Rudolph Cheeseball
Tasty, easy and fun, this Rudolph Cheeseball recipe uses minimal ingredients and is the perfect appetizer for all your holiday festivities!
A FUN RUDOLPH APPETIZER RECIPE
How adorable is this cheeseball?! With cream cheese, cheddar cheese, everything bagel seasoning and chopped pecans, it has so much flavor. Then you just pop on some olives, pretzels and a little tomato to give it an adorable reindeer face! This recipe will be the talk of your holiday gathering, not only as a center piece but as a cute and delicious appetizer. If you are looking for something easy yet festive, then you need this Rudolph Cheeseball recipe!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Yes, you can make the cheeseball itself in advance and keep it wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for 3 days. Do not roll on the chopped pecans or decorate until you are ready to serve.
We prefer to eat this at room temperature. That way it’s not too hard where the dippers will break, but not too soft where it won’t hold it’s shape. This should only be left out for 2 hours at the most before it needs to be refrigerated again.
You can use any cheese that you’d like! Some other ones that I personally like are White Cheddar and Colby Jack or Monterey Jack. You can use freshly shredded cheese or bagged cheese.
You could use a packet of ranch seasoning (I like the fiesta ranch flavor) or you could just add in a little garlic powder or salt and some black pepper.
If you want to add more flavor to this cheeseball you can use a flavored cream cheese such as chive, garden vegetable, garlic, etc.
We like to use crackers, vegetables, pretzels, etc. You can use any of your favorite savory dippers with this.
This needs to chill for at least 4 hours but overnight is even better. This makes a great make-ahead appetizer!
This can be stored wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator where it will keep for up to 1 week. I do not recommend freezing.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- cream cheese
- cheddar cheese
- everything bagel seasoning
- pecans
- black olives (for the eyes)
- cherry tomato (for the nose)
- twisted pretzels (for the antlers)
HOW TO MAKE A RUDOLPH CHEESEBALL:
In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or with a handheld electric mixer and a bowl) mix together the cream cheese, cheddar cheese and everything bagel seasoning until smooth and combined well. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Remove cheese from the bowl. Place the cheese on a sheet of plastic wrap and shape into a ball. Cover the cheeseball completely with plastic wrap. Place the cheeseball in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight.
When the cheeseball is ready, place the finely chopped pecans on a plate. Remove the cheeseball from the plastic wrap and roll in finely chopped pecans so that all sides are fully covered.
Press on the black olives for the eyeballs, a cherry tomato for the nose, and the two pretzels on the top as the antlers.
Place the cheese ball in the center of a platter and serve with crackers or veggie sticks.
WANT MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES? YOU MUST TRY THESE!
Rudolph Cheeseball
Ingredients
- 2 (8 ounce) blocks cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon everything bagel seasoning
- 1 ½ cups finely chopped pecans
- 2 black olives, for the eyes
- 1 cherry tomato, for the nose
- 2 twisted pretzels, for the antlers
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or with a handheld electric mixer and a bowl) mix together the cream cheese, cheddar cheese and everything bagel seasoning until smooth and combined well.
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Remove cheese from the bowl. Place the cheese on a sheet of plastic wrap and shape into a ball. Cover the cheeseball completely with plastic wrap.
- Place the cheeseball in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- When the cheeseball is ready, place the finely chopped pecans on a plate. Remove the cheeseball from the plastic wrap and roll in finely chopped pecans so that all sides are fully covered.
- Press on the black olives for the eyeballs, a cherry tomato for the nose, and the two pretzels on the top as the antlers.
- Place the cheese ball in the center of a platter and serve with crackers or veggie sticks.
Notes
- Other cheese can be used, see above for ideas.
- This is best served at room temperature, but do not leave out for more than 2 hours.
- We do not recommend freezing as it will change the texture.
- Flavored cream cheese can be used.
- If you don’t like everything bagel seasoning you can use garlic salt and pepper.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
