Description
These Mini Pumpkin Cheese Balls are a festive and flavorful appetizer perfect for fall gatherings and parties. Soft cream cheese blended with sharp cheddar, roasted red peppers, and spices is rolled into bite-sized balls, coated with colorful toppings like crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos, paprika, and black sesame seeds, and decorated to resemble little pumpkins with pretzel stick stems and parsley leaves. They’re creamy, tangy, and visually delightful, offering a fun and easy crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Ball Mixture
- 2 packages (16 ounces total) cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup finely chopped roasted red peppers, drained and patted dry
- 3 green onions, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Salt and pepper to taste
Coatings
- Crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos
- Paprika
- Black sesame seeds
Garnish
- 20 pretzel sticks (for pumpkin stems)
- Fresh flat-leaf parsley (small leaves for garnish)
- Assorted crackers for serving
Instructions
- Mix the Cheese Ball Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, grated cheddar cheese, finely chopped roasted red peppers, green onions, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Stir well with a wooden spoon until the mixture is evenly combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Chill the Mixture: Cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate the cheese mixture for about one hour to firm up, making it easier to form balls.
- Prepare Coatings: Place your chosen coatings—crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos, paprika, and black sesame seeds—onto small plates. This adds texture, flavor, and color variety to the cheese balls.
- Shape the Cheese Balls: Use a tablespoon measuring scoop to portion out the cheese mixture. Roll each portion gently between your palms to form smooth balls. Set the formed balls on a plate as you go.
- Apply the Coatings: Roll each cheese ball in one of the prepared coatings until evenly covered. This adds visual appeal and enhances the flavor.
- Create the Pumpkin Detail: Use a wooden skewer to gently press vertical lines along the sides of each ball and across the top to mimic the ridges of a pumpkin.
- Add Stems and Garnish: Insert half of a pretzel stick into the top center of each cheese ball to resemble a pumpkin stem. Top with a small leaf of fresh flat-leaf parsley to complete the look.
- Chill Before Serving: Refrigerate the decorated cheese balls until you’re ready to serve. Arrange them on a platter with assorted crackers for a festive appetizer.
Notes
- You can customize the coatings as you like; using multiple coatings adds texture and color variety, but a single coating of crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos provides excellent flavor and vibrant orange color perfect for the pumpkin theme.
- To crush Doritos evenly, place them in a plastic bag and gently smash with a rolling pin until they become fine crumbs.
- Be sure to drain and pat dry the roasted red peppers thoroughly to prevent the cheese mixture from becoming too wet.
- These cheese balls can be prepared a day in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator.
- Serve with an assortment of crackers to complement the creamy cheese balls.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mini cheese ball
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
