Cranberry Deer Balls
Introduce your taste buds to a wild twist on comfort food with these savory-sweet Cranberry Deer Balls! This creative appetizer combines the lean, hearty flavor of ground venison with the tart pop of dried cranberries, balanced perfectly with breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and aromatic garlic. Coated in a luscious glaze made from honey, soy sauce, olive oil, and Dijon mustard, these oven-baked bites are irresistibly golden and flavorful. Ready in just 35 minutes and perfect for sharing, they’re ideal for holiday gatherings, game nights, or as a standout side dish. Serve warm alongside a tangy cranberry dipping sauce or a crisp salad to complete this rustic, gourmet experience!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground venison
- 0.5 cup Dried cranberries
- 0.5 cup Breadcrumbs
- 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 large Egg
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Honey
- 1 tablespoon Soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon Mustard, Dijon or yellow
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy clean-up.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground venison, dried cranberries, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly with your hands until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
Using your hands, shape the mixture into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet, making sure they are spaced evenly apart.
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, honey, soy sauce, and mustard to create a glaze.
Brush each venison ball generously with the glaze using a pastry brush.
Bake the venison balls in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until they are cooked through and golden brown.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cranberry deer balls rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Serve warm as a flavorful appetizer or side dish. They pair well with a cranberry dipping sauce or a salad on the side!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
421 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 17.9 g | 23% | |
| Saturated Fat | 5.6 g | 28% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 146 mg | 49% | |
| Sodium | 675 mg | 29% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 32.9 g | 12% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.9 g | 7% | |
| Total Sugars | 21.4 g | ||
| Protein | 30.5 g | 61% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.3 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 91 mg | 7% | |
| Iron | 4.8 mg | 27% | |
| Potassium | 435 mg | 9% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
