The BEST Cheese Ball Recipe

Are you a cheese ball fan? This time of year everyone seems to pull out their favorite recipe and add it to trays and charcuterie platters. It’s the perfect appetizer for gathering season.

Whether Thanksgiving, ballgames, game nights, movie nights, or just friends or family gathering…a great cheese ball just seems to appear here.

Do you have a great cheese ball recipe?

Well, I began trying to find the best cheese ball recipe to share among the pages of the November issue of the Vue.

And…one that has been a favorite family recipe proved to be the BEST cheese ball of all.

With ingredients gathered, why not make this into a pumpkin shaped version to add to the fall and Thanksgiving season.

It was loved so much, that it’s featured on this month’s Vue magazine cover.

If you need a great fall appetizer, just in time for the holidays, this one is a keeper!

A food processor, if you have one, provides the easiest way to combine the ingredients.

Simply wrap the cheese ball in plastic wrap and use either twine or rubber bands around the ball to make indentions to make it look like a pumpkin.

Chill.

Unwrap.

Add cheese to the outside and a pepper core or sage leaves to the top to finish the pumpkin look.

Serve with your favorite crackers, nuts, peppers, etc.

Here’s the cheese ball recipe-

The BEST Cheese Ball Recipe

A delicious cheese ball recipe that is perfect to form into a pumpkin to add festivity to a grazing or appetizer tray.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Servings 1 cheese ball

Equipment

• 1 food processor optional, but makes blending easier
• plastic wrap
• 1 cutting board
• 1 chef's knife
• 1 set Measuring cups/spoons

Ingredients

  

• 2 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 2 C grated cheddar cheese
• 1 C pecans, finely chopped
• 2 T green, red or yellow pepper, diced
• 2 T onion, finely diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 T Worcestershire sauce
• 1 t lemon juice
• 1/2 t smoked paprika
• 1/2 t garlic powder
• 1/4 t salt
• 1/4 t freshly ground black pepper
• 1 dash cayenne pepper
• more grated cheese, chopped nuts or paprika for outside coating to give the illusion of a pumpkin
• twisted pretzel stick, or pepper stem and sage leaves to finish stem and leaves for pumpkin

Instructions

 

• Add ingredients to a food processor, (or bowl if mixing by hand), and mix well.
• Form into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap and chill for a few hours or overnight.
  
• Remove the ball from the fridge and wrap the pumpkin on the outside of the plastic wrap with either twine or rubber bands, giving it the illusion of a pumpkin.
  
• Chill again.
• When ready to serve, remove from the fridge and remove the twine and plastic wrap. Cover with more grated cheese, nuts, or paprika to give it the look of a pumpkin.
• If needed, use the back edge of a knife to add more depth to pumpkin indentions after adding the finishing garnish.
• Add a stem of a pepper or a twisted pretzel stick and sage leaves to complete the pumpkin.
  
• Serve with your favorite seasonal crackers or nuts.

Notes

A delicious recipe that makes a great pumpkin cheese ball for fall or holiday gatherings.

Keyword appetizer cheese ball, cheese ball, cheese ball recipe, perfect cheese ball recipe, pumpkin cheese ball

Perfect addition to your holiday gatherings. Hope you love this recipe as much as I do.

It’s a KEEPER!

If you need other recipes to add to your gatherings, these are some of my favorites:

• Nuts and bolts
• Charcuterie wreath
• Spicy goldfish

Happy Fall gathering, friends!