Description
This charming Ranch Snowman Cheeseball is a festive and savory appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. Made with creamy ranch-flavored cream cheese and mozzarella, it’s shaped into a snowman and decorated with peppercorn eyes and a carrot nose. This no-cook, make-ahead recipe is both fun and delicious, sure to be a hit on any party platter.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheeseball Mixture
- 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 ounce packet of dry ranch seasoning mix
- 2 cups finely shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Decorations
- 1 small carrot (for the nose)
- 10 whole black peppercorns (for eyes, mouth, buttons)
Instructions
- Prepare the Cheese Mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese, and the dry ranch seasoning mix. Stir until the mixture is smooth and evenly blended.
- Form Bottom Ball: Lay out two pieces of plastic wrap. Place approximately 1.5 cups of the cream cheese mixture onto the first piece of plastic wrap; this will be the larger bottom portion of the snowman.
- Form Top Ball: Place the remaining cream cheese mixture (about 1 cup) onto the second piece of plastic wrap to form the smaller top portion of the snowman.
- Shape and Chill: Using greased hands, roll each portion into smooth balls by twisting the plastic wrap. Place them in the refrigerator and chill for about 2 hours or until firm and set.
- Coat with Cheese: After chilling, unwrap the cheeseballs and gently roll each one in the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese until they are fully coated and well covered.
- Assemble the Snowman: Stack the smaller cheeseball on top of the larger one to create the snowman shape. Use the black peppercorns to represent the eyes, mouth, and buttons as desired.
- Add the Carrot Nose: Cut a small bite-sized piece of the carrot and insert it into the top ball to serve as the snowman’s nose.
Notes
- You can prepare the cheeseballs a day ahead and refrigerate until serving to save time.
- Use plastic wrap to help roll and shape the cheeseballs easily without sticking.
- For added flair, you can use small herbs or other edible decorations for the snowman’s accessories.
- Serve with crackers, breadsticks, or vegetable sticks for a festive appetizer.
