Reindeer Cheese Ball Recipe
This festive Reindeer Cheese Ball is a delightful and crowd-pleasing appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. Creamy cream cheese is combined with sharp cheddar, tangy sour cream, and flavorful ranch seasoning, then shaped into a fun reindeer form adorned with pecans, pretzels, olives, and a cherry tomato. Chilled to perfection, it’s served with crackers for a tasty and charming starter.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes (including chilling time)
- Yield: 1 cheese ball, serves 8-10 as an appetizer 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Ball Mixture
- 16 ounces cream cheese (2 blocks), softened at room temperature
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- 8 ounces medium cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2–3 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix
Coating and Decoration
- 2 cups pecans, roughly chopped
- 2 medium pitted black olives (for the eyes)
- 1 cherry tomato (for the nose)
- 2 regular sized pretzels (for the antlers)
Instructions
- Mix Cream Cheese and Sour Cream: In the large bowl of an electric mixer, beat the softened cream cheese and sour cream together until smooth, creating a creamy base for the cheese ball.
- Add Cheddar and Seasoning: Mix in the shredded cheddar cheese and 2 tablespoons of ranch seasoning mix; beat until well combined. Taste and add an additional tablespoon of ranch seasoning if desired for more flavor. Keep in mind the flavors will intensify as the ball chills.
- Shape and Chill: Transfer the cheese mixture onto a large sheet of plastic wrap. Use the wrap to form the mixture into a smooth ball, then twist and seal the plastic wrap tightly. Refrigerate for 4-6 hours, or preferably overnight, so the cheese can firm up and the flavors can meld.
- Coat with Pecans: Remove the chilled cheese ball from the refrigerator and unwrap it carefully. Place it onto a large platter filled with chopped pecans and press the nuts gently all around the cheese ball to coat its surface evenly.
- Add Reindeer Features: Insert two pretzels into the top of the cheese ball to resemble antlers, pressing them firmly so they stand upright. Use toothpicks to attach two pitted black olives for eyes and a cherry tomato for the nose, completing the reindeer look.
- Serve: Arrange crackers around the platter and serve the cheese ball as a fun and festive appetizer for holiday parties or gatherings.
Notes
- For best flavor, refrigerate the cheese ball overnight to let the seasoning meld.
- Use softened cream cheese to make mixing easier and achieve a smooth texture.
- Chop pecans roughly for a nice crunchy coating, but feel free to substitute with walnuts or almonds if preferred.
- The number of ranch seasoning tablespoons can be adjusted depending on your taste preference for seasoning intensity.
- The pretzel antlers work best with sturdy pretzels that can stand upright without breaking.
- Make sure to secure the eyes and nose firmly with toothpicks to keep them in place while serving.
Keywords: cheese ball, holiday appetizer, Christmas appetizer, reindeer cheese ball, cream cheese appetizer, festive party food
Find it online: https://leofoster.com/reindeer-cheese-ball-recipe/
