Every party needs a centerpiece appetizer that makes people stop and say something before they even pick up a cracker, and this pimento cheese golf ball is exactly that. Cream cheese and pimento cheese mixed together with green onions, honey roasted pecans, and dried cranberries, shaped into a ball, and pressed all over with a rounded tool to look exactly like a golf ball. It’s the kind of thing that gets photographed before it gets eaten, and then it disappears faster than anything else on the table.

The flavor combination is what makes this one worth knowing. Pimento cheese is already bold, savory, and slightly tangy. Cream cheese softens and enriches it. The honey roasted pecans add a sweet, toasty crunch that shows up in every bite. The dried cranberries add a chewy tartness that cuts through the richness of all that cheese. And the green onions add a fresh, mild sharpness that ties everything together. It works beautifully as a golf-themed party appetizer, a game day spread centerpiece, or just a very good cheese ball for any occasion that calls for one.

Ingredients Needed to Make Pimento Cheese Golf Ball

Five ingredients plus crackers and lettuce to serve. Here’s what you need:

Cream cheese, softened (the binding base that holds the ball together and adds creaminess)
Pimento cheese, one pint (the star flavor of the whole ball; use your favorite store-bought brand or homemade)
Green onions, half a bunch, finely chopped (adds a mild, fresh sharpness throughout the mixture)
Honey roasted pecans, finely chopped (adds a sweet, toasty crunch and a Southern depth of flavor)
Dried cranberries (adds a chewy, tart sweetness that balances the savory cheese)

For Serving

Crackers of your choice
Lettuce, for the serving base

How to Make the Pimento Cheese Golf Ball

Mix, shape, chill, and serve. Here’s how it comes together.

1

Mix the Filling
In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, pimento cheese, finely chopped green onions, honey roasted pecans, and dried cranberries. Mix thoroughly until everything is evenly distributed and the cream cheese is fully incorporated with no visible streaks. The mixture will be thick and slightly sticky. If it feels too soft to shape, refrigerate for 20 minutes before proceeding.

2

Shape the Ball
Transfer the mixture onto a sheet of plastic wrap. Use your hands to shape it into one large ball, pressing and smoothing as you go. For smaller individual balls, divide the mixture before shaping. Wrap tightly in the plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up. Cold mixture shapes significantly more cleanly than room temperature, so don’t skip the chill.

3

Add the Golf Ball Texture
Once chilled and firm, unwrap the ball and place it on your serving plate. Use the back of a rounded spoon, a melon baller, or any small rounded tool to press uniform indentations across the entire surface of the ball, mimicking the dimpled texture of a golf ball. Work systematically around the whole surface so the pattern is even and the presentation is clean.

4

Serve
Place the cheese ball on a bed of lettuce on a serving plate and arrange crackers around it. Serve immediately or refrigerate covered until ready to serve.

Storing and Make-Ahead Tips

This cheese ball is an excellent make-ahead appetizer. Make it completely through Step 3, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 3 days before serving. The flavor deepens and improves overnight as the green onions and pimento cheese continue to infuse the cream cheese. Add the golf ball indentations right before serving so they look fresh and defined rather than slightly smoothed from sitting in the fridge.

Leftover cheese ball keeps well covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Serve with fresh crackers each time since the crackers will soften if left out alongside the cheese ball between servings.