Last Updated November 14th, 2022 at 10:20 am by Lisa
Serve a "pumpkin-shaped" Everything Bagel Cheese Ball appetizer for your next Fall party, it's always a hit! Easy to make ahead in 15 minutes, chill, and take to a gathering.
Every time I make this pumpkin cheese ball, people just go crazy and want the recipe. Oh, and we will talk about an easy way to get a real pumpkin stem and how to get that cute shape, it is easy peasy...
Although this easy cheeseball is not my original idea, it was all over Pinterest. I wanted an easy way to make the pumpkin shape, and most recipes had you carve it.
So I tried butcher string to shape it rather than fussing around carving it with a knife, SO MUCH EASIER! It takes just minutes, and I promise your friends and family will just LOVE IT.
How To Make A Pumpkin Cheese Ball
- Cream Cheese - soften at room temperature on the counter for an hour
- Everything Bagel Seasoning Trader Joe's brand or see recipe below
- Sour Cream
- Prepared Horseradish - you can find it in the condiments section
- Worcestershire sauce
- Sharp Cheddar - get a good aged one for extra flavor
- Fresh Chives - or swap in green onions aka scallions
- Pita Chips, Bagel Chips, Crackers, or Pretzels
- Real Pumpkin Stem - or a piece of celery, or even broccoli stems work!
- Carefully cut the top off a small pumpkin.
- Then, cut off the extra pumpkin and carefully remove the stem using a small knife.
- Reserve 2 tablespoons of Everything Bagel Seasoning and set aside for decoration.
- In a medium bowl, mix softened cream cheese, 2 tablespoons of Everything Bagel Seasoning, sour cream, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, grated sharp cheddar cheese, and fresh chives. Using a rubber spatula, blend until well combined, and form it into a round ball in the bowl.
- Next, place the cheese mixture on a large piece of plastic wrap, and pull the wrap up around the cheese ball and tie it tightly at the top to form a ball shape. Cut 4 pieces of butcher string about 2 feet long each. Lay them in a star pattern over each other, place the wrapped cheese ball in the center and tie up and around tightly to form the pumpkin shape. Chill in the fridge for at least a couple of hours or overnight until your party.
- When ready to serve your cheeseball, simply unwrap, cut the strings, place on a platter, and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of everything bagel seasoning all over evenly.
- Place the pumpkin stem on top, and serve with pita chips, crackers, or bagel chips! Unwrap, sprinkle well with Everything Bagel Seasoning, pop the pumpkin stem on top, and serve with crackers or pretzels.
Cheese Ball Variations
- Mix in some white cheddar cheese instead of regular sharp cheddar.
- Coat the outside of the pumpkin cheese ball with any orange-colored cheddar grated cheese, and add your stem on top to look just like a pumpkin!
- To make it a bit healthier, serve this appetizer with veggies like carrots, bell peppers cut into strips, or celery sticks.
- Add some crumbled cooked bacon or bacon bits into the cheese ball for an amazing flavor boost.
1 tablespoon white sesame seeds
1 tablespoon black sesame seeds
1 tablespoon dried minced garlic
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
2 teaspoons sea salt (or flaked sea salt)
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
Mix and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
And receive a free Cookout Planner as our thank you!
Gorgeous Autumn Entertaining Inspiration
Is this a gorgeous party spread for Autumn or what? My dear friend Lidy Baars from the French Garden House and I put together an easy outdoor party and menu, all set in her spectacular French garden. Her home literally feels just like I jetted off to France without a plane ticket!
We kept it simple and used beautiful things she has on hand, her home is just stunning in every way. You can see how Lidy displayed things high and low, using different textures and containers. For this Fall appetizer party, we served Hibiscus Tea Cocktails, Salted Caramel Apple Dip, and this Everything Bagel Cheese Ball with pita chips and breadsticks.
We gathered French Vintage cutting boards, buttery soft-aged linens, one-of-a-kind bowls, and different platters.
It all came together very easily, and food and drinks really look beautiful on this so very French table.
You could set this up indoors or in the garden depending on the weather of course.
Your party will come to life using what you have, cherished family items like books, and baskets, and add fresh real items like flowers, fruit, pumpkins, bread, and of course delicious food!!!
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Take a look at my Festive Holiday Cheese Balls shaped like Christmas tree ornaments too, they are SO delicious! And this recipe has FOUR flavors to choose from...all delish...how do you pick just one?
CRAVING MORE?
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Everything Bagel Cheese Ball
Ingredients
- 1 - 8 oz Cream Cheese softened, room temp
- 4 tablespoons Everything Bagel Seasoning (reserve 2 tablespoons for decoration) Trader Joes brand or see homemade recipe
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup Sharp Cheddar (aged) shredded
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives or sub green onions
- 1 bag Pita Chips bagel chips or crackers
- 1 pumpkin stem or piece of celery
Instructions
Easy Way To Remove A Pumpkin Stem
- Cut the top off a small pumpkin, (I used a Sugar Pumpkin) and cut off the extra pumpkin and stem using a small knife.
- NOTE: This works better than trying to pull the stem right off which will usually break. Use the pumpkin and seeds in another recipe, try my Roasted Pumpkin Seeds recipe!
Make "pumpkin-shaped" Everything Bagel Cheese Ball:
- Reserve 2 tablespoons Everything Bagel Seasoning and set aside for decoration.
- In a medium bowl, mix softened cream cheese, 2 tablespoons of Everything Bagel Seasoning, sour cream, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, grated sharp cheddar cheese, and fresh chives. Using a rubber spatula, mix and form a round ball in the bowl.
- Next, place the cheese ball mix on a large sheet of plastic wrap, and pull the wrap up around the cheese ball and tie tightly at the top to form a ball shape. Cut 4 pieces of butcher string about 2 feet long each. Lay them in a star pattern over each other, place the wrapped cheese ball in the center and tie up and around tightly to form the pumpkin shape. Chill in the refrigerator for at least a couple of hours or overnight until your party.
- When ready to serve your cheeseball, simply unwrap, cut the strings, sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of everything bagel seasoning all over evenly. Place the pumpkin stem on top, and serve with pita chips, crackers, pretzels, or bagel chips!
Notes
Leftovers
If you have cheese ball left try spreading it on toasted BAGELS! Amazing...everything bagel seasoning
- 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon dried minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
- 2 teaspoons sea salt (or flaked sea salt)
- 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
Cheese Ball Variations
- Mix in some white cheddar cheese instead of regular sharp cheddar.
- Coat the outside of the pumpkin cheese ball with any orange-colored cheddar grated cheese, and add your stem on top to look just like a pumpkin!
- To make it a bit healthier, serve this appetizer with veggies like carrots, bell peppers cut into strips, or celery sticks.
- Add some crumbled cooked bacon or bacon bits into the cheese ball for an amazing flavor boost.
Lisa, this was soooo good. I made it for a work party and they loved it! The flavor was wonderful. I only made one change. The pumpkin stem I had looked too big so I used the stem of a green pepper and it looked great. Love your creativity!
Melanie, that is wonderful! I have made this many times for my gal pals, and they love it too. Great idea to use a green pepper stem. Thanks so much for the 5 star rating, and awesome comment! I have lots more ideas for Thanksgiving Appetizers if you need anything else.https://www.delicioustable.com/thanksgiving-appetizers/ Wishing you all the best during the holidays!
Trying this Thanksgiving. Wish me luck!
OH you got this Louise!!!! I carefully wrote the recipe, and just made it for a live cooking class. So fun, enjoy it and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
This bagel recipe really look so tasty! Can't deny it! I'm thinking of trying this on the weekend. Thank you so much for sharing!
Hope you do! I made is a couple times over the holidays for my friends, and they LOVED it!!
Lisa, this cheese ball is absolutely adorable. And thanks for the recipe for the Everything Bagel Seasoning!!!
Hey Laura, thanks for the great comment...hope you try the Everything Bagel Seasoning on something delicious!
Lisa this is absolutely ADORABLE for the fall and our upcoming Thanksgiving gathering! Such a great cheese ball and in a pumpkin shape?! So darn neat. Will definitely be the talk of the party!
What a clever idea to use butchers string to shape the pumpkin and the flavors were great!
Thank you Barbara! I thought this would be much easier than carving the shape, glad you loved the recipe.