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Pumpkin Cheese BallPumpkin Cheese Ball
October 1, 2021 | Updated September 2, 2022 | Laura
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This pumpkin shaped cheese ball is exactly what you need this fall! It's made with real pumpkin puree, goat cheese, white cheddar, and cream cheese and with perfectly paired spices and herbs. It's so cute sitting on an autumn festive table and perfect for a Halloween party, a fall day, or Thanksgiving day!
Pumpkin-y, Cheesy, and Addicting.
I knew that I wanted to create a cheese ball that was in the shape of a pumpkin. I LOVE CHEESE.
It didn't make much sense to me for the cheese to be pumpkin-shaped but not contain any pumpkin. So I went into my lab to find the best savory flavors that pair well with pumpkin. Not to pat myself on the back or anything, but I think I nailed it. This is now my favorite cheese ball recipe!
The strong flavors of the goat cheese, white cheddar, and Dijon mustard get balanced out perfectly with the addition of pumpkin puree and honey. The sage, thyme, and cayenne pair go great with pumpkin flavor. And the slightly caramelized onions.. oh my goodness. SO GOOD.
This homemade cheese ball definitely holds the flavor of fall within. Oh, and it's absolutely adorable! It's the perfect appetizer for any fall party or Halloween party!
Pumpkin Cheese Ball Recipe Ingredients
*Some of these ingredient links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.*
✽ Butter + Onion + Garlic: The best combination to ever exist? Possibly so. I slowly cook the onions in butter for about 15-20 minutes so they become golden and delicious.
✽ Cream Cheese: The not-so-secret ingredient that is in every dip and for a good reason. It adds great flavor and allows all the ingredients to bind together.
✽ Pumpkin Puree: A pumpkin-shaped cheese ball without actual pumpkin sounds crazy to me. Never had a savory pumpkin recipe? Don't knock it until you try it. Pumpkin goes great with strong cheese and nuts. I use canned pumpkin puree, but you could also use homemade puree as well.
✽ Dijon mustard: Dijon adds just the right amount of kick to this cheese ball and pairs great with the pumpkin.
✽ Honey: I love honey and cheese. This small amount of honey adds just a little bit of sweetness.
✽ Spices & Dried Herbs: Cayenne, Nutmeg, Allspice, Thyme, Sage, Kosher salt
✽ Goat Cheese: I love the strong flavor of goat cheese with the pumpkin. They compliment each other really well.
✽ White Cheddar: Pumpkin and white cheddar may be my favorite go-to pairing this fall. Freshly shredded cheese is best.
✽ Walnuts: I grind the walnuts so they are easier to put on the cheese ball and so the pumpkin shape is still recognizable.
How to Make a Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball
➊ First step to tackle is browning the onions. In a skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-low heat. Cook 1 diced medium yellow onion, stirring occasionally. Within about 15-20 minutes, the onions should start to become golden.
Once golden brown, add in 2 minced garlic cloves and cook about 30 seconds until fragrant. Remove from heat to cool.
➋ In a large mixing bowl, combine 8 ounces softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup (4 ounces) pumpkin puree, the cooled onions/garlic mixture, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon honey and all spices/dried herbs (1/2 teaspoon dried sage, 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon allspice) until well blended.
Stir in 4 ounces crumbled goat cheese and 8 ounces (~2 cups) shredded white cheddar cheese.
➌ Using oiled hands, shape mixture into a ball.
Roll the cheese ball in a bowl of 1 cup (4 ounces) grounded walnuts until all sides of the cheese ball are fully covered.
Wrap the cheese ball in plastic wrap (cling wrap). To make the cheese ball into a pumpkin shape, place 3-4 thick rubber bands around the plastic-wrapped cheese ball (see picture below).
If you don't have rubber bands, you could also tightly tie kitchen twine around the cheese ball to make the pumpkin shape.
➍ Allow cheese ball to rest in the fridge for at least an hour. When ready to serve, remove rubber bands and the piece of plastic wrap.
I put a broken pretzel rod on top of the cheese ball for the pumpkin stem, but you could use many things for the stem such as pretzel sticks, celery stick, green onion, broccoli stalk, or green peppers.
What to Serve with a Pumpkin-Shaped Cheese Ball
✽ Any type of your favorite crackers pair great with cheese balls. Tortilla chips, pretzels, and vegetables such as carrots, bell pepper slices, and celery are also great options.
✽ Fall Sangria; Who doesn't like wine with cheese. Try out this fall sangria for a perfect fall pairing!
✽ Halloween Roaches- Goat Cheese & Prosciutto Dates; If you're making this pumpkin cheese ball for a Halloween get-together, these delicious halloween roaches would look great beside it on the spooky table.
Pumpkin Cheese Ball: Questions
Pumpkin and cheese together?!
Yes! It's delicious. The acidity of the goat cheese is nicely balanced out by the sweetness of the pumpkin and honey. Same goes for the strong flavor of the white cheddar and Dijon.
Gruyere would also work in this cheese ball in place of the white cheddar.
How long is the cheese ball good for?
A properly stored pumpkin cheese ball wrapped tightly in plastic or in an airtight container should last about a week in the fridge!
Why does this recipe work?
The golden brown onions, butter, garlic, Dijon, cayenne, nutmeg, allspice, dried thyme, dried sage, goat cheese, and white cheddar all are great savory ingredients the counterbalance and pair with the sweetness of the pumpkin.
I add a bit of honey in as well to play a little more on the sweetness notes.
Walnuts pair well with pumpkin and cheese so I chose them to cover the cheese ball. Lastly, the cream cheese is our binder that helps everything stay together and allows it to be creamy.
31 Days of Halloween
It's officially spooky season, and I could not be more excited. I LOVE holiday cooking. This cute appetizer is a part of my 31 Days of Halloween. For each day in October, I come up with a cocktail recipe and snack recipe that perfectly matches a scary movie, Halloween movie, or a fun spooky activity. Check out 31 Days of Halloween for all of your Halloween snack and drinking desires!
Looking for more easy Halloween food ideas?
→ Check out all of my favorite Halloween recipes!
Pumpkin Cheese Ball
By Laura | Laura the Gastronaut
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 15 minutes | Fridge Time: 1 hour | Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
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This pumpkin shaped cheese ball is exactly what you need this fall! It's made with real pumpkin puree, goat cheese, white cheddar, and cream cheese and with perfectly paired spices and herbs. This yummy cheese ball so cute sitting on an autumn festive table and a big hit at Halloween parties or on a fall day!
*Some of these ingredient links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.*
Ingredients
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 4 ounces (~ 1/2 cup) pumpkin puree
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon allspice
• 8 ounces (~ 2 cups) white cheddar cheese, shredded
• 4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
• 4 ounces (~ 1 cup) walnuts, ground
• For stem: pretzel rod, celery stick, green bell pepper
Instructions
➊ In a skillet or saucepan, cook butter and onions over medium-low heat until golden brown, about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once golden brown, add in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove from heat to cool.
➋ In a large bowl, stir together cooled onion/garlic mixture, softened cream cheese, pumpkin puree, Dijon mustard, honey, dried herbs, and spices until well combined.
➌ Stir in white cheddar cheese and goat cheese.
➍ With oiled hands, form mixture into a ball.
➎ Add ground walnuts into a bowl and roll cheese ball in the walnuts until fully covered. Wrap the cheese ball tightly in plastic wrap. Wrap 3-4 thick rubber bands around the cheese ball to form the pumpkin shape (see picture above).
➏ Let the cheese ball rest in the fridge for at least an hour. When ready to serve, remove rubber bands and plastic wrap and add a stem. I like to use a broken pretzel rod for a stem, but you can also use celery or a bell pepper stem.
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Category: Fall, Appetizers and Snacks, Vegetarian, Halloween, Thanksgiving Cuisine: American
Keywords: thanksgiving appetizers, halloween cheese ball, simple appetizer, cheese ball recipes, halloween potluck, pumpkin cheeseball, pumpkin shaped cheese ball recipe
More Pumpkin Recipes:
✽ Cheesy Pumpkin Soup (this soup is cheesy, creamy, and pumpkin-y making it the perfect fall recipe)
✽ Homemade Pumpkin Pasta with Pumpkin Sauce (this homemade pumpkin noodles are so good covered in a cheesy pumpkin pasta sauce)
✽ Boozy Pumpkin Pie Milkshake (a delicious milkshake filled with all those amazing pumpkin pie filling flavors)
→ Check out all of my Fall recipes!
Bon appétit!
October 1, 2021 by Laura Ehlers
*This Pumpkin Cheese Ball blog post and recipe may contain some Amazon affiliate links. These link to products that I personally use and recommend. If you purchase anything using my links, it will not cost you anything. It will though give laurathegastronaut.com some financial support which helps me keep this blog running. Thank you for reading my blogs and your continued support.