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Mini Pumpkin Cheese Balls

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Recipe: Mini Pumpkin Cheese Balls

Mini Pumpkin Cheese Balls are deliciously creamy, easy to make and super cute. Perfect for Halloween or Thanksgiving parties. These pretty little pumpkin shaped cheese balls come together within 15 minutes. Seriously, wondering why till now I haven’t made these easy peasy and versatile cheeseballs. Instead of serving cheese dip shaping them into a big or mini balls makes it look so beautiful.

 

Sharing Mini Pumpkin Cheese Balls Recipe With Sunday Funday

This weekend theme is Thanksgiving Appetizers suggested by Amy. She wrote ” Share your favorite Thanksgiving appetizers to munch while you wait for turkey!” Well, Canadian Thanksgiving Day was on 13th October this year while the US is coming up on 27th November. I had come across mini pumpkin cheese balls on Instagram. I liked the idea and tried making them for 13th October. They were a hit!

 

Why Make Cheese Balls?

 

Some Add In Suggestions

Fresh Fruit – crushed pineapple, pomegranate, lemon juice, apple, olives,

Dried Fruit – Cranberries, apricots, blueberries, strawberries,

Nuts – Popular choices are walnuts, pecans, pistachios. Try some roasted peanuts, macadamia, almonds,  cashew nuts.

Veggies – chives, sweet peppers, spring onion, steamed spinach, pickled dill, pickled radish, jalapeño, celery,

Spices – paprika, chilli flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, turmeric, pepper, cayenne pepper, seasonings (taco, pumpkin, apple pie, )

Herbs– parsley, coriander (cilantro), oregano, mixed herbs, thyme, dill

Meat – crispy bacon, pepperoni, dried meat,

Cheese – parmesan, mozzarella, strong cheddar, goat cheese, white cheddar,

Sauces – Worcestershire sauce, chilli sauce, chilli oil, bbq sauce,

Sweet – sprinkles, chopped chocolates of your choice, confectioners sugar, M&M, honey, maple syrup, brown sugar

Seeds – sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, poppy seeds

 

 

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Thanksgiving Appetizer Recipes By Members Of Sunday Funday

 

 

Ingredients Required For Mini Pumpkin Cheese Balls

Cream Cheese

Any cream cheese of your choice. I don’t like to use the light, reduced fat one for this. As we add other flavours store brand is fine as the Philadelphia has become expensive. I used 1 packet which is about 227g.

Cheddar Cheese

The ready grated cheddar cheese may not mix well with the cream cheese. Best to buy a block and grate or shred  it at home. We will be using 1 cup grated cheddar cheese.

Red Chilli Flakes

Adds a little bit of heat. Don’t go overboard with the amount you add as it will mask the flavours of other ingredients used.

Spring Onion

Finely chopped. I used a bit of the white and green part too, about 2-3 tbsp.

Paprika Powder

I have used smoked paprika powder. Can use normal paprika powder. Add some to the cream cheese mixture. And we will be using some more for coating.

Mixed Dried Herbs

I had Greek Seasoning in my panty and added that. It contains dried garlic flakes so didn’t add any extra garlic.

Salt

Any salt of your choice. Be careful as the cheeses are salty. Also the crushed tortilla chips too contasin salt.

Pepper Powder

Add according to your taste.

Tortilla Chips

I am not adding any to the cream cheese but using the crushed tortilla chips as a coating. For the pumpkin effect best to use tortilla chips that are yellow in colour. I used the cheddar flavour Doritos.

Black Sesame Seeds

For coating. And it tasted so good. I toasted the sesame seeds in the microwave oven for 30-40 seconds.

Pretzel Sticks

Don’t need that many, I had these broken pretzel sticks that I used as the stalk for the mini pumpkins.

 

Note:

Add any seasoning, spices, of your choice. If you like make only one type or all three.

 

 

 

 

 

Print

MINI PUMPKIN CHEESE BALLS

Mini Pumpkin Cheese Balls are deliciously creamy, easy to make and super cute. Perfect for Halloween or Thanksgiving parties. These pretty little pumpkin shaped cheese balls come together within 15 minutes.
Course Appetizer, Starter
Cuisine American
Keyword cheeseballs, how to make cheese balls, mini pumpkin cheese balls
Prep Time 10 minutes
CHILLING TIME 30 minutes
Servings 15
Author mayurisjikoni

Ingredients

FOR THE CHEESE BALL MIXTURE

  • 1 packet cream cheese 227g
  • 1 cup Cheddar cheese grated
  • 2-3 tbsp spring onion finely chopped
  • ½ tsp paprika powder
  • ½ tsp dried herbs
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp pepper powder
  • ¼ tsp red chilli flakes

FOR THE COATING

  • 7-8 tortilla chips crushed
  • 1-2 tbsp black sesame seeds toasted
  • 1-2 tbsp paprika powder

Instructions

PREPARE THE CREAM CHEESE MIXTURE

  • Add the cream cheese in a mixing bowl. Using electric whisk, spoon or fork softened the cheese.
  • Add the grated cheddar cheese, paprika, chopped spring onion, salt, pepper, mixed herbs, chilli flakes.
  • Mix well.
  • Cover the bowl and refrigerate the cream cheese mixture for 30 minutes.

PREPARATION OF THE COATINGS

  • Crush the tortilla chips in a food processor. Don't make it too fine or too coarse.
  • Transfer to a bowl.
  • Toast the sesame seeds in the microwave oven for 30-40 seconds.
  • Alternately, toast them in a skillet over low heat till they begin to pop.
  • Transfer the seeds to a small plate or bowl.
  • In another small bowl add 1-2 tbsp paprika powder.
  • I added 1 tbsp at first. Can always add more if required.

PREPARE THE MINI PUMPKIN CHEESE BALLS

  • We will need cooking twine to give the shape of pumpkin. I used about 6 inch long twine.
  • Take the cream cheese mixture out from the fridge.
  • Using a small cookie scoop or rounded tablespoon, take a scoop of the cream cheese mixture.
  • Roll it into a ball.
  • If it sticks to your hands, apply a little bit of butter or olive oil.
  • Makes balls from rest of the cream cheese mixture.

COATING THE BALLS

  • Roll a few balls in the crushed tortilla chip mixture.
  • Roll a few in the black sesame seeds.
  • Roll some in the paprika powder.
  • Using the twine, hold it tight at the ends with your pointer finger.
  • Place the cheese ball on a plate or chopping board.
  • Press down gently on the pumpkin at 12 and 6 o'clock positions.
  • Then press down gently at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions.
  • Then press down at 2 and 8 o'clock positions.
  • Some I also pressed down at 11 and 5 o'clock positions.
  • Insert a small pretzel stick in the middle of each pumpkin to represent the stalk.
  • Chill the mini pumpkin cheese balls till required.
  • Serve them with some crackers, pretzels, chips, carrot, celery sticks.
  • We enjoyed ours with some crackers.

Notes

  • Can make the mini pumpkin balls all with the same coating. 
  • If you don't want to use the crushed tortilla chips then coat them with finely grated cheddar cheese.
  • Add spices, herbs, veggies of your choice.
  • The mixture should not become too soft. It will become difficult to roll them into balls.
  • apply some olive oil or butter if the cream cheese mixture sticks to your hands when rolling them into balls.

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