Halloween Scarecrow Cheese Ball

Directions

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Arrange the shredded Parmesan in a circle about 4.5 to 5 inches in diameter on the sheet. Bake until melted and just starting to brown, about 7 to 8 minutes. Quickly flip the cheese circle onto the outside of a cone-shaped strainer (or similar) using the parchment or a spatula. Gently shape with a glass or cup and let cool.
2. Lower oven to 350°F. Line another baking sheet with parchment. Roll the phyllo sheets tightly and slice very thinly. Separate the strands and spread on the sheet. Lightly spray with cooking spray. Bake until golden, about 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool.
3. In a bowl, beat cream cheese, toasted pecans, paprika, and black pepper with an electric mixer on medium until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the grated smoked Cheddar and mix until just combined, about 1 to 2 minutes. With wet hands, form the mixture into a ball.
4. Assemble the scarecrow: Place the cheese ball on a serving plate. Decorate with the phyllo strands as hair and top with the Parmesan hat. Slice the olive thinly for eyes and use a pecan half for the nose. Serve with woven wheat crackers.