Festive Rudolph Cheeseball: Christmas appetizer

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This adorable Rudolph Cheeseball will be the hit of your holiday party! A classic and easy cheeseball, this delicious appetizer is coated in chopped pecans and decorated to look like Rudolph!

It’s much easier to make than it seems, and that’s another reason I love it. You’ll also love my Pineapple Cheeseball. It’s a winner!

Rudolph Cheeseball – Simple Ingredients At A Glance

Softened Cream Cheese —A block of cream cheese takes about 45 minutes to an hour to reach room temperature. Full-fat cream cheese is best for this recipe.
Shredded Cheddar Cheese – You can use mild, medium or sharp.
Chopped Pecans – The cheese mixture is formed into a ball before rolling in pecans.
Ranch Seasoning Mix (1 ounce)
Whole Black Olives – For the eyes!
Cherry Tomato – You’ll need one cherry tomato for Rudolph’s nose.
2 Pretzels for pretzel antlers – the regular kind, not the mini.
Ritz Crackers or your favorite crackers to serve with the cheeseball

Items Needed:

3 Toothpicks
Rubber Gloves (optional)
Plastic Wrap

Easy Step-By-Step Directions (full recipe card down below!)

Combine cream cheese, ranch seasoning, and shredded cheddar cheese in a medium mixing bowl. You can combine the cheeseball ingredients by hand or place it in the bowl of a stand mixer. Use the paddle attachment and mix on low just until combined.

Using gloves if desired, roll the cheese ball mixture into a ball.

Wrap in plastic wrap and place in the fridge to chill for about four hours.

Place the chopped pecans in a small bowl or plate and break up any larger pieces.

Using gloves once again, if desired, scoop the pecans into your hand and press them into the cheeseball. This may seem difficult at first because the cheeseball will be a little stiff from chilling in the fridge.

You may not use all the pecans but keep pressing until you can’t see the cheeseball underneath the pecans. Do not coat the flat bottom part of the cheeseball, or it won’t sit properly.

Break two regular-sized pretzels in half for the antlers and remove the little center portions from the best pieces. I used Utz pretzels. If you don’t want to mess with breaking the pretzels, use a whole pretzel for each antler.

Stick an antler into the top left side of the cheeseball and repeat on the right top side with the other antler.

Use toothpicks to place where you want the eyes and nose, leaving the pointy part slightly poking out.

Cut both olives in half, using the side without the big hole as the eyes. I attached them to the toothpicks using the thickest edge of the inside of the olive. This step requires gentleness.

Attach the cherry tomato to the toothpick for the nose and gently push it into the cheeseball so that it nestles more closely to the cheeseball, making it look more natural. You now have a reindeer cheese ball! It’s the perfect appetizer.

Storage and Serving Tips

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. Do not freeze.

Be sure to sort through your chopped pecans and break the larger pieces into smaller pieces. This makes it easier to coat the cheeseball and looks better as well.

My toothpicks were super long, so I broke them down so they were easier to work with.

Be sure to place the cheeseball in the fridge exactly how you want it to sit once it’s ready because the cheeseball hardens once chilled, and however it hardens is how it will sit once decorated.

If you don’t like the way the nose and eyes are sitting, it won’t mess up the cheeseball for you to pull the toothpicks out and reposition them.

Christmas Party Pairing Tips

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer Cheeseball shines at Christmas parties and winter celebrations. It pairs exceptionally well with various crackers, such as water crackers, wheat thins, or pretzel crisps. For a healthier option, serve it with sliced apples, pears, or celery sticks.

Complement the cheeseball with a charcuterie board featuring cured meats, olives, and different nuts. This combination creates a well-rounded appetizer spread.

My Cranberry Apple Spritzer Mocktail pairs perfectly with cheeseballs!

Check Out More Of My Favorite Recipes!

Yield: 10 Servings