Pumpkin Shaped Cheddar Cheese Ball – Guests will love the cute seasonal shape! There is no pumpkin in the recipe, the inside is savory smooth cheddar, cream cheese and spices. Great to eat right away and even better when made ahead!
Growing up, we always had cheese. I remember my after-school routine of grabbing a box of crackers and a hunk of cheese (Muenster anyone?) and heading to my room for homework. Still loving cheese, I always serve it whenever we have company over. It got predictable. Guests even started calling ahead to ask me what cheese I was serving…really? You know things need to change when that happens!
To spice things up, literally, I started making cheese balls. This one has an ingredient that you don’t want to substitute…smoked paprika. It makes the cheese ball taste like it’s been wood smoked , instead of plain old sharp. Once the ball is mixed and chilled, the flavors blend, the cheddar disappears into the cream cheese and you are left with a ball of smooth, spiced cheese. And it spreads easily on crackers!
This party-ready cheese ball will look great on any holiday table, but is so good you will want to make this cheese ball recipe all year long!
Pumpkin-Shaped Cheddar Cheese Ball
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 3/4 tsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp seasoned salt
- 1/8 tsp cayenne
- 1 cup pecans toasted and chopped
- 1 ounce pistachios shelled
- 1 pretzel rod
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix all of the ingredients until well blended and smooth. Form the cheese mixture into a ball. Wrap in plastic and chill until firm.
- Pour nuts onto a plate and roll the ball in the nuts until completely covered. Using your fingers or the handle of a wooden spoon, start at nearest side and create 8 indentations around the cheese ball to resemble pumpkin sections. When done, push down on the top to flatten the cheese ball slightly.
- Break a three inch section off one end of the pretzel rod. Stick the broken section into the top of the cheese ball to create a pumpkin stem. Press pistachio nuts into the top of the cheese ball around the pretzel stem. Cover in plastic and chill until serving.
