Dress up your holiday appetizer table with this Reindeer Cheese Ball made with everything bagel seasoning for a delicious dip that pairs nicely with crackers and veggies!
Tis’ the season for eating! This is the time of year of cooking, baking and trying all the food. I love coming up with new recipes for the holidays and this one is definitely a crowd pleaser. While this recipe has a reindeer face, you can make this recipe all year long and omit the reindeer features and make it into a cheese ball instead.
Everything Bagel Cheese Ball
Cheese balls are usually made with cream cheese, cheddar cheese, seasonings and spices but this reindeer cheese ball recipe is different. It’s made with cream cheese, chives, cheddar cheese, everything bagel and ranch seasoning. You already know that everything but bagel seasoning is good on everything and now adding it to a cheese ball is a game changer. I love the combination of flavors in this recipe and will definitely be a crowd pleaser at your holiday gathering. It’s almost too cute to eat!
Tips & Variations on Making a Cheese Ball
- You could skip the everything bagel seasoning and make a traditional cheese ball and then add the eyes, nose and antlers to make it a reindeer.
- Save on time and make this the night before your party.
- For a bit of a kick add a few drops of hot sauce.
- Can add cooked bacon crumbles to the cheese ball mix for more flavor.
How to Store a Cheese Ball
If you want to save on time, you can whip this cheese ball up the night before you gathering. Leave the eyes, nose and antlers off and wrap the cheese ball tightly in plastic wrap and store in fridge. When ready to serve take out, unwrap plastic wrap and add the eyes, nose and antlers on a platter with veggies or crackers. For any remaining leftovers, wrap back up in plastic and store in fridge for up to 3 days.
Reindeer Cheese Ball Ingredients
2 blocks cream cheese, room temperature
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 package (28g) ranch seasoning mix
2 tsp chives, chopped
Everything Bagel Seasoning (I used Trader Joe’s)
2 black olives (for the eyes)
1 cherry tomato (for the nose)
2 original sized pretzels (for antlers)
How to Make Reindeer Cheese Ball
Set the cream cheese out on the counter for a few hours or until it is at room temperature.
In a bowl, combine cream cheese and ranch seasoning. Mix until well blended. Add the chives to the bowl and mix thoroughly.
Add shredded cheese to the cream cheese mixture and combine.
Lay a sheet of plastic wrap on the counter and transfer the cheese mixture to the sheet of plastic wrap and use the wrap to form cheese mixture into a ball. (Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight. Can be made several days ahead of party.)
Right before serving, roll the cheese ball into everything bagel seasoning and place on a serving plate/tray.
Insert two black olives for eyes and one cherry tomato as a nose. Add pretzels for antlers and serve with crackers or veggies.
Everything Bagel Ranch Reindeer Cheese Ball
Dress up your holiday appetizer table with this Reindeer Cheese Ball made with everything bagel seasoning for a delicious dip that pairs nicely with crackers and veggies!
Ingredients
- 2 blocks cream cheese, room temperature
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 package (28g) ranch seasoning mix
- 2 tsp chives, chopped
- Everything Bagel Seasoning (We used Trader Joe’s)
- 2 black olives (for the eyes)
- 1 cherry tomato (for the nose)
- 2 original sized pretzels (for antlers)
Instructions
- Set the cream cheese out on the counter for a few hours or until it is at room temperature.
- In a bowl, combine cream cheese and ranch seasoning. Mix until well blended. Add the chives to the bowl and mix thoroughly. Add shredded cheese to the cream cheese mixture and combine.
- Lay a sheet of plastic wrap on the counter and transfer the cheese mixture to the sheet of plastic wrap and use the wrap to form cheese mixture into a ball. (Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight. Can be made several days ahead of party.)
- Right before serving, roll the cheese ball into everything bagel seasoning and place on a serving plate/tray.
- Insert two black olives for eyes and one cherry tomato as a nose. Add pretzels for antlers and serve with crackers or veggies.
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