southern fried gal

This is a fun little trick for fall gatherings. Take your favorite cheese ball recipe (like the savory one pictured above from the Taste of Home website) and shape to resemble a pumpkin! In this picture a stalk of celery is used for the stem. I usually go with a stem from a bell pepper because I think it resembles a pumpkin stem with the curve. A twisty pretzel stick is also a fun topper.

I LOVE the Santa Fe Dip (57100) from Willow House and it whips up into a beautiful orange color! SO, I simplified the recipe from Taste of Home using this dip as follows:

Ingredients

• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 1 carton (8 ounces) spreadable cream cheese
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 2 tablespoons Sante Fe Dip Mix
• 1 celery rib or broccoli stalk
• Assorted crackers and chips

Directions

• In a small bowl, beat cream cheeses until smooth. Stir in the cheddar cheese and dip mix. Shape into a ball; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 4 hours or until firm.
• With a knife, add vertical lines to the cheese ball to resemble a pumpkin; insert a stem from a bell pepper. Serve with crackers and chips. Yield: 2-1/2 cups.

Simple, savory and super cute! I also think this would be cute with a sweet pumpkin cheese ball recipe – do you have one to share?

~Southern Fried Gal

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Dusting off to share at Amanda’s Thanksgiving Roundup Party!

Sharing this link with Jen at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam’s Tasty Tuesday!