No matter what time of year it is, this Everything Bagel Cheeseball is sure to delight your guests as the perfect fall appetizer. Shaped into a pumpkin, it makes 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.)
Everything Bagel Cheese Ball:
If you’re here for my Everything Bagel Cheese Ball recipe, you’ve come to the right place!
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?
If you’re looking for my pumpkin-shaped Sun-Dried Tomato Cheeseball Recipe, you can find that HERE.
How to Make an Everything Bagel Cheese Ball:
First, I started with the flavor.
The concept for this 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?
Not severing this recipe in the fall? No worries. Skip the pumpkin shape and just roll it into a ball to suit any season or holiday.
What do you serve with an Everything Bagel Cheeseball?
Serve the cheeseball with bagel chips (which I couldn’t seem to find) for the ultimate flavor combo. Pretzels, crackers, breadsticks or even crostinii make a delicious pairing too.
Let’s dig in!
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, you’ll love these too:
- Sun-Dried Tomato Cheeseball
- Apple-Shaped Cheeseballs
- Mini Cheeseballs (Cheeseball Truffles)
- Buffalo Chicken Cheeseball
- Christmas Tree Cheeseball
Everything Bagel Cheese ball Recipe:
- 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
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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.
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Once the cheeseball has set, roll it into the Everything But the Bagel seasoning blend to evenly coat.
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(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.)
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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.
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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!
Beyond cute and so delicious! My guests went nuts for this! Thank you.
Michael, I LOVE this seasoning and idea and definitely want to make it, the only problem I have is I Can’t stand horseradish. Any substitution suggestions? Thanks
Thank you!
I am hosting a “pumpkin” themed baby shower this weekend. I can’t wait to prepare a couple of these!! Thank you for the wonderful ideas!
They will be adorable! Have fun!
xo Michael
I made this for friends came mother ng over to watch th football game this weekend. It looked and tasted amazing. So tired of the same old tailgating food for fall. So happy I recently found this recipe and your blog. Obsessed!!!!
The everything bagel cheeseball as really good. Made this one and the nacho cheese one for my party – everyone loved it and thought shaping them into pumpkins was so cute!
to make with Doritos on outside do you use the same cheeseball recipe you use for the everything flavor one?
You can use whatever cheeseball base you’d like. I have a bunch on the blog, so pick your favorite. 🙂
xo Michael
Made this for the first time but it certainly won’t be the last. Everyone loved it!
I made this in the shape of a football for the super bowl and it turned out great! Wouldn’t change a thing.
found this through Pinteret and made tonight for Memorial Day cookout tomorrow. Finally had to chase husband out of it or there wont be any left for the rest of them lol. I just did standard round cheese ball this time but will save the pumpkin idea for Thanksgiving time. Thank you so much 🙂
This is so cute and creative! Perfect for an autumn get-together!
This is such a cool idea! What a fun appetizer to bring to a party!
Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?
I made the Everything but the Bagel Cheeseball a week before my Halloween party to sample it before serving to my guests and I’m so glad I did. While the pumpkin turned out super cute (5 stars for presentation) the cheeseball itself was a flop. Not wanting to make special trip to Trader Joes, I purchased Old Thompson “Everything Seasoning for Bagels & More” and found the garlic/onion to be way too overpowering (or was it the horseradish?). Either way, the green onions and bacon were lost. Since my husband wouldn’t eat it, I tried to pawn it off on my cleaning lady and she wouldn’t take it! I also felt the cheeseball was a bit heavy to maintain the shape well. So I found another recipe and tried again with much better results. I found it maintains it’s shape better without the sour cream. I tried forming the lines of the pumpkin using rubber bands around the Saran Wrap (as seen in another blog) and that was a disaster. I reshaped the ball and started over using a skewer; however, a chopstick would be better as my lines weren’t as defined as they should have been. I used sesame and poppy seeds for the outer coating eliminating the garlic and onion. I should also mention the recipe calls for 1/2 cup of the Everything Bagel Seasoning blend. I found this to be twice as much as needed. I used 1/2 this amount on my first cheeseball and it was still too overwhelming. A light coating of the sesame and poppy seeds were perfect. I found the bagel chips at both Walmart and Publix and also served with Triscuit, Chicken in a Biscuit (to add interesting shapes but didn’t love the crackers) and Firehook Sea Salt Mediterranan Baked Crackers (which were everyone’s favorite). In closing, love the concept of the pumpkin cheeseball but the recipe was $28 down the drain! (Bacon and Everything Seasoning Blend jack up the price as does the pumpkin ($2.50-$3.00) if you want a real stem. I saved the stem for the 2nd cheeseball so not a total loss there!) I love your blog. It’s very inspirational. I am so sorry to say I didn’t love the cheeseball.
Thank you for the detailed review, Kristen. I’m so sorry the recipe didn’t suit your tastes. I’ve had so many folks rave about this recipe. I suppose that’s how it goes with recipes some can love it while other’s don’t enjoy it. I appreciate the feedback.
xo Michael
Soooo basically you didn’t follow the recipe. It was too much of a burden to go to Trader Joe’s, and so you bought some other brand of everything bagel seasoning. And THAT other brand was not good. So, you changed the recipe. And then you blamed the recipe when it failed. Gotta love that.
Seeing that you appear to be the only one complaining that the seasoning was overwhelming and ruined the cheese ball ANd you are also the only one who used an off brand seasoning…. I think it’s pretty safe to say that the fail here is your own. Not the recipe.
I am excited to make this (as written) for my holiday party next week.
PS – how far in advance can I make this ?
PSS – Rachel Ray called. She wants her cheese ball back.
You can make it a day in advance. I would wait to add the seasoning until you’re ready to serve.
xo Michael
I made this before and they turned out great. For some reason they are not setting u this time.I will try chilling overnight. They still have a great flavor.