How to Make a Pumpkin Shaped Cheeseball
This pumpkin shaped cheeseball is easy to make! It’s the perfect appetizer for any fall or Halloween party.
A pumpkin-shaped cheese ball is quick and easy to make and the perfect appetizer to take to your next fall get together. This recipe has only 4 ingredients but is packed with flavor. The secret to this savory, delicious cheeseball is the Everything Bagel Seasoning. Not only does the seasoning give the cheeseball a beautiful, harvest-like appearance, but it is bursting with flavor.
Why you’ll love about this cheeseball:
Just 4 ingredients
How to Make a Pumpkin Shaped Cheeseball
- Remove the cream cheese from the refrigerator and set it on the counter for 1-2 hours or until it reaches room temperature and becomes soft.
- Add cream cheese and shredded cheddar to a mixing bowl and beat together using the paddle attachment until well combined. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl.
- Transfer the cream cheese mixture onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Fold plastic wrap around the entire cheese mixture to completely cover it. Use your hands to shape into a ball shape.
- Pour Everything Bagel Seasoning into the bottom of a plate. Remove the plastic wrap from the cheese ball, place it on the plate, and roll it around on top of the seasoning until the outside of the cheese ball is completely covered.
- Use the back of a butter knife to score vertical grooves into the cheeseball to give the appearance of a pumpkin.
- Stick a cinnamon stick into the top of the cheese ball to make the stem. Place cheese ball on a platter and serve with crackers or vegetables.
Another Way to Make the Pumpkin Groves
- After covering the cream cheese ball with Everything Bagel Seasoning, wrap it back up in a clean large piece of plastic.
- Cut 3-4 pieces of kitchen twine long enough to fit around the cream cheese ball. Tie each piece snugly around the cheese ball to form the vertical grooves. Space them out to resemble the grooves on a pumpkin. You can also use 3-4 thick rubber bands to get this effect.
- Place the tied and wrapped cheese ball into the refrigerator until ready to serve. Be sure to press it down a little to form a flat base so your cheese ball will stand properly when hardened.
- When you’re ready to serve it, remove the twine and plastic, place the stem, and place the cheese ball on a serving platter.
What to serve with a cheeseball:
There are so many things you can serve with this cheeseball. I like to include a variety of sturdy crackers and some veggies for those looking for a healthier or low-carb option. Here are a few ideas for you:
- Crackers such as Wheat Thins, Sesame crackers, Ritz, or Multi-Grain
- Bagel chips
- Corn chips
- Tortilla chips
- Vegetables like carrot sticks, cucumber slices, celery sticks or bell peppers
- Pita chips
Cheeseball Mix-Ins and Variations
Add mix-ins to this simple recipe for variations in taste. Here are some ingredients you can add:
- Ranch dressing mix
- Bacon bits
- Chili powder
- Garlic powder
- Chopped nuts
- Chopped pepperoni
- Poppy seeds
- Chopped green onions or chives
- Chopped bell pepper
- Use parmesan cheese instead of cheddar
- Worcestershire sauce
- Add 2 teaspoons paprika to the pumpkin cheeseball recipe to give it a nice orange color.
- Use onion cream cheese instead of plain.
Tips & Tricks
- Freshly shredded cheese will incorporate better than pre-shredded cheese.
- Double the recipe to make a larger cheeseball.
- Use flavored cream cheese to easily add more flavor with no extra work on your part.
- If you don’t have a cinnamon stick you can use other things for the stem such as a piece of green onion, broccoli stalk, bell pepper stem, or even a real pumpkin stem.
- Make it 1-2 days ahead and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
The Perfect Fall Appetizer
This pumpkin cheese ball recipe is one of my favorite things to make with the arrival of fall. Not only does it bring great flavor to any table, but the adorable pumpkin shape turns an ordinary cheese ball into the star of your fall party. It’s so much fun to see guests’ reactions to these mini pumpkin cheese balls, which look just like little pumpkins!
The next time you’re hosting a gathering or looking for a festive snack, remember this delightful recipe. It perfectly captures the essence of this time of year and adds a special touch to your celebration. The shape of a pumpkin not only makes it visually appealing but also sparks conversations and compliments from everyone who sees it.
So, give this pumpkin-shaped cheese ball a try and enjoy the flavors and fun that come with the season. It’s an easy way to make your fall gatherings even more memorable, and I bet you’ll want to make it a recurring treat for every fall celebration. Happy fall, and enjoy your festive cheese ball!
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Pumpkin Shaped Cheeseball
Ingredients
- 8 oz Cream cheese softened
- 2 cups Cheddar cheese shredded
- ½ cup Everything Bagel Seasoning
- 1 Cinnamon stick
Instructions
- Take the cream cheese out of the refrigerator and allow to soften for 1-2 hours.
- Add cream cheese and shredded cheddar to a mixing bowl and beat together using the paddle attachment until well combined.
- Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl.
- Transfer the cheese mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap.
- Fold plastic wrap around the entire cheese mixture to completely cover it. Use your hands to shape into a ball shape.
- Pour Everything Bagel Seasoning into the bottom of a plate. Remove the plastic wrap from the cheese ball, place on the plate, and roll it around on top of the seasoning until it’s completely covered.
- Use the back of a butter knife to score lines into the cheeseball to give the appearance of a pumpkin.
- Stick a cinnamon stick on top for the stem.
- Serve with crackers or vegetables.
Notes
- Crackers such as Wheat Thins, Sesame crackers, Ritz, or Multi-Grain.
- Bagel chips
- Corn chips
- Tortilla chips
- Vegetables like carrot sticks, cucumber slices, celery sticks or bell peppers.
- Pita wedges
- Ranch dressing mix
- Bacon bits
- Chili powder
- Chopped nuts
- Chopped pepperoni
- Chopped green onions or chives
- Chopped bell pepper
Tips & Tricks
- Freshly shredded cheese will incorporate better than pre-shredded cheese.
- Double the recipe to make a larger cheeseball.
- Use flavored cream cheese to easily add more flavor with no extra work on your part.
- If you don’t have a cinnamon stick you can use other things for the stem such as a piece of green onion, broccoli stems, bell pepper stems, or even a real pumpkin stem.
- Make it 1-2 days ahead and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
