Reindeer Cheese Ball (Christmas Appetizer)
Servings 10
Ingredients
- 16 oz (450 g) cream cheese softened
- 2 cups (200 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tbsp sour cream
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- Salt to taste
- 4 tbsp dried cranberries finely chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley finely chopped
For decoration
- 1 cherry tomato
- 1 large soft pretzel or 2 pretzel twists
- 2 black olive slices or edible candy eyeballs
- 2 ½ cups chopped nuts for coating
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sour cream, and seasonings. Beat with a hand mixer or mix with a spatula until smooth and creamy.
- Stir in chopped dried cranberries, cheddar cheese, and fresh parsley until evenly distributed.
- Form the mixture into a ball or oval shape to make the reindeer head. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or until firm.
- Once chilled, roll the cheese ball in extra chopped nuts or parsley for a nice coating.
- Place cheese ball on a serving plate. Add a cherry tomato for the nose and add black olives or candy eyes for the eyes.
- Insert the pretzel antlers into the top of the cheese ball. If using a soft pretzel, cut it in half and place one piece on each side. If using pretzel twists, insert one pretzel twist on each side.
Notes
We used one frozen soft pretzel that was microwaved according to the package directions, then cut in half to create the antlers. Make sure the soft pretzel cools before inserting it into the cheese ball.