Turkey Cheese Ball
Thanksgiving Appetizer
JUMP TO RECIPE
(Discloser: This is a sponsored post, and I received free product from Nature’s Flavors; However, all opinions and thoughts are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Inspiration Apron running!)
Cheese balls are a holiday tradition! This adorable Turkey Cheese Ball will be the hit of your Thanksgiving or Christmas party. Invite guests to snack on this festive cheese ball appetizer or just make it plain, rolled in finely chopped pecans. I don’t know about where you live, but I’m from the south and there was a cheese ball at every holiday party. This is such an easy appetizer to put together and bursting with creamy and delicious cheese flavor. I added some organic hickory smoke flavor to mimic the smoked cheese I use to love from Hickory Farms (especially since they seem to fading into non-existence along with malls!) Makes approximately a 5 1/2-inch diameter cheese ball that serves about 10-12 guests.
To find the organic Hickory Smoke flavor extract, visit Nature’s Flavors by clicking HERE.
Ingredients:
16 oz cream cheese, softened
8 oz sharp cheddar cheese block, grated
1/2 tsp Nature’s Flavors Hickory Smoke flavor extract
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp Tabasco pepper sauce
1/2 tsp rubbed sage
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp garlic powder
dash of pepper
3/4 cup pecans, finely chopped
Ingredients for turkey garnish (optional):
Red, orange, and yellow bell peppers, pecan halves, large pretzels and two candy eyes.
How to make a cheese ball
Instructions:
With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese in a large mixing bowl until smooth.
Next, add cheddar cheese, smoke extract, Worcestershire, hot sauce, sage, paprika, garlic powder and pepper and mix together until well blended with electric beater.
Scrape down sides of bowl and form a ball shape. Cover and chill in fridge for 5-8 minutes to harden just a little more before forming and rolling in pecans.
Scatter finely chopped pecans on a plate. Remove chilled cheese ball from fridge and with plastic wrap or lightly greased hands, form into a ball shape.
Place cheese ball in center of pecans and either roll or scoop and press gently into sides of cheese ball. Serve as is with crackers or see next step for making a turkey.
How to make a turkey cheese ball
To make a Turkey cheese ball:
Slice bell peppers into long triangle shapes and alternative colors for tail feathers, sticking small end of triangle into the cheese ball. Add large pretzels behind the peppers and pecan halves in front of the peppers.
Next, cut a yellow pepper into six tiny slivers and use for feet and use a red pepper triangle in front for the head. Add candy eyeballs and a sliver of yellow pepper for the beak by adhering with a little leftover cheese mixture.
Cover and place in refrigerator until ready to serve. Serve with your favorite crackers, spreading them around the cheese ball. Cheese ball will be safe to consume for up to 2 hours before needing to be placed back in the fridge, but it probably will be all eaten before then!
Enjoy!
💜Julie
Turkey Cheese Ball
Ingredients
Instructions
- With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese in a large mixing bowl until smooth.
- Next, add cheddar cheese, smoke extract, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, sage, paprika, garlic powder and pepper and mix together until well blended with electric beater.
- Scrape down sides of bowl and form a ball shape. Cover and chill in fridge for 5-8 minutes to harden just a little more before forming and rolling in pecans.
- Scatter finely chopped pecans on a plate. Remove chilled cheese ball from fridge and with plastic wrap or lightly greased hands, form into a ball shape.
- Place cheese ball in center of pecans and either roll or scoop and press gently into sides of cheese ball. Serve as is with crackers or see next step for making a turkey.
- Slice bell peppers into long triangle shapes and alternate colors for tail feathers, sticking small end of triangle into the cheese ball. Add large pretzels behind the peppers and pecan halves in front of the peppers.
- Next, cut a yellow pepper into six tiny slivers and use for feet and use a red pepper triangle in front for the head. Add candy eyeballs and a sliver of yellow pepper for the beak by adhering with a little leftover cheese mixture.
Notes
Cheese ball without peppers will store safely in fridge for up to one week. Turkey garnished cheese ball with fresh bell peppers will last as long as the cut peppers, about 2 days. (This is just a guide to let you know how far ahead of time you can prepare before party. You can also wait to garnish like a turkey until the day of, just let cheese ball soften a bit a room temperature so the peppers, pretzels and pecans with easily push in.)
Nutrition Facts
Calories
332.65Fat (grams)
29.31Sat. Fat (grams)
14.03Carbs (grams)
3.74Fiber (grams)
0.65Net carbs
3.06Sugar (grams)
1.79Protein (grams)
14.91Sodium (milligrams)
279.86Cholesterol (grams)
80.06Nutrition Disclaimer: Nutritional Information is provided as a courtesy only and should be viewed as an estimate. Ingredients can vary with brands and size and Inspiration Apron makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
