No matter what time of year it is, this Everything Bagel Cheeseball and this Sun-Dried Tomato Cheeseball are sure to delight your guests. Shaped into pumpkins, they make the perfect fall treat.
I assume you found your way to this recipe from my “Fall Entertaining in the Kitchen” post. If so, welcome back. I am thrilled to share these recipes with you. (In case you haven’t yet seen that post, you can catch up here.)
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Truth be told, I love a tasty cheeseball. (Well, to be completely honest, I love cheese in any form.) Unfortunately, it seems that the humble cheeseball has gotten a bad rap. It’s been around forever and is viewed as boring by some. That’s why I decided it was time for a little makeover.
And this isn’t the first time I gave the classic cheeseball a makeover. Remember my Fall “Apple” Cheeseballs? Or my Mini Truffle Cheeseballs?
First, I started with the flavor.
The concept for the first cheeseball was inspired by the super trendy everything bagel. Obsessed with the “Everything But the Bagel” seasoning blend from Trader Joe’s, I assumed a cheeseball covered in the spices would be incredible. Boy, was I right!
It’s that classic flavor we’ve all come to love.
While this cheeseball is outstanding on its own, I decided to take it one step further and shape it into a pumpkin. To do that, I removed a stem from a small pumpkin and inserted it into the top of the cheeseball.
To remove a stem from a pumpkin, I recommend cutting off the very top of the pumpkin like I did here and then peeling away the pumpkin flesh. This will lessen the risk of breaking the stem.
While the stem clearly made this look like a pumpkin, I also used a chopstick to create grooves from the base of the pumpkin to the stem. This extra step makes this illusion more realistic, don’t you think?
Serve the cheeseball with bagel chips (which I couldn’t seem to find) for the ultimate flavor combo. Let’s dig in!
Serves 8
Here's what you will need:
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
1 cup finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 scallions, chopped
6 slices bacon, cooked and chopped
About 1/2 cup Everything But the Bagel seasoning blend*
Bagel chips and/or crackers for serving
In a bowl, mix together the cream cheese, sour cream, horseradish, cheddar cheese, scallions, and bacon. Form the mixture into a ball, wrap with plastic wrap, and chill for an hour.
Once the cheeseball has set, roll it into the Everything But the Bagel seasoning blend to evenly coat.
(To make your cheeseball resemble a pumpkin, add a real or faux pumpkin stem to the top. Then use the tip of a chopstick or the back of a butter knife to create grooves.)
Serve with bagel chips and crackers.
*You can make your own seasoning blend by combining equal parts dehydrated onion, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, and garlic flakes. Add kosher salt and black pepper to taste.
PrintFor my second cheeseball, I used one of my favorites: sun-dried tomatoes. Combined with Italian cheese, spices, and seasonings, this might be my new go-to for fall.
Again, I repeated the same steps to pumpkin-ify this cheeseball. I really love the coloring of this one and how the spices and bread crumbs give it great texture and depth.
The flavor is just what you’d expect. Rich and savory and bursting with sun-dried tomato goodness. Yum!
Serves 8
Here's what you will need:
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup finely shredded mozzarella
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan
1/2 cup chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and blotted (to remove excess oil)
1/2 cup season breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon oregano
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
Thin, crisp breadsticks and crackers for serving
In a bowl, mix together the cream cheese, sour cream, mozzarella, parmesan, and sun-dried tomatoes. Form the mixture into a ball, wrap with plastic wrap, and chill for an hour.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs, oregano, paprika, and red pepper flakes. Once the cheeseball has set, roll the ball into the bread crumb mixture to evenly coat.
(To make your cheeseball resemble a pumpkin, add a real or faux pumpkin stem to the top. Then use the tip of a chopstick or the back of a butter knife to create grooves.)
Serve with thin, crisp breadsticks and crackers.
Print
And because all of that wasn’t enough, I decided to make three smaller pumpkin cheeseballs. I simply doubled the base recipe for the sun-dried tomato ball and divided it into three parts.
I wanted an intense orange color for these three cheeseballs, so I busted out my secret ingredient: Nacho Cheese Doritos. I put them in a large plastic baggie and smashed them with a rolling pin. Pulverized, they were the perfect shade of orange, and they added a delightful flavor to my mini cheeseballs.
For the stems of these pumpkins, I used thin breadsticks that I drizzled with balsamic vinegar and toasted in the oven to deepen the color. A pretzel rod would also work nicely.
And that’s it. With all the cheeseballs plated, I set everything up using a long wood cutting board and a matching cake stand to add height. Crackers and breadsticks filled various containers, while produce from the farmers market provided more color and seasonal flare. Operation fall entertaining complete.
I hope you get a chance to enjoy both of these recipes during the cool months to come.
If you liked these pumpkin-inspired cheeseballs, I bet you’ll love my apple-inspired ones as well. You can get the recipes and the details for those here.
I also recommend checking out my mini cheese truffles. (AKA mini cheeseballs.) There are another fun take on this classic recipe.
OMG Micheal! They are so cute and make me want to give a fall party immediately. Thank you for this fabulous idea!
Thank you so much! Who wouldn’t love a ball of cheese shaped into a pumpkin.
xo Michael
Cannot wait to try these recipes! I’ve been making a cheese ball for years that is an apple shape rolled in paprika, piece of cinnamon stick for stem and bay leaf. No one ever wants to be the first to try it and ruin it.
Yes! Love that idea. I made some apple ones a few years back. They look so fancy without too much fuss.
xo Michael
You are so cleaver and creative Michael!!! Love these… they are sooooo cute!!!!! I am addicted to Everything But the Bagel From Traders Joes. I shake it on everything!!! My mouth is watering…. just printed the recipe and will make it soon.
Wow these make the table , genius idea. Love the everything bagel seasoning and nacho cheese Doritos , fantastic ! I’m going to take these to our Thanksgivings celebration. Hoping they come out half as nice!
So, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a prettier cheeseball. Absolutely gorgeous – and I’m totally dying to try those flavors!!
absolutely fabulous! very clever serving, love it and yes the humble cheeseball gets a bad rap but is somewhat deserved if just taken out of a package and plopped onto a plate! very clever insertion of pumpkin stem, you win on creative points alone!
These are the cutest thing ever! I now want to invite people over just to make (and impress) them I love your creative mind!
Bravo.
A fantastic new idea.
Brilliant
Very cute! I have also seen folks use broccoli stalks for the “stem”…
OH! That’s so smart! Great idea.
xo Michael
Both of those little “pumpkins” look so good. You are SO creative and come up with the best ideas.
I’m so glad you like them, Bonnie! Thank you!
xo Michael
Michael, these are just brilliant!
Aren’t you the best! Thanks!
xo Michael
I just stumbled across your blog and “WoW!” It’s not only awesome but inspirational! Well done you! Beautifully done.
I love the everything bagel spice and am finding excuses to use it on everything I eat… including sprinkling it on my salads! Anyway, love the cheese ball and covering it with this spice! How awesome and adorable are those cheese balls. Thank you so much!
Oh my gosh – your pumpkin cheese balls are to die for! So creative and I love all of the different flavors. (Nacho Cheese Doritos – perfect!) I so want to try all of them & hope that I can make them look as pretty as yours do. Loving all of your fall decorations & as usual you have inspired me to get going on my fall decor. Your apartment looks incredible!
These are so cute! Planning on making them next weekend. For the orange mini pumpkins, what do you consider the “base” of the sun dried tomato recipe? How far down the list? Did you include the tomatoes for the orange ones?
Thanks so much!