This Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball is an adorable and deliciously fun appetizer! Throw it together in just a few minutes with a handful of classic cheese ball ingredients and some rubber bands. The Festive Fall Appetizer is Guaranteed to be a Hit. Â
FAQ’s About Making a Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball:
Is this Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball Gluten Free? – Yes! This Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball recipe is gluten free. Just be sure to serve it with gluten free crackers or chips.
Can I make the Cheese Ball ahead of time? – Yes, in fact it’s best if it sits in the fridge for at least 2 hours. The cheese ball sets wonderfully overnight. So it’s perfect for making ahead of time for fall or Halloween parties.
What else can I use to coat the pumpkin, if I don’t like jalapeno cheetos? – You can coat the cheeseball in regular cheetos or the cheesy puff kind. Doritos are another great option. From nacho cheese to jalapeno cheddar. there’s many delicious choices. You can also use shredded cheddar cheese but be sure to grate your own because the store bought grated cheese has a starch coating so it doesn’t stick together. In this case you want it to stick to itself.
What else can I use to make a stem, if I don’t have a pepper stem? – Some other things you can use to make a stem are: a broccoli stem, a stem from a squash, a piece of celery or gluten free pretzels.
Is there something else i can put in the cheese ball besides jalapenos? – Yes, if you’re not a fan of jalapeños, you can make this cheese ball with chopped up pickles, roasted red peppers, sun dried tomatoes or try using onion soup mix or sour cream and onion or ranch dip mix. Another option is to used to use flavoured cream cheese.
What Ingredients Do You Need To Make a Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball?
Here’s what you’ll need: (See recipe card below for full printable recipe)
- Cream Cheese
- Cheddar Cheese
- Jalapeños
- Garlic Powder
- Jalapeno Cheddar CheetosÂ
- Stem from a bell pepper for the stem on your cheese ball shaped pumpkin.
How Do You Make a Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball?
Here’s how to make them: (See recipe card below for full printable recipe)
Step 1: Dice up the jalapeños into very small pieces, then grate the cheddar cheese.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, add the cream cheese. Use a mixer to soften the cream cheese then add the garlic powder, cheddar cheese and jalapeños. Mix until it’s thoroughly combined.
Step 3: Use a food processor to grind up the jalapeño cheetos into crumbs. Next spread out some plastic wrap (I use 3 layers) flat onto the counter. Use a spoon and spread out 3/4 of the cheeto crumbs into a flattened circle on top of the plastic wrap. (press down on the circle with the bottom of the spoon.)
Step 4: Using a spatula make the jalapeño cream cheese mixture into a ball shape in the bottom of the bowl. Then transfer it onto the middle of the cheeto circle. Use a spoon or spatula to smooth the cream cheese into a round pumpkin shape.
Step 5: Slowly pull the plastic wrap up over the cream cheese mixture covering the sides with the cheeto crumbs. Use the remaining cheetos crumbs to cover the top of the pumpkin. use a spoon to press the top down, smoothing it out. Then, twist the plastic wrap together at the top and tighten with an elastic. Press the the cheese ball into the desired shape.
Step 6: Use 4 – 5 elastic bands to wrap the cheese ball into a pumpkin shape (see the pictures in the post for how to do this). Chill the cheese ball in the fridge for at least 2 hours, then remove the rubber bands. Top your pumpkin cheese ball with a bell pepper stem and serve with gluten free crackers or chips of your choice.
Follow OGF On Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram & YouTube
MORE EASY GLUTEN FREE RECIPES MADE FOR SHARING:
RECIPE NOTES FOR MAKING THE BEST PUMPKIN SHAPED CHEESE BALL:
- Leftover cheese ball can be stored for 3-4 days, tightly wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator.
- If you’re not a fan of jalapeños you can make this cheese ball with chopped up pickles, roasted red peppers, sun dried tomatoes or try using onion soup mix or sour cream and onion or ranch dip mix. Another option is to used to use flavoured cream cheese.
- You can coat the cheeseball in regular (non jalapeños) cheetos or the cheesy puff kind. Crushed Doritos are another great option.
- The pumpkin cheese ball can also be coated with shredded cheddar cheese but be sure to grate your own because the store bought grated cheese has a starch coating so it doesn’t stick together. In this case you want it to stick to itself.
- I don’t soften (leave it out) the cream cheese before mixing it. My mixer is able to mix the cold cream cheese without a problem. It does take a minute or two. The cheese ball sets faster with the cream cheese cold.
DON’T MISS ANY NEW RECIPES:
Don’t miss any recipes like this Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball. If you aren’t already Following my Keto/Gluten Free Recipe Page on Facebook where I Post all my New Recipes, you can Join Here and Follow me on Pinterest Here.
★DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? PLEASE GIVE IT A STAR RATING BELOW!★
Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball
Ingredients
- 2 8 oz Cream Cheese
- 1/2 Cup Cheddar Cheese shredded
- 5 Jalapenos
- 1 Tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 Cup Jalapeno Cheetos crushed
- 1 Bell Pepper Stem
Instructions
- Dice up the jalapenos into very small pieces, then grate the cheddar cheese.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the cream cheese. Use a mixer to soften the cream cheese then add the garlic powder, cheddar cheese and jalapenos. Mix until it's thoroughly combined.
- Use a food processor to grind up the jalapeno cheetos into crumbs. Next spread out some plastic wrap (I use 3 layers) flat onto the counter. Use a spoon and spread out 3/4 of the cheeto crumbs into a flattened circle on top of the plastic wrap. (press down on the circle with the bottom of the spoon.)
- Using a spatula make the jalapeno cream cheese mixture into a ball shape in the bottom of the bowl. Then transfer it onto the middle of the cheeto circle. Use a spoon or spatula to smooth the cream cheese into a round pumpkin shape.
- Slowly pull the plastic wrap up over the cream cheese mixture covering the sides with the cheeto crumbs. Use the remaining cheetos crumbs to cover the top of the pumpkin. use a spoon to press the top down, smoothing it out. Then, twist the plastic wrap together at the top and tighten with an elastic. Press the the cheese ball into the desired shape.
- Use 4 - 5 elastic bands to wrap the cheese ball into a pumpkin shape (see the pictures in the post for how to do this). Chill the cheese ball in the fridge for at least 2 hours, then remove the rubber bands. Top your pumpkin cheese ball with a bell pepper stem and serve with gluten free crackers or chips of your choice.
Notes
- Leftover cheese ball can be stored for 3-4 days, tightly wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator.
- If you're not a fan of jalapenos you can make this cheese ball with chopped up pickles, roasted red peppers, sun dried tomatoes or try using onion soup mix or sour cream and onion dip mix. Another option is to used to use flavoured cream cheese.Â
- You can coat the cheeseball in regular (non jalapeno) cheetos or the cheesy puff kind. Crushed Doritos are another great option.
Let’s Be Friends on Pinterest! I’m Always Sharing Great Recipes!Â
>>Click Here To Pin This Recipe<<
More Easy Gluten Free Recipes:
If you Love this Easy Gluten Free Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball Recipe, check out some of my other Gluten Free Recipes Here:
- Creamy Jalapeno Sauce
- 20 Minute Peanut Butter NoodlesÂ
- Pickle De Gallo Â
- Creamy Greek Whipped Feta Dip Â
Tried this recipe? Mention @officiallyglutenfree or tag #officiallyglutenfree to share your creations!
© Copyright OfficiallyGlutenFree (Lyndsay Baker). I’d love you to share a link to these recipes, but please DO NOT COPY/PASTE the recipes or instructions to social media/websites. Please consider using a photo with a link to the recipe instead.
Follow OGF On Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram & YouTube
Gluten Free Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball Recipe
Keywords: Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball; Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball Recipe; Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball Recipes; Appetizer Recipes using Cheetos; Easy Fall Appetizer Recipes; gluten free jalapeño cheddar cheese ball Recipes; easy no cook appetizer recipes; easy jalapeño and cheddar cheese ball recipes; no cook game day recipe; family friendly appetizer recipes; savoury appetizers; cheese ball recipes using jalapeños; best cheese ball recipe; jalapeño cheese ball; jalapeño Cheddar Cheese Ball Shaped Like a Pumpkin