Mistletoe Kissing Ball (Printable)

An edible holiday centerpiece with grapes, herbs, cheese balls, and prosciutto arranged beautifully 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 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, blend cream cheese, goat cheese, chives, parsley, black pepper, and salt until smooth and uniform.
02 - Shape the cheese mixture into small balls approximately 1 inch in diameter, yielding about 18–20 pieces. Place them on a tray and refrigerate for 10 minutes to firm up.
03 - Wash and thoroughly dry the grapes before assembly.
04 - On a clean round board, alternate cheese balls and grapes, securing each with toothpicks angled slightly toward the center to create a dense spherical shape.
05 - Fold prosciutto slices into small rosettes or bundles and insert them evenly between grapes and cheese balls using picks.
06 - Distribute thyme, rosemary, and mint sprigs throughout the arrangement to provide decorative greenery and aromatic accents, ensuring balanced coverage.
07 - Continue layering until the board is densely covered, forming a lush, edible kissing ball.
08 - Keep the assembled centerpiece refrigerated until serving. Present on a platter and allow guests to pick individual bites.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a showstopper that looks like it took hours but honestly takes just 25 minutes—your secret stays safe with me
  • Every bite is different: creamy, briny, fresh, and slightly sweet all at once, which keeps people coming back for more
  • It doubles as both the appetizer and the table decoration, so you're doing double duty with style
  • Completely gluten-free and naturally impressive without requiring any fancy cooking skills
02 -
  • The cheese balls absolutely must be chilled before assembly or they'll collapse under the weight of the grapes and toothpicks—there's no shortcut here, those 10 minutes are essential
  • Every ingredient should be completely dry before it touches the board; moisture is the enemy of a beautiful, stable structure that lasts through the party
  • Don't assemble this more than 4–6 hours before serving, or the grapes start to weep and the whole thing gets sad and slippery—timing really matters
03 -
  • Buy the best quality prosciutto you can afford—the difference between grocery store prosciutto and artisanal is night and day, and your guests will taste it immediately
  • If you're struggling to get cheese balls perfectly round, slightly damp hands and a patient rolling motion work better than any tool; this is one of those rare moments where hands-on is genuinely better
  • Keep a damp kitchen towel nearby while assembling to clean your hands frequently—sticky hands make everything harder and slower
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