This Rudolph Cheese Ball Recipe is as adorable as it is tasty! Cheese balls are so easy to make and fun to personalize. The perfect appetizer for making ahead!
If you need something fun and easy for a holiday party that is going to make everyone smile, make this adorable cheese ball! It’s so cute, and it tastes delicious! Cheese Balls have never been a tradition in our family, but my sister brought an adorable Turkey Cheese Ball to Thanksgiving this year and it was a massive hit. Everyone loved it and we immediately started brainstorming ideas for Christmas cheese balls!
Cheese Balls
Cheese balls are generally a mixture of cream cheese, shredded cheese, seasonings and toppings. I kept this one simple by mixing in a package of ranch seasonings. It was the recipe my sister used and everyone loved it!
Mix and shape the cheese ball the day before, then decorate right before serving.
Start by letting cream cheese and shredded cheese come to room temperature so they will combine smoothly. I recommend using freshly shredded cheese – pre-shredded cheese has a coating that prevents the shreds from sticking. Those tend to over thicken recipes.
How to Make a Cheese Ball
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat cream cheese, shredded cheese and ranch together until well combined.
Scoop mixture onto plastic wrap and use plastic warp to gently form mixture into a ball.
Refrigerate for several hours or overnight until very firm.
Place crushed pecans in a pie pan or shallow plate and press into cheese ball.
Slice the tips off of black olives and a cherry tomato and use toothpicks to secure to cheese ball. Use pretzels as antlers.
Positioning is key. Don’t let the eyes get to close together. ? ? You want him to look friendly!
Cheese Ball Recipe
- 2 8 oz blocks of cream cheese at room temperature
- 3 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese at room temperature
- 1 oz package ranch seasoning mix
- 1 1/2 cups crushed pecans
- 2 black olives
- 1 cherry tomato
- 2 original sized pretzels
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Let cream cheese and sharp cheddar come to room temperature. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine cream cheese, cheddar cheese and ranch dressing mix.
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Transfer cheese mixture to a sheet of plastic wrap and use plastic to form cheese mixture into a ball. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight. Can be made several days ahead.
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Right before serving, press crushed pecans into cheese ball. Place on a serving plate. Slice the tips off of two black olives and one cherry tomato. Use toothpicks to secure to cheese ball. Add pretzels for antlers and serve.
Cheese Ball and be mixed and refrigerated up to three days before. Add pecans and Rudolph decorations right before serving.
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OMG this is the cutest thing EVER. What a good idea and everyone will LOVE this, thank you!
This cheeseball is amazing! It’s definitely in our holiday rotation!
This is really adorable! Everyone at my house loved it!
So festive and fun!! Can’t wait to try it at parties for the holidays.
Oh my goodness!!! How adorable is this cheese ball. Oh I know what I am making for our holiday party this year.
This is the cutest cheeseball I have ever seen! I love the yummy mix of cheeses and flavors, but the real treat is how adorable it is!
Such an adorable idea! Loved the pecans…such a great addition.
This is beyond cute!! Festive and delicious appetizer for the holidays! Thank you for the recipe!
Delicious, and so cute! I think I may need to decorate all my Christmas cheese balls this way from here on out!
This was such a creative recipe and so much fun to eat, the kids adored it and asked for more”fun” food!!
Why haven’t I ever thought of this?! So cute and festive! We’ll make it for sure this Christmas!
The CUTEST Christmas appetizer, and tasty, too! This was a huge hit at our neighborhood party last year and I’ve already been asked if I can bring it again this year. 🙂