Christmas Reindeer Cheese Ball
Make a showstopping Christmas reindeer cheese ball for the center of the table and watch your guests dive in.
Servings: 8
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
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.
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
Calories: 435kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 649mg | Potassium: 165mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1116IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 268mg | Iron: 1mg
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