Description
Mini Pumpkin Cheese Balls are a festive and flavorful appetizer combining creamy cream cheese and sharp cheddar, mixed with roasted red peppers and spices, then rolled in colorful coatings like crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos, paprika, and black sesame seeds. Decorated with pretzel sticks and parsley to resemble pumpkins, these bite-sized cheese balls are perfect for parties and gatherings.
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 (halved)
- Fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
- Assorted crackers for serving
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium bowl, add the softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, finely chopped roasted red peppers, green onions, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon until the mixture is evenly combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Chill Mixture: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the cheese mixture for about 1 hour to firm up and allow flavors to meld.
- Prepare Coatings: Arrange the crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos, paprika, and black sesame seeds each on separate small plates or shallow dishes.
- Form Cheese Balls: Using a tablespoon measuring scoop, scoop out portions of the chilled cheese mixture. Roll each portion into a small, smooth ball and place on a plate. Repeat until all mixture is used.
- Roll in Coatings: Roll each cheese ball in one of the prepared coatings, ensuring they are evenly coated. Set the coated balls aside on a serving plate.
- Create Pumpkin Design: Using a wooden skewer, gently press vertical marks along the sides and a horizontal mark on the top of each cheese ball to mimic the ridges of a pumpkin.
- Add Pumpkin Stem and Garnish: Insert half of a pretzel stick into the top center of each cheese ball to serve as the pumpkin stem. Garnish with a small parsley leaf nearby or attached as a pumpkin leaf decoration.
- Serve or Store: Refrigerate the mini pumpkin cheese balls until ready to serve. Serve with assorted crackers as an appetizer.
Notes
- You can use one or multiple coatings to add different textures and colors; crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos provide the best pumpkin color and flavor.
- To crush Doritos, place them in a sealed plastic bag and gently smash with a rolling pin until fine crumbs form.
- Make sure the roasted red peppers are well drained and patted dry to prevent excess moisture.
- For a sharper pumpkin look, apply the skewer marks gently to avoid breaking the cheese balls.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mini cheese ball
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
