Step 1

Cream together ingredients: Mix the cream cheese, shredded cheese, and ranch seasoning packet in the bowl of a stand mixer until well combined. It is easier to shape the balls when you use cold cream cheese as opposed to room temperature.

Step 2

Divide the mix into two separate bowls and add any additional ingredients you would like or keep as one flavor and skip the dividing step.

Step 3

Bacon Pecan Cheeseball: Stir in 1/4 bacon bits. Coat the outside with 1/2 cup chopped pecans {Do not mix these in, see shaping step}

Step 4

Cranberry Almond Cheeseball: Add in 1/4 chopped dried cranberries. Coat the outside with 1/2 cup sliced almonds {Do not mix these in, see shaping step}

Step 5

Shape Cheeseballs: To shape the cheese ball, first scrape the mixture into a ball-like shape while it's still inside the bowl.

Step 6

Unwrap a piece of saran wrap and lay it on the counter. Sprinkle about half the nuts onto the saran wrap, in a small pile.

Step 7

Using a rubber scraper, scrape out the semi-shaped ball of cheese onto the top of the nuts. Now, working with one side at a time, cover the mound of cheese with a section of saran wrap and start to shape it into a ball. Just use your hands- sometimes I cover the whole thing and use both my hands to shape it.

Step 8

Unwrap it and start pressing nuts into the side. For the sliced almonds, just start placing them on to cover the outside. They won't stick more than one layer deep, so you can roll it around in them a bit, then just individually place them where there are sections missing.

Step 9

For the chopped pecans, I find it's easier to cover and shape one side, then pick up the cheese ball, sprinkle more nuts on the saran wrap and turn the cheese ball over, covering the other side. Pick it up and roll it through the nuts again to coat around the middle section.

Step 10

All the while you can continue to cover the cheese ball with sections of the plastic wrap and shape it into a ball. I say ball, but you really don't want it to be perfectly round since it needs to sit on a plate! So do the best to make it circular, then set it down with a little more force, flattening one side.

Step 11

Chill: When you have finished shaping your cheeseball, wrap it in plastic wrap and place it into the fridge to chill for at least a few hours, but preferably a day in advance. This will help it to set up and allow the flavors to meld.

Step 12

Serve: When you're ready to serve, put the cheese ball on a plate surrounded with crackers and a small knife for serving. Serve and enjoy!