Mistletoe Kissing Ball Appetizer (Printable version)

A festive appetizer featuring grapes, herbs, creamy cheese balls, and savory prosciutto arranged on a round board.

# What You’ll 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 seedless green grapes
08 - 3.5 oz thinly sliced prosciutto
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 inch diameter)
13 - 35–40 small decorative toothpicks or cocktail picks

# Directions:

01 - Combine cream cheese, goat cheese, chives, parsley, black pepper, and salt in a medium bowl. Mix until smooth and well incorporated.
02 - Roll the cheese mixture into small balls approximately 1 inch in diameter, yielding about 18–20 pieces. Place on a tray and refrigerate for 10 minutes to firm.
03 - Wash and thoroughly dry the green grapes.
04 - On the clean round board, alternate placement of cheese balls and grapes in a dense spherical shape. Use toothpicks at a slight angle toward the center to secure each item and create a rounded form.
05 - Fold thin prosciutto slices into small rosettes or bundles and insert them between grapes and cheese balls using toothpicks.
06 - Distribute fresh thyme, rosemary, and mint sprigs evenly throughout the arrangement for an aromatic and decorative effect.
07 - Continue until the board is fully covered, resembling a lush edible kissing ball.
08 - Keep refrigerated until serving. Present on a platter allowing guests to pick individual bites.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a showstopper that looks like it took hours but comes together in just 25 minutes—your secret's safe with me.
  • Every bite is a perfect balance of creamy cheese, briny prosciutto, and bright fresh herbs that taste like the holidays themselves.
  • It's the kind of dish that makes people think you're fancier than you actually are, and honestly, that never gets old.
02 -
  • Let your cream cheese come to room temperature before you start—cold cheese makes lumpy balls, and lumpy balls don't roll as pretty or taste as smooth.
  • Don't skip the 10-minute chill after rolling the balls. Firm cheese holds together better when you're threading toothpicks through it, and your whole arrangement will feel more stable and intentional.
  • Dry those grapes thoroughly. I learned this the hard way when a wet grape slipped off my toothpick and launched itself across the kitchen—it's funny in the moment, less so when you're trying to look composed.
03 -
  • Use a food-safe foam board if you're worried about moisture from the cheese and grapes. Wooden boards are gorgeous, but they need a little extra care and perhaps a plastic sheet underneath if you're nervous about your table.
  • Thread your toothpicks at a slight angle toward the center of the board—this tiny adjustment is what makes your kissing ball look three-dimensional and professional instead of flat and clumsy.
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