Description
This Snowman Cheese Ball is just the cutest little Christmas appetizer or snack! It’s fun, festive and absolutely perfect for holiday entertaining. Plus, underneath that adorable snowman situation is a super tasty homemade cheese ball that disappears fast!
Ingredients
Scale
For the cheese ball mixture:
- 2 bricks/blocks full-fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature (16 oz/500g)
- 1 cup shredded smoked gouda
- ½ cup crispy bacon bits (about 6 slices, cooked extra crispy then cooled and crumbled or chopped)
- ¼ cup chopped toasted pine nuts or pecans
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
For the snowman details:
- 1 ½ – 2 cups finely grated white cheddar cheese
- 1 small or baby carrot
- 3-4 black olives
- 1 pretzel rod
- 1 slice prosciutto
Instructions
- Make the cheese ball mixture: In a large bowl, beat together all the cheese ball mixture ingredients until well combined or use a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (so quick and easy!).
- Divide and shape into balls: Divide the mixture into two parts – about 1/3 for the snowman head and 2/3 for the body. Slightly wet your hands and roll each portion into a ball or use a piece of plastic wrap to shape them without the mess. Wrap each ball tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or up to 3 days).
- Coat in “snow”: Pour the finely grated white cheddar into a shallow bowl or plate. Unwrap your chilled cheese balls and roll each one in the cheese, using your hand to press it on so it sticks and looks like a snowball.
- Assemble the snowman body: Once they’re fully coated, place the larger ball on your serving platter and set the smaller one above to form your snowman shape.
- Add the cute snowman details: Now for the fun part – bringing your snowman to life!
- Nose: Slice off the thin tip of a carrot (or cut out a carrot-shaped nose piece).
- Eyes, mouth and buttons: Cut little circles out of black olives. I like to slice off the ends and sides to make flat surfaces and then use two different stainless steel straws to punch out the circles (a wide straw for the eyes and buttons and a regular sized one for the tiny mouth dots).
- Arms: Break a pretzel rod in half and press each piece into the sides of the body.
- Scarf: Wrap a strip of prosciutto around the neck.
- Optional snow: If you want, sprinkle any extra grated white cheddar around the base for a snowy effect.
- Serve: Serve with a variety of crackers, crusty bread or veggies like celery sticks, cucumber slices and mini peppers.
Notes
- Substitutes for the olives: For the snowman’s eyes, mouth and buttons, I used two different sized straws to punch out little circles from black olives. But if olives aren’t your thing, no worries. Whole black peppercorns work too (just pull them off before eating if you don’t love biting into one – this is why I opted for the black olives). Dried cranberries or currants are another option.
- White cheddar substitutions: The cheese balls get rolled in finely grated white cheddar to give that snowy look but you can use any finely grated white cheese you like.
- Try different “arms”: I used a pretzel rod snapped in half for the snowman arms. Some other options include grissini breadsticks, celery sticks, rosemary sprigs or any type of long thinner cracker.
- Swap the carrot nose: A little triangle cut from an orange bell pepper works too.
- Change up the scarf: I used a strip of prosciutto for the scarf but you can swap it out for roasted red pepper slices, green onion, basil or spinach leaves instead.
- Make it vegetarian: Just leave out the bacon bits in the cheese ball mixture and choose one of the veggie-friendly scarf options above.
