This Pumpkin-Shaped Cheeseball is made with creamy, delicious, ranch-style filling covered in cheese! It's the best! Perfect for Halloween or Thanksgiving.
AN EASY BUT IMPRESSIVE APPETIZER
I don't know about y'all but I love a good cheeseball. I mean, cheese. In a ball. Need I say more? What's not to love? Cheese and crackers are a simple treat we all love. If I see a cheeseball on any food spread, I am heading straight to it. With this recipe, I knew I wanted to create a pumpkin shaped cheeseball for all those fall festivities but I didn't necessarily want pumpkin flavor. I wanted a true cheeseball.
PUMPKIN SHAPE - NOT PUMPKIN FLAVORED
This is a delicious veggie, creamy cheeseball that is perfect served with crackers or vegetable sticks. It is an absolute hit everywhere I take it. Everyone will want the recipe - trust me!
A HUGE HIT AT EVERY PARTY
You don't even have to form it into a pumpkin shape. The taste alone will make it a hit at your next gathering. It's not just cute - it is delicious! What I love most is being able to make it ahead of time. You can get it all prepped and ready to go, wrap it in plastic wrap and pop it into the fridge. Also, it's super important to use freshly grated cheese! It is stickier than the pre-shredded kind and that helps when forming the cheeseball.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR PUMPKIN-SHAPED CHEESEBALL: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- cream cheese
- vegetable cream cheese
- Hidden Valley Spicy Ranch mix
- green onions
- red pepper
- freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
HOW TO MAKE A PUMPKIN-SHAPED CHEESEBALL:
Finely chop the red pepper and green onion. You want small pieces, not big chunks. Be sure to save the stem of the red pepper. It's going to be our pumpkin stem! I just wrap the stem up in a slightly dampened paper towel and wrap that up in some Plastic wrap and put it in the fridge until I'm ready for it.
Using an electric or stand mixer, combine both cream cheeses.
Nest, stir in 2 tablespoons of Hidden Valley Ranch Spicy Ranch mix. Note: This was not spicy in this cheeseball at all. It just gave it a small kick of flavor. You can always use the Hidden Valley Original Ranch flavor for this!
Then gently stir in green onion and red pepper.
I love the orange-ish color the Spicy Ranch Mix and red pepper adds to the mixture.
Finally, stir in one cup of shredded cheddar cheese.
Spread out a large sheet of plastic wrap. Sprinkle about a ¼ cup of the shredded cheddar cheese onto the plastic wrap.
Then top with cheeseball mixture.
Take the rest of the shredded cheddar cheese and sprinkle it onto the tops and sides of the cheese ball.
I do two layers of cling wrap. It needs to be well-wrapped and wrapped tightly.
Now, time to wrap it up with rubber bands. You can also use kitchen string for this. You will need 4 large rubber bands. This is why it's important to have a tightly wrapped cheeseball with two layers. We don't want any cheeseball mix squeezing out while we're putting on the rubber bands. (Ask me how I know.) With these rubber bands, I had to double wrap each one to get those long indentations we're looking for to make the pumpkin shape. You can also use kitchen twine for this if that makes it easier for you.
Place cheeseball into the fridge for a minimum of two hours (overnight is best.) Not only do the flavors get better as it sits, but as the mixture cools, it will help it to form that pumpkin shape. When ready, cut off the rubber bands and carefully remove the cling wrap. Then add on the red pepper stem to the top. Just gently push it in there. Serve with your favorite buttery crackers.
Got leftovers? No problem. Just pop your leftover cheeseball into a tall and large Glad entree container and you'll have it ready to snack on for later!
CRAVING MORE RECIPES? GIVE THESE A TRY!
PUMPKIN-SHAPED CHEESEBALL
Ingredients
- 8 ounce block cream cheese (softened to room temperature)
- 8 ounce tub vegetable cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons Hidden Valley Ranch Spicy Ranch mix (or regular ranch)
- 3 green onions sliced
- 1 red pepper finely diced (save the stem)
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided use
Instructions
- Using an electric or stand mixer, combine both cream cheeses.
- Then stir in 2 tablespoons of Hidden Valley Ranch Spicy Ranch mix, green onion, red pepper and one cup shredded cheddar cheese.
- Spread out a large sheet of Glad ClingWrap.
- Sprinkle about a ¼ cup of the shredded cheddar cheese onto the plastic wrap.
- Then top with cheese ball mixture.
- Take the rest of the shredded cheddar cheese and sprinkle it onto the tops and sides of the cheese ball and wrap it up well with cling wrap.
- Two layers of cling wrap work best. It needs to be well-wrapped and wrapped tightly. Now, time to wrap it up with four large and wide rubber bands.
- We don't want any cheese ball mix squeezing out while we're putting on the rubber bands. I had to double wrap each rubber band to get those long indentations we're looking for to make the pumpkin shape.
- Place cheese ball into the fridge for a minimum of two hours (overnight is best.) Not only do the flavors get better as it sits, but as the mixture cools, it will help it to form that pumpkin shape.
- When ready, cut off the rubber bands and carefully remove the cling wrap.
- Then add on the red pepper stem to the top. Just gently push it in there.
- Serve with your favorite buttery crackers.
Video
Notes
- I like to use freshly grated cheddar cheese for this. It is stickier than the bagged kind and that helps when forming the cheese ball.
Nutrition
Originally published: November 2015
Updated & republished: October 2019
Pam
Hi there,
This is my go to cheese ball for gatherings. I make the pumpkin shape for Halloween and make it into a carrot shape for Easter! Awesome recipe and everyone loves it. FYI, we don't seem to sell spicy ranch mix in Canada so I add 1/8 tsp of cayenne. Just the right amount of a little hint of a kick! Thanks for sharing! 🙂 Pam
Brandie @ The Country Cook
I love hearing that Pam - thank you so much!! I also like your idea with the cayenne - that's perfect!
Danielle
Delicious! I made this for Thanksgiving this year and everyone loved it. I put a bunch of rubber bands around my cheese ball and the creases never came out but I was able to score it with a knife and it worked out great. Thank you!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Brilliant idea with the knife! Thanks so very much Danielle - I appreciate you taking the time to come back and comment!
Joan
I'm in Canada (Ontario) and couldn't find the veggie cream cheese or spicy ranch mix. Instead of veggie cream cheese I used chive and onion, and I added 2 tsp of hot sauce. I shredded my own cheddar (old) and don't have a mixer so just brought the cream cheese to room temperature and mixed with my spatula. This is delicious! Easy to make and so much fun. Thank you for the recipe!
Marcy
Any suggestions for a substitute for the bell pepper? Thanks!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Hi Marcy, you can just leave it out. Or to spice it up, use a jalapeño pepper. 🙂
Debbie Tilger
I took this to a Thanksgiving party and it was a huge hit, plus so delicious! I used home made ranch dressing mix because of all the nasty chemicals in the store-bought kind, and just added a couple drops of Tabasco sauce. Several people asked for the recipe. Looks amazing, too!
Nataleigh
So simple, so delicious and SO impressive looking at a party!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Yay!! Thank you so much Nataleigh!!
Erin
This is awesome! I don’t like creamcheese, any recommendation for a different type of soft cheese?
How far ahead of time could I made this for a party?
Thank you!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Hi Erin, I am really not sure. I'm sorry! I've only ever made this with cream cheese. This can be made a day ahead of time. 🙂
Ginny
Can you make the cheese ball ahead of time and freeze it?
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Hi Ginny, I haven't tried freezing it so I can't say for certain. It seems like you should be able to though. As long as it is wrapped really well to protect from freezer burn.
Lona
Very easy, very good and very pretty! My friends loved it on my party last weekend. Great snack. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Woo hoo!!! Thank you so very much for coming back to comment Lona!
Amy
Any way to make this if I don’t own a mixer? I have a blender and food processor. Will that be close enough?
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Hi Amy, you could use your food processor and just pulse it together. The cheeses should be soft enough that you could mix it by hand really. 🙂
Susie
I think you are correct. I will try this next time!
SusieQ Jones
I love this recipe! I have made many times over the years. I have one question for you. Sometimes the ball seems more squishy then other times. Any tips on how I can get it to form better? I’ve tried more cheddar cheese. Any tips will be appreciated
SudieQ
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Hey Susie Q! Do you mean squishy as you make it or squishy after it's cooled and setup in the fridge for a few hours? Sometimes, it is the quality of the cream cheese. Always go with Philadelphia cream cheese brand if you can. I find theirs always sets up the best in cheeseball recipes. Hope that helps and I'm thrilled you love this one!!
Susie
I did use Philadelphia cheese and it did not set well for me. My pumpkin went flat on me. Should I not use the whole container of the vegetable one next time? I used a block of sharp cheddar and shredded it myself thinking this would help solidify it also
Brandie @ The Country Cook
That's weird... Sometimes it does it and sometimes not, huh? Maybe they've changed the recipe of the veggie cream cheese on us. I would try using less of that then, maybe it's making it too soft overall.
Jincy
I made the dip for my daughter’s trunk or treat party at school. It was such a hit, everyone loved it. It was so easy to make! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe. Next time I make it, which will be soon, I will remember to take a picture!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Woo hoo!! Thank you so much Jincy!! So happy everyone enjoyed it!!
Melissa
Delicious every time I make it! I use sharp cheddar cheese and it’s adds a little tang.
kathi
This recipe is great! I took it to a school function and it was gone within 20 minutes. Everyone asked for the recipe. I also modified it for a Christmas party, making it into a tree with parsley on the outside instead of cheese and a yellow pepper star. This cheese ball is terrific!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thank you so much Kathi! It is hands-down my favorite cheeseball recipe to make all the time. So happy you loved it!!