Description

This Pumpkin Cheese Ball is a festive and creamy appetizer perfect for fall gatherings. Combining softened cream cheese, chive & onion spread, and sharp cheddar, this cheese ball is shaped and decorated to resemble a pumpkin, making it both delicious and visually appealing. It’s simple to prepare and a great centerpiece for any party platter.

Ingredients

Scale

Cheese Ball Mixture

8 oz cream cheese, softened
7.5 oz container of chive & onion cream cheese spread
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
1 ¼ cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated, divided
⅓ cup sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated (for coating)

Decoration

1 stem from a bell pepper (for pumpkin stem)

Instructions

Mix the Cheese Base: In a mixing bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, chive & onion cheese spread, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and 1 ¼ cups of the shredded sharp cheddar cheese until well combined and smooth.
Prepare the Wrapping Surface: Lay a double layer of cling wrap on the counter, making sure it’s long enough to completely wrap around the cheese ball.
Create the Cheese Bed: Sprinkle ⅓ cup of shredded cheddar cheese onto the cling wrap where the bottom of the cheese ball will sit, this helps keep it from sticking and adds extra texture.
Form the Cheese Ball: Place the cheese mixture over the cheese bed, and then cover the top and sides with the remaining shredded sharp cheddar cheese, pressing gently to adhere.
Wrap and Shape: Carefully wrap the cheese ball in the cling wrap and press to form a round ball shape.
Create Pumpkin Ridges: Use thick rubber bands to double wrap around the cheese ball to create pumpkin-like ridges. Gently press to help form the shape, referring to photos for guidance if available.
Chill: Refrigerate the wrapped cheese ball for at least 2 hours to allow it to firm up and hold its shape. After chilling, remove the rubber bands carefully.
Add Final Touch: Top the cheese ball with a bell pepper stem to resemble the pumpkin stem and serve chilled with your crackers of choice.

Notes

Make sure the cream cheese is softened for easier mixing.
The rubber bands create the indentations for the pumpkin ridges, but do not apply too much pressure to avoid breaking the ball.
Use a bell pepper stem for a safe, edible decoration that resembles a pumpkin stem.
Serve the cheese ball with a variety of crackers, pretzels, or vegetable sticks for dipping.
Keep the cheese ball refrigerated until just before serving to maintain its shape and freshness.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American

Keywords: pumpkin cheese ball, cheese ball, fall appetizer, party appetizer, cream cheese ball, cheddar cheese ball, holiday appetizer, no baking appetizer