Instructions are included to help you roast your own nuts, but you can also buy pre-packaged roasted nuts, as long as they’re very fresh.
In the picture above, dill leaves stand in for pine fronds, and little cheerful cherry tomatoes brighten up the plate, like holly berries or Christmas tree ornaments.
The classic inspiration: An almond-studded pinecone-shaped cheeseball party appetizer (from 1979-1980)
The Nutsnacker: Toast the season’s riches with this snappy new spread — a pinecone-shaped cheeseball.
Formed in a nutshell of crisp, crunchy Blue Diamond almonds, and made especially creamy with Kraft real mayonnaise. As a holiday appetizer, its flavor is so scrumptious, your guests will go simply nutty.
ALSO TRY: Cheddar-brandy almond-covered cheese ball (1982)
ALSO TRY: 21 strange vintage Christmas appetizers you don’t see much anymore
Pinecone cheeseball with almonds
This eye-catching holiday cheeseball uses roasted almonds to form the scales of your cheesy pinecone! Instructions are included to help you roast your own nuts, but you can also buy pre-packaged roasted nuts, as long as they're very fresh.
Ingredients
- 1-1/4 cups almonds, whole
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 5 crisply-cooked bacon sliced, crumbled
- 1 tbsp. chopped green onion
- 1/2 teaspoon dill weed
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Spread almonds in a single layer in shallow pan.
- Bake at 300 degrees for 15 minutes, stirring often until almonds just begin to turn color. Remove from oven. Cool.
- Combine softened cream cheese and mayonnaise; mix well.
- Add bacon, onions, dill and pepper; mix well.
- Cover and chill overnight, or at least 8 hours.
- The next day, form cheese mixture into shapes of two pinecones on serving platter.
- Beginning at narrow end, press almonds at slight angle into cheese mixture in rows. Continue overlapping rows until all cheese is covered.
- Garnish with sprigs of dill (or artificial pine sprigs) and cherry tomatoes, if desired. Serve with crackers.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 80 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 64Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 64mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 2g
Click Americana offers approximate nutrition information as a general reference only, and we make no warranties regarding its accuracy. Please make any necessary calculations based on the actual ingredients used in your recipe, and consult with a qualified healthcare professional if you have dietary concerns.
2 Responses
I made this last Christmas, I liked them. Not difficult.
So cute! I think I will make these for Christmas. Thanks!