MAPLE PECAN CHEESE BALL

Maple Pecan Cheese Ball image

Provided by @MakeItYours

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 (8oz) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup whole pecans (or walnuts)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon mustard powder
3 tablespoons maple syrup, divided

Steps:

Melt butter in a medium-sized pan on medium heat. Once butter begins to bubble, add pecans, brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Pour pecans onto a sheet of parchment paper and spread evenly to cool. Transfer cooled candied pecans to a food processor and pulse until chopped into small pieces. If you do not have a food processor, place nuts into a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin or kitchen mallet. Pour crushed nuts onto a plate or into a bowl. In a small bowl, mix room temperature cream cheese with onion powder, garlic powder, mustard powder, and 1 ½ tablespoons maple syrup until well combined. Gather cheese and roll into a ball. Roll cheese ball into the nut mixture until cheese is covered with candied pecans. To serve, place cheese ball in the center of a serving plate and drizzle it with remaining 1½ teaspoons maple syrup. Surround maple pecan cheese ball with a variety of crackers or toasted pieces of bread.