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.
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.