Pumpkin Cheese Ball
Are you looking for a special treat to add to your Halloween snack tray or Thanksgiving appetizers? This Pumpkin Cheese Ball is perfect for any fall gathering. I made a few of these recently to add to a charcuterie table at a family celebration. They are tasty and festive, and will certainly add some style to your fall get-togethers!
Take snacking to the next level with this fun cheese ball. Pumpkin Cheese Balls are made with cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, diced sweet yellow peppers, bacon bits and Ranch seasoning to make a savory, seasonal cheese ball that looks pretty and tastes great. It all comes together in under 20 minutes and you’ll just love the comments you get from your guests.
Do I need a mold to make a Pumpkin Cheese Ball?
No, you do not need a mold. There is no special equipment needed for this recipe, other than a piece of string. Simply mix together your ingredients in a large bowl. Then divide the mixture and form two large cheese balls.
Once they are round and smooth, roll them in finely grated cheddar cheese and wrap each ball in plastic wrap. Press down slightly on each ball to make it more of a disc shape. Use kitchen string or yarn to make the indentations on each disc/pumpkin, pulling on the string tightly to make the lines.
Then, place the cheese balls in the refrigerator to harden overnight. When ready to serve, carefully remove the yarn and the plastic wrap. Place the cheese balls on your snack tray or charcuterie board. Add a pretzel stick and a spinach leaf to garnish the top of each pumpkin. And add a cheese knife to the tray before serving. This recipe makes two cheese balls.
Pumpkin Cheese Ball Recipe
What’s needed:
- 16 ounces cream cheese, 2 packages
- 1 ounce packet dry Ranch Dressing mix
- 1 yellow pepper, diced
- 6 ounces bacon bits
- 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, finely grated
How to make a Pumpkin Cheese Ball?
- Mix together the first 4 ingredients and 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese in a large bowl until combined.
- Place one cup of shredded cheddar in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely grated. Pour the cheese onto a plate.
- Divide the cream cheese mixture in half and form two large cheese balls. Once they are packed together into a round shape and smooth, roll them in finely grated cheddar cheese and wrap each ball in plastic wrap. Press down slightly on each ball to make it more of a disc shape.
- Using kitchen string or yarn, tie it around the pumpkin to make the indentations on each one, pulling on the string tightly to make the lines. Turn the pumpkin and tie around 3 times to make 6 bumps on your cheese ball. Repeat on the second ball.
- Place the cheese balls in the refrigerator to harden overnight. When ready to serve, carefully remove the yarn and the plastic wrap and place the cheese balls on your snack tray or charcuterie board.
- Add a pretzel stick and a spinach leaf to garnish the top of each pumpkin. You can also add the stem from the top of a pepper for the stem on the pumpkin. Add a cheese knife to the tray before serving. This recipe makes two cheese balls. There are 12 servings in each ball.
For more delicious fall appetizers and snacks, check out these recipes:
Pumpkin Cheese Ball
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese, 2 8-ounce packages
- 1 ounce dry Ranch Dressing or Dip mix
- 1 yellow pepper, diced
- 6 ounces bacon bits
- 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, finely grated
Instructions
- Mix together the first 4 ingredients and 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese in a large bowl until combined.
- Place the last cup of shredded cheddar in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely grated. Pour the cheese onto a plate.
- Divide the cream cheese mixture in half and form two large cheese balls. Once they are packed together into a round shape and smooth, roll them in finely grated cheddar cheese and wrap each ball in plastic wrap. Press down slightly on each ball to make it more of a disc shape.
- Using kitchen string or yarn, tie it around the pumpkin to make the indentations on each one, pulling on the string tightly to make the lines. Turn the pumpkin and tie around 3 times to make 6 bumps on your cheese ball. Repeat on the second ball.
- Place the cheese balls in the refrigerator to harden overnight. When ready to serve, carefully remove the yarn and the plastic wrap and place the cheese balls on your snack tray or charcuterie board.
- Add a pretzel stick and a spinach leaf to garnish the top of each pumpkin. You can also add the stem from the top of a pepper as the stem for the pumpkin cheese ball. Add a cheese knife to the tray for serving. This recipe makes two cheese balls. There are 12 servings in each ball.