Almond Pinecone Cheeseball

Submitted by Cynthia Townley Ewer on October 16, 2007 - 6:47am

Summary

Yield
Source

Blue Diamonds almond advertisement, circa 1978

Prep Time15 minutes

Description

So pretty that guests are afraid to muss it, you'll need to dig into this creamy, pinecone-shaped cheeseball first! Add a sprig of artificial evergreen for an easy show-off holiday appetizer.

Ingredients

  • 1 1⁄2 c almonds, whole
  • 1 cream cheese, 8 ounce package
  • 1⁄2 c mayonnaise
  • 5 bacon slices, crisply cooked
  • 1 T green onion, chopped
  • 1⁄2 t dill weed, dried
  • 1⁄8 t pepper, ground

Instructions

Spread almonds in single layer in shallow pan. Bake at 300 degrees, 15 minutes, stirring often, until almonds just begin to turn color.

Combine softened cream cheese and mayonnaise; mix well. Add bacon, onion, dill and pepper; mix well. Cover; chill overnight.

Form cheese mixture into pinecone shape 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 artificial pine sprigs. Serve with crackers.