The Best Cheese Ball Recipe (Easy Make-Ahead Appetizer)

Ingredients

• 4 oz (½ cup) goat cheese (or 2 oz each goat cheese and blue cheese), at room temperature
• 3 oz cream cheese, (at room temperature)
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, (softened)
• ½ teaspoon hot sauce
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup chopped dates ((see note))
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped scallions, (white and green parts, from 2 to 3 scallions)
• 1/3 cup salt-and-butter roasted pecans, (chopped (see recipe below) or store-bought salted pecans)
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 2 cups pecan halves
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, (melted)
• ¾ teaspoon salt