Rudolph Cheese Ball Holiday Recipe
Introduction
The Rudolph Cheese Ball is a festive and fun appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. Creamy, tangy, and nutty, it brings both flavor and a playful touch to your party table.
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 tbsp hot horseradish mustard
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 cup crushed pecans (for coating)
- 1 cherry tomato (for decoration)
- 2 black olives (for decoration)
- 2 twisted pretzels (for decoration)
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, shredded sharp cheddar, hot horseradish mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix until smooth and well combined.
- Step 2: Transfer the cheese mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap. Use the wrap to shape it into a round ball. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up.
- Step 3: Roll the chilled cheese ball in the crushed pecans, pressing gently to ensure the coating sticks evenly.
- Step 4: Decorate by placing the cherry tomato as the nose, black olives as the eyes, and twisted pretzels as the antlers. Use your fingers to create slight indents if needed to help secure the decorations.
- Step 5: Serve with crackers, pretzels, chips, or veggie sticks for dipping and enjoy!
Tips & Variations
- For extra flavor, chill the cheese ball overnight to let the spices meld well.
- Substitute pecans with chopped walnuts or almonds for a different crunch.
- If you prefer milder flavor, reduce the horseradish mustard to 1 tablespoon.
- Try adding fresh herbs like chives or parsley into the cheese mixture for a fresh twist.
Storage
Store the cheese ball covered tightly with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Allow it to come to room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving to enhance the flavor and creaminess.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I make the Rudolph Cheese Ball ahead of time?
Yes, preparing the cheese ball a day in advance helps the flavors meld and makes decorating easier on the day of your event.
What can I serve with the cheese ball?
Crackers, pretzels, chips, or fresh vegetable sticks like carrots, celery, and bell peppers are all great options for dipping and enjoying with this cheese ball.
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Rudolph Cheese Ball Holiday Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Description
Celebrate the holidays with this festive Rudolph Cheese Ball, a creamy and flavorful appetizer perfect for parties. Made with sharp cheddar, cream cheese, and a touch of spicy horseradish mustard, this cheese ball is coated in crunchy pecans and decorated with a cherry tomato nose, olive eyes, and pretzel antlers for a fun and tasty treat everyone will love.
Ingredients
Cheese Ball
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 tbsp hot horseradish mustard
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
Coating
- 1/2 cup crushed pecans
Decoration
- 1 cherry tomato (for nose)
- 2 black olives (for eyes)
- 2 twisted pretzels (for antlers)
Instructions
- Mix ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, hot horseradish mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and evenly combined.
- Shape the cheese mixture: Transfer the cheese mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap. Use the wrap to shape the mixture into a round ball. Wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the ball to firm up.
- Coat the cheese ball: Remove the chilled cheese ball from the refrigerator. Roll it in the crushed pecans, pressing gently to ensure the nuts stick evenly all around the cheese ball.
- Decorate: Place the cherry tomato on the front of the cheese ball as Rudolph’s nose. Use the black olives for the eyes, positioning them above the nose. Insert the twisted pretzels on top of the ball to serve as antlers. You can use your fingers to make slight indentations on the cheese ball to help hold the decorations in place.
- Serve: Arrange the decorated cheese ball on a serving platter alongside crackers, additional pretzels, chips, or veggie sticks for dipping. Enjoy this festive appetizer at your holiday gathering.
Notes
- Make sure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature for easier mixing.
- Chilling the cheese ball for at least 1 hour helps it firm up for easier shaping and coating.
- Feel free to substitute pecans with other nuts like walnuts or almonds based on preference.
- This cheese ball can be made a day in advance and refrigerated until serving time.
- Use a mix of mild and sharp cheddar for a balanced flavor, or adjust according to your taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: holiday appetizer, cheese ball, Christmas appetizer, party snack, festive cheese ball, savory cheese ball, pecan coated cheese ball
