Pretty Pumpkin Cheese Ball

Name: Pretty Pumpkin Cheese Ball
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 24
Ingredients: 2 pkg. Neufchatel cheese, softened; 1 pkg. finely shredded reduced-fat mild cheddar cheese; 1 pkg. dry vegetable soup mix; 2 Tbsp. reduced-fat mayonnaise; 2 tsp. Dijon mustard; 3 green onions, divided; 2 slices Colby Jack cheese; RITZ Crackers

This impressive, yet easy-to-make, pumpkin-shaped cheddar cheese ball will make the perfect addition to your Halloween or fall charcuterie board. Serve with RITZ Crackers for the perfect appetizer.

Prep time:

0 min

Total time:

0 h 0 min

Servings:

Makes 24 servings, 2 Tbsp. cheese spread and 5 crackers each.

Ingredient list

2 pkg. (8 oz. each) Neufchatel cheese, softened
1 pkg. (8 oz.) finely shredded reduced-fat mild cheddar cheese
1 pkg. (1.4 oz.) dry vegetable soup mix
2 Tbsp. reduced-fat mayonnaise
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
3 green onions, divided
2 slices (0.75 oz. each) Colby Jack cheese
RITZ Crackers

Directions

Mix Neufchatel, cheddar, soup mix, mayonnaise and mustard until blended; spoon onto large sheet of plastic wrap. Wrap plastic wrap around cheese mixture while shaping cheese mixture into ball.

Refrigerate 2 hours.

Unwrap cheese ball; place on plate, smoothing surface and reshaping cheese ball if necessary. Use wooden spoon handle to press several vertical indents into surface of cheese ball to resemble a pumpkin.

Cut green parts of 2 onions into thin strips; press into indentations in cheese ball. Cut piece off top of remaining onion; press into top of pumpkin for the stem.

Use small cookie cutter to cut leaf shapes from Colby Jack cheese slices. Place around pumpkin stem and on plate around cheese ball.

Serve with crackers.

Recipe Tips

Size WiseEnjoy eating appetizers at a social occasion but be mindful of portion size so you don’t overdo it on calories.
VariationPrepare using cheddar cheese slices, or 1 slice EACH cheddar and Colby Jack cheese.