Mistletoe Kissing Ball (Printable)

Creamy cheese balls and grapes with herbs, prosciutto, and fresh greenery create a festive, elegant centerpiece.

# What You Need:

→ Cheese Balls

01 - 10.5 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - 3.5 oz goat cheese
03 - 2 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
04 - 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
05 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
06 - 1/4 tsp sea salt

→ Assembly

07 - 9 oz green grapes, seedless
08 - 3.5 oz prosciutto slices, thinly sliced
09 - 1 small bunch fresh thyme sprigs
10 - 1 small bunch fresh rosemary sprigs
11 - 1 small bunch fresh mint leaves
12 - 1 round wooden or food-safe foam board, approx. 8–10 inches diameter
13 - 35–40 small decorative toothpicks or cocktail picks

# Directions:

01 - In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, goat cheese, chives, parsley, black pepper, and sea salt. Mix thoroughly until smooth and well incorporated.
02 - Using clean hands, roll the cheese mixture into small balls about 1 inch in diameter, yielding approximately 18–20 balls. Arrange on a tray and refrigerate for 10 minutes to firm.
03 - Wash and dry the green grapes thoroughly.
04 - On the round board, arrange cheese balls and grapes alternately in a dense, spherical pattern. Secure each with toothpicks angled slightly toward the center to create a rounded structure.
05 - Fold prosciutto slices into small rosettes or bundles, then insert between grapes and cheese balls using toothpicks.
06 - Distribute fresh thyme, rosemary, and mint sprigs evenly throughout the arrangement for aromatic greenery and decorative effect.
07 - Continue adding components until the board is densely covered, resembling a lush, edible kissing ball.
08 - Keep refrigerated until serving. Place the kissing ball on a platter and allow guests to pick individual bites.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a showstopper that looks like you spent hours in the kitchen, but honestly takes just 25 minutes of mostly assembly work.
  • No cooking required means you can spend your holiday energy on hosting, not stressing over a hot stove.
  • Every bite is a little treasure hunt of textures and flavors—creamy, herbaceous, salty, sweet—all in one perfect mouthful.
02 -
  • Those cheese balls absolutely must be chilled before assembly—if they're warm or room temperature, they'll fall apart on the toothpicks and your beautiful sphere will look more like a sad pile.
  • The toothpick angle matters more than you'd think. Angling them toward the center creates the illusion of a true sphere; straight picks make it look flat and one-dimensional.
03 -
  • Make your cheese mixture the day before if you want to minimize last-minute stress; it actually tastes better after the flavors have had time to meld overnight in the refrigerator.
  • Keep the finished kissing ball in the coldest part of your refrigerator until the moment you're ready to serve—this keeps the cheese firm and prevents the herbs from wilting.
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