Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball Recipe Easy Perfect Fall Entertaining Snack
A festive and creamy pumpkin shaped cheese ball perfect for fall entertaining, combining sharp cheddar, cream cheese, pumpkin puree, and warm spices for a crowd-pleasing appetizer.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- 1 tbsp honey
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (for rolling the cheese ball)
- Fresh chives or parsley for garnish
- Small pretzel sticks or celery sticks (for pumpkin stems)
Instructions
- Soften the cream cheese by leaving it out at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar, and canned pumpkin puree. Blend until uniform and creamy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in pumpkin pie spice, garlic powder, smoked paprika (if using), honey, salt, and pepper. Mix well and taste to balance flavors.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 30 minutes to firm up the mixture.
- Remove the mixture and shape it into a rough ball about 6 inches in diameter on a plate lined with parchment paper.
- Using the back of a butter knife or toothpick, gently press vertical lines around the ball to mimic pumpkin grooves.
- Spread chopped pecans or walnuts on a shallow plate and roll the cheese ball gently to coat the surface.
- Insert a small pretzel stick or celery stick into the top center of the ball as the pumpkin stem. Trim celery sticks to 1-2 inches.
- Sprinkle finely chopped chives or parsley around the base for garnish. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
Notes
If mixture is too soft to shape, add more shredded cheddar or chill longer. If too firm, let sit at room temperature before shaping. Use damp hands to prevent sticking. Rolling in nuts adds texture and flavor; substitute with crushed pretzels or toasted seeds for nut allergies. Chill at least 1 hour before serving to firm up and meld flavors.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/8 of the che
- Calories: 180
- Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Protein: 8
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