Description
These Mini Pumpkin Cheese Balls are adorable, flavorful bite-sized appetizers perfect for fall gatherings or holiday parties. Creamy cream cheese and sharp cheddar combine with roasted red peppers and green onions, seasoned with garlic powder and cayenne for a subtle kick. Rolled into small balls and coated with crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos, paprika, and black sesame seeds, they’re garnished with pretzel sticks and parsley to resemble little pumpkins—making them both festive and delicious.
Ingredients
Units
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
- Fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
- Assorted crackers for serving
Instructions
- Mix the Cheese Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, grated cheddar cheese, finely chopped roasted red peppers, finely chopped green onions, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture is thoroughly and evenly combined. Season with salt and pepper to your preference.
- Chill the Mixture: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for about one hour to allow the flavors to meld and the mixture to firm up for easy handling.
- Prepare the Coatings: Spread your chosen coatings—crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos, paprika, and black sesame seeds—on separate small plates. To crush the Doritos, place them in a plastic bag and crush finely with a rolling pin until they resemble fine crumbs.
- Form Cheese Balls: Using a tablespoon measuring scoop, portion out the chilled cheese mixture and roll each portion into a small ball using your hands. Place the formed balls on a clean plate as you go.
- Coat the Cheese Balls: Roll each cheese ball thoroughly in one of the prepared coatings to cover evenly, then set aside on a serving plate.
- Create Pumpkin Appearance: Use a wooden skewer to gently press vertical lines around the side of each cheese ball and a horizontal line across the top to mimic the ridges of a pumpkin. Insert half of a pretzel stick into the center top of each ball to act as the pumpkin stem.
- Garnish and Serve: Add a small fresh parsley leaf near the pretzel stick on each cheese ball for a leaf effect. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve alongside assorted crackers.
Notes
- You can use any combination of coatings or all three to add texture and color contrast to the cheese balls.
- If using only one coating, crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos are recommended for their vibrant color and flavor that complements the pumpkin theme.
- To crush the Doritos easily, place them in a sturdy plastic zip bag and use a rolling pin or heavy object to crush into fine crumbs.
- The pretzel sticks serve as edible pumpkin stems and can be replaced with other similar sticks if desired.
- For best results, keep the cheese balls refrigerated until serving to maintain shape and freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cheese ball
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
