Cranberry Cheese Ball

Gather all of your ingredients and prepare your workspace. (5 minutes)

In a small saucepan, bring the cranberry juice cocktail just to a simmer over medium heat. Remove from heat and add 1/4 cup of the snipped dried cranberries. Cover the saucepan and allow the cranberries to plump for at least 15 minutes. (20 minutes)

In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, shredded sharp white cheddar cheese, and softened butter. Allow these ingredients to sit at room temperature for approximately 30 minutes to ensure they blend smoothly. (30 minutes)

Drain the plumped cranberries, reserving 1 tablespoon of the cranberry juice. Add the plumped cranberries and reserved juice to the bowl with the cheese mixture. Incorporate 1 tablespoon of the snipped fresh chives, orange zest, light brown sugar, and garlic powder. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the mixture until it is light and fluffy, ensuring all ingredients are well combined. (10 minutes)

Lay a large sheet of plastic wrap on a clean, flat surface. Spoon the cheese mixture onto the center of the plastic wrap. Gently use the plastic wrap to mold the mixture into a rough ball shape. It's okay if it's not perfect at this stage. Wrap the cheese ball tightly in the plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours, or ideally overnight, to allow the flavors to meld and the cheese ball to firm up. (2 hours)

Remove the wrapped cheese ball from the refrigerator. Gently roll the wrapped mixture on your work surface to refine the shape into a more uniform ball. (5 minutes)

On a separate sheet of plastic wrap or waxed paper, evenly spread the remaining 1/4 cup of snipped dried cranberries, remaining 1 tablespoon of snipped fresh chives, and finely chopped toasted pecans. Unwrap the cheese ball and carefully roll it in the cranberry-pecan-chive mixture, ensuring it is fully coated. (10 minutes)

Transfer the coated cheese ball to a serving platter. Let it stand at room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to bloom. Serve with an assortment of crackers, crostini, or fresh vegetable sticks for dipping. (15 minutes)