Pumpkin Cheese Ball Fall Appetizer (Pumpkin-Shaped)
Pumpkin Cheese Ball is a fun and festive appetizer made with cream cheese, sharp cheddar, and fresh herbs, shaped into a pumpkin and coated for a bright orange finish. Topped with a bell pepper stem, this no-bake cheese ball is perfect for Halloween parties, Thanksgiving gatherings, or any fall celebration. Serve with crackers, pretzels, or fresh veggies for a crowd-pleasing seasonal snack.
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
- Spatula
- Plastic wrap or cling film
- Sharp Knife
- Cutting Board
- Serving platter
Ingredients
- 16 oz full fat cream cheese softened
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided
- 1 medium red bell pepper
- 4 tablespoons green onions finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Dice the red bell pepper and set aside the stem to use later.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Stir in 1 cup of cheddar cheese, the diced bell pepper, green onions, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Transfer the mixture onto a large sheet of plastic wrap and shape it into a rough ball.
- On a separate piece of plastic wrap, spread the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese evenly. Place the cheese ball in the center and roll it until fully coated in shredded cheese.
- Wrap the ball tightly and use strings or rubber bands around the wrapped ball to create pumpkin-like ridges.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours (or overnight) to firm up.
- When ready to serve, remove from the fridge and unwrap. Press the bell pepper stem into the top to resemble a pumpkin stem.
- Place on a serving platter with crackers, pretzels, or fresh veggies. Enjoy!
Notes
- Since we are making the pumpkin cheese ball recipe with cream cheese, if you notice it's getting too loose, refrigerate it for 30 minutes and then resume.
- Don’t overmix the ingredients or else the cheese will get too soft to shape into a ball.
- Use a plastic wrap to shape the ball and prevent the cheese from sticking to your hands.
- Leave the cheese ball in the refrigerator overnight. This will help bring out all the flavors and bind everything together.
- To ensure the cheese ball has a spreadable consistency, keep it at room temperature for 15 minutes prior to serving.
