Description
This Pumpkin Cheese Ball is the ultimate fall party appetizer—festive, flavorful, and shaped like a pumpkin! It’s a creamy blend of cheeses and spices, rolled in shredded cheddar or paprika for a bold orange hue, and finished with a pretzel stem. Perfect for Halloween, Thanksgiving, or cozy fall gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Extra shredded cheddar or paprika, for coating
- 1 large pretzel rod, bell pepper stem, or celery stick (for pumpkin stem)
- Assorted crackers, pretzels, or sliced vegetables for serving
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, shredded cheddar, Parmesan, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth.
- Transfer to plastic wrap and shape into a ball. Wrap tightly and refrigerate for 1–2 hours, or overnight.
- Roll the chilled cheese ball in shredded cheddar or dust with paprika until coated.
- Use twine or a butter knife to create vertical lines around the ball to mimic pumpkin ridges.
- Insert a pretzel rod, bell pepper stem, or celery stick on top as the pumpkin “stem.”
- Serve with crackers, pretzels, or veggies and enjoy!
Notes
For a spicy twist, add diced jalapeños or hot sauce. For a nutty texture, roll the cheese ball in chopped nuts before adding paprika. Make mini versions for kid-friendly servings or add edible eyes for a jack-o’-lantern look!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/10 of recipe
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 340mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 35mg