Description
This festive Reindeer Cheese Ball is a delightful and eye-catching appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. Creamy and flavorful, it combines cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and ranch seasoning, shaped into a ball, and decorated with pecans, pretzels, olives, and a cherry tomato to resemble a reindeer. It’s easy to prepare ahead and sure to impress your guests with both its taste and whimsical presentation.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Ball Mixture
- 2 (8 ounce) blocks cream cheese, softened at room temperature
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 8 ounce block medium cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2–3 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix
Decorations
- 2 cups roughly chopped pecans
- 2 medium pitted black olives, for the eyes
- 1 cherry tomato, for the nose
- 2 regular sized pretzels, for the antlers (e.g., Snyder’s Olde Tyme Pretzels)
Instructions
- Mix Cream Cheese and Sour Cream: In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the softened cream cheese and sour cream together until smooth and well incorporated. This step ensures a creamy base for the cheese ball.
- Add Cheddar and Ranch Seasoning: Mix in the shredded cheddar cheese and ranch seasoning mix. Start with two tablespoons of ranch seasoning, then taste and add a third tablespoon if more flavor is desired. Beat again until everything is evenly combined.
- Shape and Chill the Cheese Ball: Lay a large sheet of plastic wrap on a flat surface and pour the cheese mixture onto it. Use the plastic wrap to help shape the mixture into a ball, twist the wrap tightly to hold the shape, then refrigerate for at least 4 to 6 hours, or overnight for best results. This chilling step lets the cheese firm up and hold shape.
- Coat with Pecans: When ready to serve, remove the cheese ball from the refrigerator and transfer it to a serving plate or shallow bowl filled with chopped pecans. Press the nuts firmly all around the cheese ball to coat it evenly.
- Decorate the Reindeer: Attach two pretzels on top for the antlers by pressing them into the cheese ball until secure. Use two black olives for the eyes and one cherry tomato for the nose, securing them with toothpicks or pretzel sticks if needed.
- Serve: Surround the cheese ball with crackers and optionally garnish with fresh herbs for a festive touch. Enjoy this charming and tasty appetizer at your holiday party!
Notes
- Storage: After decorating, it’s best to enjoy the cheese ball fresh. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days if decorations are removed and the cheese ball is wrapped tightly or kept in an airtight container.
- Softening the cream cheese at room temperature greatly ease mixing and results in a smoother cheese ball.
- For a stronger ranch flavor, adjust seasoning gradually and remember the taste intensifies as the cheese ball chills.
- Use toothpicks or pretzel sticks to secure decorations if the cheese ball is handled or transported.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/12 of cheese ball with nuts
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 230mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
