Pumpkin Mini Cheese Balls

Turn your appetizer into a festive Halloween treat with these adorable pumpkin-shaped mini cheese balls!

20 min Serves 10 Medium

Our own summary of the original by Maggie — the full post and photos live at thelovenerds.com.

These pumpkin mini cheese balls are a fun and savory Halloween snack. Made with cream cheese, ranch mix, bacon, and cheddar, they're shaped into small balls, chilled, and scored to look like pumpkins. A pretzel stick and parsley leaf complete the cute pumpkin look.

Ingredients

8 ounces Reduced Fat Cream Cheese

1 ounce Dry Ranch Mix

3 Bacon Strips, (cooked and chopped)

1 cup Shredded Cheddar or Mexican Blend Cheese

1-2 Green Onions, chopped, (optional)

Pretzel Sticks, halved, (garnish)

Fresh Parsley Leaves, (garnish)

Directions

Combine cream cheese, ranch mix, bacon, shredded cheese, and optional green onions in a bowl and mix thoroughly.

Shape the mixture into balls about 2 inches in diameter (or your preferred size).

If the mixture is sticky, roll the balls in a little extra shredded cheese to coat, then roll between your palms again so the cheese adheres smoothly.

Refrigerate the cheese balls for about 10 minutes to firm up.

Remove from the fridge and use a butter knife or icing knife to gently score about 8 wedge lines on each ball, being careful not to cut too deep to avoid breaking the ball.

Insert half a pretzel stick into the top of each cheese ball, then press a small parsley leaf next to it to resemble a pumpkin stem and leaf.