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Pumpkin Shaped Easy Savory Cheese Ball Recipe 

A classic cheese ball recipe has to be my all-time favorite party appetizer. It’s creamy and slightly spicy with tons of cheese, nuts, and umami flavor! And when the holidays roll around, you can be sure we will find a place for this tasty “dip” to grace the table. (Probably multiple times!) I wanted to add a little festivity to this already delicious spread by shaping it into a pumpkin for Halloween. CUTE, RIGHT?! This Pumpkin Shaped Easy Savory Cheese Ball Recipe will be your go-to for the upcoming Halloween festivities. I’m sure of it!

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Pumpkin Shaped Easy Savory Cheese Ball Recipe on a cutting board surrounded by crackers.

This easy cheese ball recipe is an old family favorite my brother has perfected over the years. You see, many people like to make sweet cheese balls or appetizers with pineapple and fruit (which are okay). But this homemade cheese ball is incredibly savory. (It’s my preference, for sure!)

The potted meat adds a nice meaty saltiness that can’t be replicated any other way. I also appreciate the depth that the diced black olives bring. They are fine enough that you don’t have any texture, but they add an earthiness that balances the other flavors well.

Check out this article to see where Cheese Balls originated!

A woman and her brother laughing in the kitchen.

Now, my normal way of making and presenting my family’s delicious party cheese ball is to cover the entire outside with nuts. We like to use chopped pecans and walnuts and interchange them depending on what we have on hand to make that delicious nutty exterior. But this cheese ball needs to look like a pumpkin and be orange.

So, instead of covering the outside with nuts, I covered it with shredded cheddar cheese. The nuts are still a very important part of the recipe, so I just added them to the interior of this creamy party cheese ball.

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Pumpkin Shaped Easy Savory Cheese Ball Recipe close-up on a cutting board with crackers.

Now, one of the beauties of this cheese ball is that you can shape it any way you want for all of the holidays of the year:

  • New Year’s – Make the cheese ball into the shape of a clock striking twelve. You can use black licorice for the hands to indicate the time. 
  • Valentine’s Day – Make a sweet little heart with your cheese ball surrounded by crackers in the shape of a bow and arrow. 
  • St. Patrick’s Day – A shamrock would be PERFECT and easy to do with this cheese ball.
A collage of different shaped cheese balls.
  • Easter: A cross-shaped cheese ball surrounded by crackers would be beautiful! Alternatively, you can go with the bunny and carrot situation for the kids.
  • Memorial Day – If you feel ambitious, make an American Flag from this delicious recipe!
  • ​On the 4th of July, Fireworks on a large cutting board in the middle of the appetizer table would be PHENOMENAL!
  • Thanksgiving – Make a turkey out of this cheeseball and use sliced almonds for the feathers.
  • Christmas – A cheese ball shaped like a candy cane will be the highlight of the holiday season.
A close-up picture of the Pumpkin Shaped Easy Savory Cheese Ball Recipe to show texture.

Another great thing about this cheese ball recipe is that it’s KETO-friendly. All you need to do is swap the crackers for celery sticks, Bell pepper strips, or even crispy fried bacon for dipping! I promise you it will be a BIG HIT with your friends on a health journey when they scan the holiday table for things to eat and enjoy. 

If you are looking for more easy recipes that double as finger foods, check them out here:

Hot Ham and Provolone Sliders

Chicken Quesadillas

Baked Brie with Honey and Walnuts

Tips for the Pumpkin Shaped Easy Savory Cheese Ball Recipe:

  • Sprinkle the shredded cheese on the bottom of the plastic wrap to prevent the cheese ball from sticking. If you are using nuts for the outside, you would do the same thing.

Make this Pumpkin Shaped Easy Savory Cheese Ball Recipe with me on YouTube!

YouTube video

Pumpkin Shaped Easy Savory Cheese Ball Recipe Ingredients:

  • 16 oz cream cheese
  • 3 cups finely grated sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 green onions chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Louisiana hot sauce
  • 2/3 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
  • 4.25 oz. can of Deviled Ham Spread
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 4.25 oz. can of chopped black olives
  • 1 bell pepper with a stem (the color of the bell pepper isn’t important because we just want to use the stem)

Pumpkin Shaped Easy Savory Cheese Ball Recipe Instructions:

  • First, take the cream cheese, place it into a large bowl, and allow it to come to room temperature. Or you can place them into the microwave for a minute to soften quickly.
Softened cream cheese in a white bowl to make the Pumpkin Shaped Easy Savory Cheese Ball Recipe.
  • Second, combine 1 cup of the shredded cheese and all the other ingredients into the softened cream cheese mixture.
All of the ingredients for the Pumpkin Shaped Easy Savory Cheese Ball Recipe in a white bowl before being mixed.
All of the ingredients for the Pumpkin Shaped Easy Savory Cheese Ball Recipe in a white bowl after being mixed.
  • Third, grab some plastic wrap and place a little bit of shredded cheese on the bottom to keep the cheese ball from sticking to it.
  • Then, scoop the cheese ball mixture onto the shredded cheese on the plastic wrap.
The Pumpkin Shaped Easy Savory Cheese Ball Recipe sitting on plastic wrap waiting to be shaped into a ball.
  • Next, pour the remaining shredded cheese over the entire outside of the cheese ball and wrap it up. Remember that you are trying to make a pumpkin, so make it circular.
The Pumpkin Shaped Easy Savory Cheese Ball Recipe wrapped in plastic wrap in the shape of a ball.
  • Then, you want to cut pieces of yarn or string to make the pumpkin shape. (You can see this better in the video.)
  • Take one piece of yarn or string, slide it under the cheese ball, pull tight to create an indention in the cheese ball, and tie it into a knot.
  • Turn the cheese ball and repeat this process on the next side. You will use four pieces of yarn or string, creating eight indentions in the cheese ball to look like a pumpkin.
The Pumpkin Shaped Easy Savory Cheese Ball Recipe after being tied with 4 pieces of twine in plastic wrap to make the markings of a pumpkin.
  • Then, place the sectioned and tied-off pumpkin-shaped cheese ball in the fridge to chill for a few hours.
  • Next, remove the cheese ball, yarn, and plastic wrap from the fridge and place it on a beautiful cutting board.
  • ​Remove the stem from the bell pepper and place it in the top center of the cheese ball. (This little detail is what makes this pumpkin look real.)
  • Finally, surround the pumpkin-shaped cheese ball with buttery crackers and serve!
The Pumpkin Shaped Easy Savory Cheese Ball Recipe on a cutting board surrounded by crackers.

Storage for the Pumpkin Shaped Easy Savory Cheese Ball Recipe:

  • Wrap the remaining cheese ball in plastic wrap, place it in an airtight container, and place it in the fridge for up to a week.

What are the Macros for the Pumpkin Shaped Easy Savory Cheese Ball Recipe?

Makes 16 servings (Nutritional information below is for 1 serving)

  • Calories – 188
  • Protein – 9 grams
  • Carbs – 2.2 grams (net)
  • Fat – 22.2 grams

Check out some of my other Halloween-themed recipes!

Spider Web Brownies for Kids

Monster Bites – No Bake Oatmeal Cookies

Chocolate Salted Caramel Apple Bark

If you try this recipe and love it, please consider giving it 5 STARS.

A woman holding a baked loaf of pumpkin bread and smiling.

Also, tag me on:

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Pumpkin Shaped Easy Savory Cheese Ball Recipe on a cutting board with crackers.

Pumpkin Shaped Easy Savory Cheese Ball Recipe 

Jessie Thompson
A classic cheese ball recipe has to be my all-time favorite party appetizer. It's creamy, slightly spicy with tons of cheese, nuts, and umami flavor! And when the holidays roll around, you can be sure that we will find a place for this tasty "dip" to grace the table. (Probably multiple times!) I wanted to add a little festivity to this already delicious spread by shaping it into a pumpkin for Halloween. CUTE, RIGHT?! This Pumpkin Shaped Easy Savory Cheeseball Recipe is going to be your go-to for the upcoming Halloween festivities. I'm sure of it!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Resting Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 5 minutes
Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine American, Southern
Servings 16 servings
Calories 188 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large bowl
  • Plastic wrap
  • Yarn or twine

Ingredients
  

  • 16 oz cream cheese
  • 3 cups finely grated sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 green onions chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Louisiana hot sauce
  • 2/3 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
  • 4.25 oz. can of Deviled Ham Spread
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 4.25 oz. can of chopped black olives
  • 1 bell pepper with a stem the color of the bell pepper isn’t important because we just want to use the stem

Instructions
 

  • First, take the cream cheese, place into a large bowl, and allow it to come to room temperature. Or you can place them into the microwave for a minute to soften quickly.
  • Second, add 1 cup of the shredded cheese and all of the other ingredients to the softened cream cheese mixture and combine.
  • Third, grab some plastic wrap and placed a little bit of shredded cheese on the bottom to keep the cheese ball from sticking to the plastic wrap.
  • Then, scoop the cheese ball mixture onto the shredded cheese on top of the plastic wrap.
  • Next, pour the remaining shredded cheese to cover the entire outside of the cheese ball and wrap it up. Remember that you are trying to make a pumpkin, so make it into a circular shape.
  • Then you want to cut pieces of yarn or string to make the pumpkin shape. (You can see this better in the video.)
  • Take one piece of yarn or string and slide it under the cheese ball and pull tight to create an indention in the cheese ball and tie it into a knot.
  • Turn the cheese ball and repeat this process on the next side. In total, you will use 4 pieces of yarn or string and it will create 8 indentions in the cheese ball to look like a pumpkin.
  • Then, place the sectioned and tied off pumpkin shaped cheese ball into the fridge to chill for a few hours.
  • Next, remove the cheese ball from the fridge, remove the yarn and plastic wrap, and place on a beautiful cutting board.
  • ​Take the bell pepper and remove the stem and place in the top center of the cheese ball. (This little detail is what really makes this pumpkin look real.)
  • Finally, surround the pumpkin shaped cheese ball with buttery crackers and serve!

Video

YouTube video

Notes

What are the Macros for the Pumpkin Shaped Easy Savory Cheese Ball Recipe?
Makes 16 servings (Nutritional information below is for 1 serving)
Calories – 188
Protein – 9 grams
Carbs – 2.2 grams (net)
Fat – 22.2 grams
Keyword Cream Cheese, Party Foods

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