This Hedgehog Cheese Ball is easy to make and will be a crowd pleaser at your next Holiday gathering. When it comes to party snacks, cheese balls are always a hit.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Looking for an easy appetizer that will WOW your guests? Look no further than this Hedgehog Cheese ball! Made with just a few simple ingredients, this cheese ball is perfect for any occasion.
Whether you make this hedgehog cheese ball with almonds, or a pecan cheese ball, your guests are sure to love it!
For more Holiday recipes see our Cheesecake Cocktails, Christmas Wreath Appetizer, and Christmas Bundt Cake.
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Ingredients
This hedgehog cheese ball is my latest creation, and it's sure to be a hit at your next get together! It's made with cream cheese, grated cheese, pecans, plus some simple spices, and it's so easy to put together.
Just mix everything together, form into a teardrop shape, decorate with pecans, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Cream Cheese
- Cheddar Cheese, shredded. Use Mild, Medium, Sharp, or even a blend of several flavors of shredded cheese.
- Bacon bits. Use your own crumbled bacon, or purchase Real Bacon Bits (don't use the artificial bacon bits though, they will get soggy.)
- Onion Soup mix, any brand (use 1 envelope).
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Minced chives
- Paprika
- Cayenne pepper, ground
- Thyme, fresh or dried
- Salt
- Pecans halves (or whole toasted Almonds).
- Raisins for eyes
- Black Peppercorn for nose.
- Fresh herbs or lettuces for garnish on the display tray.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make a Hedgehog Cheese Ball
Set the cream cheese in a large mixing bowl out to soften up a bit. It will make mixing thing up easier.
Prepare Ingredients
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spread some pecans onto a cookie sheet and set in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes to lightly toast the nuts. Pick out about 1 cups worth of toasted pecan halves, Set aside for decorating later.
- In the mixing bowl with the softened cream cheese, add the bacon bits, Worcestershire sauce, onion soup mix, chives, and spices.
Mix Ingredients
- Using either a spatula or a hand mixer, blend all the ingredients in the bowl until evenly distributed.
- Scrape the sides of the bowl to combine all ingredients and to gather into a mass in the center of the bowl.
Shape into a Teardrop Shape
- Scrape the cheese mixture onto a sheet of plastic wrap. Place another piece of plastic wrap on top also, and then start shaping the mixture into a oval teardrop shape.
The smaller, pointy end will be the snout of the hedgehog. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for an hour.
Chill before Decorating
- Unwrap the hedgehog cheese ball onto a platter or serving board, making sure it's large enough to accommodate crackers or greenery.
Decorate the Cheese Ball
- Start pressing in the pecan halves in rows on the back of the cheese ball. Place the two raisins as eyeballs, and a large peppercorn as a nose.
- Lay rosemary sprigs or other fresh herbs, to include small bits of evergreen and mini pine cones as decoration along side the cheese ball.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this Hedgehog cheese ball as an appetizer spread for any winter themed gathering. It pairs beautifully with crackers and other finger foods. Try adding some Marinated Feta Cheese, Traditional Pork Lumpia rolls, and Italian Charcuterie Board.
Thanksgiving, Christmas, or even Superbowl, this hedgehog cheese ball is a fun, festive, and welcome addition.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
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Substitutions
Some great tasty substitutions:
- Spicy - add chili pepper flakes or hot Hungarian paprika instead of the regular sweet paprika. Use some Texas Pete hot sauce instead of the Worcestershire sauce. Even a ¼ teaspoon of ground Chipotle pepper will add a touch of spicy heat.
- Instead of Bacon - You can omit the bacon crumbles or use chopped fruits or nuts instead.
- Buttermilk Ranch - Try substituting a packet of Buttermilk Ranch salad dressing mix instead of the dry onion soup mix.
Variations
This basic cheeseball mixture can be shaped into a ball for any occasion with these simple ideas:
- Keto Cheese ball - If you look at the ingredient list, you will notice that this hedgehog cheese ball recipe is a naturally Keto! It's a great appetizer if you follow this diet, just serve with Keto friendly veggies.
- Olive Cheese ball - Blend in about ½ cup of your favorite chopped olives, drained.
- Cranberry Cheese ball - Roll the cheese ball into a bowl of chopped cranberries for an absolutely fantastic variation. The tart cranberries really compliment the onion soup and seasoning blend!
Equipment
You will want a nice serving platter or wooden cutting board to present your hedgehog cheeseball on.
- Serving Platter - This set of three serving platters give you a great range of sizes!
- Wood Serving board
Storage
You can mix up this cheese mixture ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for a few days. Cover any leftovers with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
Tips for Success
- This recipe makes a pretty large hedgehog cheese ball. If you need a smaller serving, simply halve the recipe to use only one package of cream cheese.
- Pecan halves, Walnut halves, and whole Almond are tastier in this cheese ball when they are lightly toasted first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! I made my last hedgehog cheeseball 8 weeks in advance and froze it! Wrap it well with plastic wrap first, then wrap again with some aluminum foil. Date the bundle and place in your freezer for up to 3 months.
Food Safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
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📖 Recipe
Hedgehog Cheese ball
Ingredients
- 2 8 oz cream cheese packages
- 1¼ cups Cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 envelope Onion soup mix
- 2 tablespoon chives chopped
- 4 oz Bacon crumbles cooked & crumbled, or use Real Bacon Bits
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper ground
- ¼ teaspoon thyme dried or fresh leaves
- 1 cup pecan halves lightly toasted
- 2 raisins for eyes
- 1 black peppercorn for nose
- 6 rosemary sprigs for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spread some pecans onto a cookie sheet and set in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes to lightly toast the nuts. Remove pan and cool.
- Set the cream cheese in a large mixing bowl out to soften up a bit. It will make mixing thing up easier. Pick out about 1 cups worth of toasted pecan halves, Set aside for decorating later.
- In the mixing bowl with the softened cream cheese, add the bacon bits, Worcestershire sauce, onion soup mix, chives, and spices.2 8 oz cream cheese, 1¼ cups Cheddar cheese, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 envelope Onion soup mix, 2 tablespoon chives, 4 oz Bacon crumbles, ½ teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ¼ teaspoon thyme
- Using either a spatula or a hand mixer, blend all the ingredients in the bowl until evenly distributed. Scrape the sides of the bowl to combine all ingredients and to gather into a mass in the center of the bowl.
- Scrape the cheese mixture onto a sheet of plastic wrap. Place another piece of plastic wrap on top also, and then start shaping the mixture into a oval teardrop shape. The smaller, pointy end will be the snout of the hedgehog. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for an hour.
- Unwrap the hedgehog cheeseball onto a platter or serving board, making sure it's large enough to accommodate crackers or greenery.
- Start pressing in the pecan halves in rows on the back of the cheese ball. Place the two raisins as eyeballs, and a large peppercorn as a nose.Lay rosemary sprigs or other fresh herbs, to include small bits of evergreen and mini pine cones as decoration along side the cheese ball. Serve immediately.1 cup pecan halves, 1 black peppercorn, 6 rosemary sprigs
Notes
- You can refrigerate/freeze until ready to serve. If freezing, defrost in the refrigerator overnight first.
- This recipe makes a pretty large hedgehog cheese ball. If you need a smaller serving, simply halve the recipe to use only one package of cream cheese.
- Pecan halves, Walnut halves, and whole Almond are tastier in this cheese ball when they are lightly toasted first.
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