This Pumpkin-Shaped Cheeseball recipe has a fun, zesty flavor with a creamy base. The tangy cream cheese mixes perfectly with the sharp cheddar, creating a rich and savory bite.

A bowl filled with pretzels and cheese balls shaped like pumpkins, topped with sticks to resemble stems and garnished with parsley. Plastic spider decorations are placed around the bowl.

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PMc says:

For a fun twist, try shaping the cheeseball into a cauldron or skull! Use black sesame seeds for the cauldron and red and orange peppers to fire. It’s a simple way to add a festive touch that’ll be a hit with kids and adults alike.

Pumpkin-Shaped Cheeseball

Italian seasoning and garlic powder add flavor to this pumpkin-shaped cheese ball. Everyone loves the crushed Doritos on the outside. These cheese balls are delicious and eye-catching, perfect for a Halloween or Fall gathering.

Additionally, you can decorate them with black olives, green olives, nuts, poppy seeds, or peppers to make them spooky for Halloween. You can also use edible lettuce and leaves for a Thanksgiving look.

Also, if you don’t have time to craft small cheese balls, try making one large pumpkin-shaped one. The technique is the same.

A plate of pumpkin-shaped cheese balls with pretzel stems, garnished with herbs, surrounded by Halloween-themed plastic spiders.

Ingredients

The full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions is at the bottom of this post. You can save a tree and the recipe to your personal and private recipe box here on Call Me PMc. This way, you’ll never misplace it.

cream cheese 450 g
cheddar cheese 8.8 oz | 250 g
Italian seasoning
garlic powder
parsley
cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper to taste
nacho cheese Doritos (1.41 oz | 40 g)
nacho paprika Doritos (1.41 oz | 40 g)
pretzel sticks

A bowl with Halloween-themed food decorations, featuring cheese balls shaped like pumpkins placed on a bed of pretzels. Plastic spiders and webs surround the bowl.

Pumpkin-Shaped Cheeseball Tips

Chill the cheese mixture before shaping it into balls. This will make it easier to handle.
When crushing the Doritos, make sure they are finely crumbled for a more even coating.
If you want to add a bit more heat, increase the cayenne pepper or use spicy Doritos.
Pretzel sticks work great for adding a crunchy “stem” to each cheeseball.

A plate of pumpkin-shaped cheese balls with pretzel stems is placed on a bed of pretzels, garnished with parsley. Decorative plastic spiders are arranged around the plate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes! These cheeseballs can be made a day in advance. Just store them in the fridge and wait to add the pretzel sticks until right before serving.

What can I use instead of Doritos?
If you prefer, you can use crushed crackers, tortilla chips, or even panko breadcrumbs for a different texture.

Can I freeze them?
It’s not recommended to freeze these cheeseballs, as the texture of the cheese can change. However, they stay fresh in the fridge for a couple of days.

How do I store these Halloween Cheese Balls?
Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

A plate of round, breaded cheese balls designed to look like pumpkins, topped with pretzel sticks and garnished with parsley, accompanied by plastic spider decorations.

Final Thoughts

Halloween cheeseballs are an easy, tasty snack that everyone at your party will love. They are flavorful, simple to make, and can be customized to suit your taste. These cheeseballs add a fun touch to any Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Fall table.

A bowl of pretzels topped with cheese balls decorated to look like pumpkins, garnished with parsley and surrounded by fake spiders and cobwebs on a gray surface.

Pumpkin-Shaped Cheeseball

Halloween cheeseballs are an easy, tasty snack that everyone at your party will love. They are flavorful, simple to make, and can be customized to suit your taste.

Author: Paula

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Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 1

refrigerate: 1

Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

16 ounces (about 450g) cream cheese at room temperature
2 cups (8.8 oz | 250 g) cheddar cheese grated (I don't recommend pre-shredded)
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons parsley chopped
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper to taste
½ cup (1.41 oz | 40 g) Cool ranch-flavored tortilla chips crushed, like *Doritos Cool Ranch
½ cup (1.41 oz | 40 g) Nacho cheese-flavored tortilla chips crushed, like *Doritos Nacho Cheese
6 whole pretzel sticks

Instructions

Gather your ingredients
Take a large bowl and add cream cheese, cheddar cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, green onion and cayenne pepper. Combine all together with a wooden spoon. Adjust salt and pepper to your liking.
Cover and allow to chill in the refrigerator for an hour.
Add crushed nacho cheese on a plate and crushed cool ranch chips on another plate for the coating.
Remove the chilled cream cheese mixture from the refrigerator. Use 2 tablespoons or a cookie scoop to form a ball.
Roll into your nacho coating.
Use a wooden stick or a skewer to make the line, or crease, of the pumpkin.
Break pretzel sticks into half and place onto the top center of each cheese ball. Garnish with parsley.
Refrigerator until ready to serve.
You can make these ahead and store in the fridge for two days in an airtight container. Refrigerate any leftovers.

Notes

*You can use one flavor of Doritos and make them the same color.
You can also add paprika to the Cool Ranch Doritos to make them orange instead of buying two bags of chips.

Nutrition

Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are important to you, I recommend calculating them yourself.

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