Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball Dip

Name: Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball Dip
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 2 (226 g) bricks of Canadian cream cheese; at room temperature; 1 ½ cups (375 ml) finely grated cheddar cheese; ¼ tsp (1 ml) salt; ¼ tsp (1 ml) pepper; ¼ tsp (1 ml) garlic powder; ¼ tsp (1 ml) onion powder; 1 bell pepper; stem removed (serve the rest of the bell pepper with your dip!); Equipment:; Rubber bands or twine

This fun and festive fall twist on a classic cheese ball dip. This recipe is made using cream cheese, Canadian cheddar, seasonings, and the stem of a bell pepper - and is cleverly crafted to look like a pumpkin! Serve it as an appetizer, snack, or as an addition to a charcuterie board.

Prep: 15 minutes
Refrigeration: 4 hours

Yields 8

Ingredients

2 (226 g) bricks of Canadian cream cheese, at room temperature
1 ½ cups (375 ml) finely grated cheddar cheese
¼ tsp (1 ml) salt
¼ tsp (1 ml) pepper
¼ tsp (1 ml) garlic powder
¼ tsp (1 ml) onion powder
1 bell pepper, stem removed (serve the rest of the bell pepper with your dip!)
Equipment:
Rubber bands or twine

READY FOR REWARDS?

Preparation

In a medium bowl, thoroughly combine the cream cheese, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and 1 cup of shredded cheese.

Form the cheese mixture into a ball shape using your hands.

Place a large sheet of plastic wrap on a surface. Sprinkle around 1/4 cup of shredded cheddar cheese onto the plastic wrap, then position the cheese ball on top, ensuring the bottom is covered.

Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheddar cheese onto the top and sides of the cheese ball, making sure it's fully coated.

Wrap the plastic wrap snugly around the cheese ball, ensuring complete coverage. You can use two layers of plastic wrap if necessary for thorough wrapping.

Securely tie twine around the cheese ball, wrapping it around four times. Alternatively, you can use four large rubber bands. Make sure these are tightly fastened around the wrapped cheese ball to give it a pumpkin shape.

Refrigerate the cheese ball until firm, for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Remove the twine or rubber bands and the plastic wrap. Press a bell pepper stem into the top of the cheese ball where all the lines intersect, creating a pumpkin-like appearance.

Serve immediately with crackers, vegetables, bread, or any other options of your choice.

Tips

Feel free to make this recipe your own by mixing in other flavors such as crumbled bacon, chopped jalapeño, garlic and parmesan, sliced scallions, chopped chives, etc.