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Rudolph Christmas Cheese Ball Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 3.9 from 61 reviews
  • Author: admin
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: 10 servings
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: American

Description

Create a festive Rudolph Christmas Cheese Ball that’s perfect for holiday gatherings. This fun and easy no-bake appetizer combines creamy cream cheese, sharp cheddar, and tangy ranch seasoning, all rolled in crunchy chopped pecans. Decorated with pretzel antlers, olive eyes, and a cherry tomato nose, this cheese ball is as adorable as it is delicious. Serve with crackers for a crowd-pleasing party treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Cheese Ball Base

  • 16 Ounces Cream Cheese (room temperature)
  • 2 ½ Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
  • 1 ounce Ranch Seasoning Mix

Coating

  • 1 Cup Chopped Pecans

Decorations

  • 2 Black Olives
  • 1 Cherry Tomato
  • 2 Regular Pretzels (not mini)

Optional Serving

  • Ritz Crackers or your favorite crackers

Instructions

  1. Mix Ingredients: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the room temperature cream cheese, ranch seasoning mix, and shredded cheddar cheese. Mix thoroughly until well blended.
  2. Form Ball: Using gloves if preferred, roll the cheese mixture into a compact ball shape.
  3. Chill Cheese Ball: Wrap the formed ball tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 4 hours or until firm enough to handle.
  4. Prepare Nuts: Place the chopped pecans into a small cereal bowl, breaking up any larger pieces to ensure even coating.
  5. Coat Cheese Ball: With gloves if desired, scoop pecans into your hand and press them firmly onto the chilled cheese ball, covering all sides except the flat bottom so the ball can sit properly.
  6. Make Antlers: Break two regular-sized pretzels in half, removing the small center pieces from the best sections to resemble antlers. Alternatively, use whole pretzels if you prefer.
  7. Attach Antlers: Insert one pretzel antler into the top left side of the cheese ball and the other into the top right side.
  8. Insert Toothpicks: Push toothpicks into the front of the cheese ball for eyes and nose, leaving the pointed ends slightly exposed for attaching decorations.
  9. Add Eyes: Cut both black olives in half; use the halves without large holes as eyes. Carefully attach each olive half onto the toothpicks by pressing the thickest inside edge onto the toothpick.
  10. Add Nose: Attach the cherry tomato to a toothpick and gently insert it into the cheese ball where the nose should be, nestling it closely for a natural look.
  11. Serve: Place the completed Rudolph cheese ball on a platter and serve alongside your favorite crackers such as Ritz. Enjoy the festive and delicious appetizer!

Notes

  • The cheese ball will firm up after chilling but should still be pliable enough to shape and coat.
  • Optional gloves help keep hands clean during shaping and decorating.
  • You can substitute pecans with other nuts like walnuts or almonds based on preference or availability.
  • To make cleanup easier, shape the cheese ball on parchment paper before chilling.
  • For a stronger ranch flavor, add a bit more ranch seasoning as desired.
  • Be gentle when adding olive eyes to avoid breaking them.

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Find it online: https://tastyfoodfix.com/rudolph-christmas-cheese-ball-recipe/