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Deck the table with this table talker: a Christmas reindeer cheese ball. It’s a perfect fun and festive holiday snack plate or Christmas appetizer (as well as a festive centerpiece at Christmas gatherings). Friends and family will giggle seeing the little reindeer’s face peering at them before digging in. The holiday cheese ball is ultra creamy – made with a blend of cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and ranch seasoning; this cheese ball offers a creamy, savory flavor that’s always a crowd-pleaser.
Make a showstopping Christmas reindeer cheese ball for the center of the table and watch your guests dive in.
If you’re Christmas crazy like me, you’ll love these reindeer crispy treats, my gingerbread linzer cookies, or these cranberry brie bites. Try them all!
Why You’ll Love It
Easy to make: With simple ingredients and minimal prep, you can whip up this Rudolph cheese ball in no time. It’s perfect for busy holiday seasons when you need something quick yet impressive.
Customizable: You can easily tailor the cheese ball to suit your tastes. Swap in different cheeses, nuts, or spices to make it your own. Add it to your charcuterie board for a touch of whimsy.
Make-ahead friendly: Prepare it a day or two in advance to save time on the day of your event. Just store it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
Fun twist on a cheese board: Make a festive Christmas cheese board in this style as a fun alternative.
Ingredients for a Christmas Cheese Ball
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Cream cheese: Use full-fat cream cheese for a creamy, rich texture. Make sure it’s softened to room temperature for easy mixing.
Mayonnaise: You can use light mayo or a mayo substitute if you like.
Ranch seasoning: You can use a store-bought packet or homemade ranch seasoning.
Green onions: Chop them finely for even distribution in the cheese ball.
Shredded cheddar cheese: Adds sharpness and depth of flavor. You can use mild, medium or sharp cheddar.
Finely chopped pecans: Add a crunchy texture and nutty flavor. You can substitute with walnuts or almonds if preferred.
Black olives: Use for the eyes of the reindeer.
Cherry tomato: Serves as the nose, adding a bright color and a sweet touch.
Pretzel twists: Used for the reindeer’s ears. Choose pretzels that are sturdy and have a good shape for this purpose.
Cranberries or diced olives: Optional for creating a mouth.
Sliced and cubed cheese: Offer a variety of cheeses such as gouda, provolone, or brie.
Variety of crackers and pretzels: Provides different textures and flavors to pair with the cheese ball and other items on the board.
Petite snacking pickles: Adds a tangy crunch that contrasts nicely with the creamy cheese ball.
Olives: Adds a savory touch and pairs well with the cheese and crackers.
Dried fruit: Adds natural sweetness and variety. Choose from cranberries, raisins or apricots.
Variety of nuts and seeds: Offers crunch and additional flavors. Include cashews, pecans and pumpkin seeds for a mix.
Fresh fruit or veggies: Adds freshness and color. Include options like grapes, apple slices or berries.
Jams: Provides a sweet contrast to the savory items. Offer a selection of jams for spreading on crackers.
How to Make Reindeer Cheese Ball
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Mix ingredients: Blend the cream cheese, mayonnaise, and ranch seasoning until smooth and creamy.
Add extras: Stir the green onions and shredded cheddar cheese into the cheese ball mixture until well combined.
Shape and chill: Form the cheese mixture into a ball and wrap it in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 3 or 4 hours, or until firm.
Coat and decorate: Roll the chilled cheese ball in the chopped pecans before serving. Garnish with black olives for the eyes, a cherry tomato for the nose, and pretzels for the ears.
Place cheese ball: Position the prepared Rudolph cheese ball in the center of your serving tray.
Arrange crackers: Start by placing a variety of crackers and dips around the cheese ball.
Add fresh items: Fill in the board with fresh fruit, pickles, olives, and assorted cheeses.
Complete the board: Add nuts and dried fruit to fill gaps and create a balanced spread.
Substitutions and Variations
Cream cheese: Make your Christmas cheese ball recipe with Neufchâtel cheese!
Mayonnaise: Swap with Greek yogurt (thick) or sour cream.
Ranch seasoning: Use a mix of dried herbs like dill, parsley, and chives.
Green onions: Use chives or chopped shallots instead.
Sharp cheddar cheese: Grated parmesan and blue cheese are yummy swaps.
Pecans: Try it with walnuts or almonds.
Black olives: Try green olives or capers.
Cherry tomato: Red bell peppers and small pickles work beautifully.
Dried fruit: Use apple slices, grapes, or berries for a fresh alternative.
Variety of nuts and seeds: Try roasted chickpeas or toasted pumpkin or sunflower seeds.
Fresh fruit or veggies: Include baby carrots, bell pepper strips, or cucumber slices. Use fruits that are in season for the freshest options.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizer: Serve your Christmas cheese ball as a festive start with dipping sauces like ranch or hummus.
Main: Follow your cheese ball appetizer with an easy sheet pan ham. It is honestly the easiest ham recipe. My holiday roast chicken is always popular with a good old side of roasted carrots.
Dessert: End with classic Canadian butter tarts (yes please!) or gingerbread cheesecake jars.
How to Store a Cheese Ball
Store: Store leftovers from the cheese ball in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Making the cheese ball ahead is a great time saver!
Freezer: To freeze the holiday cheese ball, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and then place it in a freezer-safe bag or container. It can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Thaw: To thaw the cheeseball, transfer it from the freezer to the refrigerator and let it thaw overnight. For quicker thawing, leave it out at room temperature for a couple of hours, but make sure it’s still cool before serving.
Top Tips
Make cute shapes: Use cookie cutters to make fun shapes from cheese slices or bell peppers.
Dry the fruit and vegetables: If using fresh fruit or veggies, pat dry them after washing to prevent water from running onto the board and other snacks.
Mixing thoroughly: Blend the cream cheese, mayonnaise, and ranch seasoning thoroughly to ensure an even flavor throughout the cheeseball.
Chilling time: Don’t rush the chilling process. Allow the cheeseball to firm up in the refrigerator for the full 3 to 4 hours for the best texture and easier handling.
Snack board variety: Offer a mix of textures and flavors on your snack board to complement the cheeseball. Include both savory and sweet options to cater to different tastes.
Keep it fresh: Keep fresh items like fruit and veggies separate from the cheeseball until serving to prevent them from becoming soggy or overripe.
Use room temperature ingredients: If you’re short on time, soften the cream cheese quickly by cutting it into small chunks and microwaving it in short bursts, but be careful not to overheat. Softened cream cheese is key to making this.
Holiday Cheese Ball FAQs
If you don’t have pretzels, you can use breadsticks, crackers or even vegetable slices like bell pepper strips or cucumber slices for the ears.
You can lightly grease your hands with oil or use plastic wrap to shape the cheese ball without it sticking. Chilling the mixture first also makes it easier to handle.
Yes, this cheese ball pairs well with sliced veggies, pretzels, breadsticks, or even fruit like apple slices. Mix up the snack board with whatever your guests prefer.
Rudolph Cheese Ball Recipe
Christmas Reindeer Cheese Ball
Ingredients
For the Cheeseball:
- 16 Ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 Tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 Packet ranch seasoning
- ½ Cup green onions, sliced
- 2 Cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 Cup pecans, finely chopped
- black olives, for the eyes
- cherry tomato, for the nose
- pretzel twists, for the ears
- cranberries, or diced olives, optional for the mouth
For the Snack Board:
- cheese, sliced or cubed
- Various crackers and pretzels
- petite snacking pickles
- olives
- dried fruits like cranberries, raisins or apricots
- nuts and seeds like pecans, cashews and pumpkin seeds
- fresh fruit or veggies like red or green grapes, berries or apple slices
- jam, to spread on the crackers
Instructions
Make the Cheeseball:
- Blend together the cream cheese, mayonnaise and ranch seasoning until smooth.
- Stir in the shredded cheese and green onions.
- Shape a ball out of the mixture and then wrap up the cheeseball in plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate until firm, about 3 or 4 hours.
- Roll the cheese ball in the chopped nuts when ready to serve.
- Add olives for eyes, a cherry tomato for a nose and some pretzels for ears. Use cranberries or diced black olives for a mouth, if liked.
Assemble the Snack Board:
- Add the prepared cheese ball to the middle of your serving tray.
- Arrange your crackers and dips on the board.
- Fill the board in by adding fresh fruit, olives, pickles, and cheeses.
- Add dried fruit and nuts to fill any gaps.
Notes
Dry the fruit and vegetables: If using fresh fruit or veggies, pat dry them after washing to prevent water from running onto the board and other snacks.
Mixing thoroughly: Blend the cream cheese, mayonnaise, and ranch seasoning thoroughly to ensure an even flavor throughout the cheeseball.
Chilling time: Don’t rush the chilling process. Allow the cheeseball to firm up in the refrigerator for the full 3 to 4 hours for the best texture and easier handling.
Snack board variety: Offer a mix of textures and flavors on your snack board to complement the cheeseball. Include both savory and sweet options to cater to different tastes.
Keep it fresh: Keep fresh items like fruit and veggies separate from the cheeseball until serving to prevent them from becoming soggy or overripe.
Use room temperature ingredients: If you’re short on time, soften the cream cheese quickly by cutting it into small chunks and microwaving it in short bursts, but be careful not to overheat. Softened cream cheese is key to making this.
Nutrition
Spread holiday cheer with this festive table talker: a charming Christmas reindeer cheese ball! Guests will chuckle at the sight of the cute little reindeer face before diving in. This cheese ball is irresistibly creamy, combining smooth cream cheese, sharp cheddar, and savory ranch seasoning for a flavor that’s sure to be a hit with everyone.
Other Christmas Cozy Recipes To Try
- Make these incredible Linzer cookies as a classic Christmas treat.
- Nothing can be more impressive than a panettone (especially to an Italian!)
- Sweet and delicious graham cracker treats are all crunch and toffee flavor, friends.
- You can’t go wrong with a gorgeous cranberry orange cheese ball.
- A cheesy veggie casserole is a hit as a veggie side or a vegetarian main at Christmas time.
- How cute is this little Ferrero Rocher tree? It’s got to be on your table.
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.