Pinecone Cheese Spread

photo by:kraft

Cute, right? Squirrel this recipe away for your next party: A creamy mix of five cheeses plus Dijon mustard and almond slices will have guests pining for more.

time

prep:

20 min

total:

2 hr 20 min

servings

total:

16 servings, 2 Tbsp. spread and 5 crackers each

add your photo

add to shopping list

add to recipe box

send/share

What You Need

pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

pkg. (7 oz.) KRAFT Mexican Style 2% Milk Finely Shredded Four Cheese

Tbsp. GREY POUPON Dijon Mustard

Tbsp. canned chopped green chiles

1/3

cup PLANTERS Sliced Almonds, toasted

RITZ Crackers

Make It

PROCESS first 3 ingredients in food processor until blended. Stir in chiles.

SHAPE into 4-inch oval on sheet of waxed paper to resemble pinecone. Insert nuts in rows to completely cover cream cheese mixture. Transfer to serving plate.

REFRIGERATE 2 hours. Remove from refrigerator 15 min. before serving. Let stand at room temperature to soften slightly. Serve with crackers.

Kraft Kitchens Tips

Size-Wise

Each 2-Tbsp. serving of this spicy spread packs a flavor punch.

Variation

Prepare using one of the following options: Serve with RITZ Snowflake Crackers. Or, add 1 tsp. hot pepper sauce to cream cheese mixture before shaping as directed.

Make Ahead

Cheese spread can be stored in refrigerator up to 5 days before serving as directed.

Rate recipes, or edit your previous ratings and more. Sign In

jrbennett13

posted:1/3/2005

Does look fancy, but is very easy to make. Everyone really liked the flavor. Has just a bit of spice, but isn't truly hot.

a cook

posted:1/1/2005

Very Good! I served it on Christmas Day which was very appropiate. Everyone thought I had worked hard to make it - it was a breeze.

awolfe04

posted:12/31/2004

I made this for holiday parties. I was hoping to have some to take home, but it was all gone. This is great because it tastes good AND looks wonderful. My ball was too big, so it looked more like a tree than a pinecone, which was okay. A suggestion would be to make two smaller balls and place them at different locations during a party.

hyidi

posted:12/29/2004

Everyone loved this at my party I have already made it two more time enjoy!

ccd82

posted:12/29/2004

This recipe was such a hit!!! I've made it three times now and friends and family have loved it! And it is so easy to make!

gramarama118

posted:12/28/2004

My niece brought this to Christmas dinner. It looked very pretty and tasted wonderful. I looked up the recipe and am making it for a New Years Eve gathering with friends and family.

debidoo1

posted:12/27/2004

I used the 4 cheese mexican blend, and it made the cheese spread taste a little gritty. ALso, putting the almonds into the shaped cheese was a little difficult. Once I put them in at a diagonal, it was a bit easier. I made this ahead, and put it into a storage container upside down, so that the base of the pine cone was placed in the lid, and the cover was put ocer the top of the pine cone.

a cook

posted:12/23/2004

I made this for a holiday dinner party and everyone loved it. It was a little difficult to mix, but other than that it was a pretty easy recipe.

kellcheer

posted:12/20/2004

I made this for Thanksgiving and everyone loved it! I blended it all by hand, but I think that a food processor would have worked better, but it was still really good!

missladybugg77

posted:12/19/2004

I made this for a party and everyone loved it. They said it was to pretty to eat.