shipped right to your door – and it’s so easy!

My friends at Dorothy Lynch agreed to send one of my readers a little care package for the holidays! Isn’t that sweet?

How to win the Dorothy Lynch Holiday Gift

Between December 6 & December 13, 2021, leave a comment here on this post finishing this sentence:

“I want to win the Dorothy Lynch because ____________”

Make sure you put your email so that I can contact you if you win. A winner will be drawn at random, and the winner will have 24 hours to claim their prize, or another winner will be drawn. The merchandise will be shipped directly from Dorothy Lynch. I can’t wait to see who wins! Good Luck!

More Holiday Recipes

Add a little Dorothy to your holidays with these other recipe favorites, made with Nebraska’s Own Dorothy Lynch Dressing & Condiment:

• Dorothy’s Cranberry Meatballs (pictured above)
• Dorothy’s Hot Taco Dip
• Slow Cooker Ham with Dorothy Lynch Glaze
• Dorothy’s BBQ Little Smokies
• Dorothy’s Pizza Pockets
• Impossible Pie with Bacon & Swiss

SEE ALL OF MY DOROTHY LYNCH RECIPES

I can’t wait to dig in! Let’s make a Holiday Cheese Ball! 

4.88 from 8 votes

Print Recipe

Dorothy's Holiday Cheese Ball

Dorothy's Holiday Cheese Ball is what every holiday get-together needs. Cream cheese, shredded Havarti cheese, Dorothy Lynch, dried cranberries, and pecans give this classic holiday appetizer an irresistible sweet and savory appeal!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Additional Time1 hour hr

Total Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Course: Appetizers & Snacks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: best, cheese ball ideas, Christmas cheese ball, Dorothy Lynch, dried cranberries, easy, holiday cheese ball, pecan

Servings: 12

Calories: 174kcal

Author: Michaela Kenkel

Equipment

• Dorothy Lynch Home Style Salad Dressing 
• Black Modern Slate Cheese Board
• Rubber Spatulas 
• Glass Batter Bowl
• KitchenAid Hand Mixer 

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• 1 8 ounce package of cream cheese, softened
• 6 ounces Havarti cheese shredded fine, divided
• 1/4 cup Dorothy Lynch Dressing & Condiment
• 1/2 cup Craisins dried cranberries
• 1 2.25 ounce package chopped pecans (about 1/2 cup)
• 4 Tablespoons fresh parsley divided

Instructions

• In a mixing bowl, with an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth.
• Mix in the Dorothy Lynch Dressing & Condiment.
• Blend in cranberries, half of the shredded Havarti cheese, and half of the fresh parsley.
• Mix the remaining halves of shredded cheese and parsley with the chopped pecans.
• Form the cheese into a ball. Lay a piece of plastic wrap on the counter, sprinkle about half of the pecan mixture in the middle, place the cheese ball on top and sprinkle the rest over the top. Roll the ball in the pecan mixture until all of the sides are coated.
• Wrap in the plastic wrap and place in the fridge for at least an hour before serving.
• Serve with crackers.

Notes

Sometimes when you buy chopped pecans in a package, they are larger than what you might like for a recipe like this. I gave mine a quick rough chop so they were a bit smaller.

To cut the calories on this recipe, use Neufchatel Cheese and Dorothy Lynch Light & Lean Dressing & Condiment!

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 174kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 157mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g