Do you know the best part about making a cheese ball? You can put anything you want in it! The best base is always cream cheese and shredded cheese, but from there, use your imagination! We picked up a jar of roasted red peppers, chopped them up and added a few other items we had in the fridge. This is such an easy last minute thing to whip up because you can literally use any combination of your favorite ingredients. We found the idea for the Rudolph design on Pinterest. (Where all the best things live!) Rather than using nuts, we opted for crushed pretzels. With all the peanut and tree nut allergies, it just felt so much safer and it was absolutely delicious! What are your favorite holiday cheese ball ingredients? Tell us in the comments below!

Photo Credit & Food Styling Leah Nolan
Rudolph Cheese Ball
  • Prep time: 10min
  • Cook time:
  • Total time: 1h 10min
  • Yield: 1
  • Serves: 10
ingredients
  • 8oz. Cream Cheese, Softened
  • 1 Roasted Red Pepper, Chopped
  • 1 Cups Italian Shredded Cheese Blend
  • 1 Tablespoon Garlic Parmesan
  • 4 Tablespoons Chopped Green Onion
  • 3 Tablespoons Crushed Pretzels
  • 2 Pretzels
  • 1 Cherry Tomato, Halved
  • 1 Black Olive, Halved
instructions
  1. Combine the cream cheese, red pepper, Italian cheese, garlic Parmesan, and green onion in a bowl. (We used our hands.)
  2. Form into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap.
  3. Place in the fridge for at least one hour. (You can also prepare ahead of time and allow to sit overnight.)
  4. Remove the plastic wrap. Place the crushed pretzels on a large plate and roll the ball through the crushed pretzels until completely coated.
  5. Place half the tomato on the cheese ball to make the note and place the olive halves to make the eyes.
  6. Place the pretzels on top to make antlers.
  7. Serve at your holiday party!
shopping list
Cheese
  • Cream Cheese
  • Italian Shredded Cheese Blend
  • Garlic Parmesan
Dry Goods
  • Pretzels
Produce
  • 1 Red Pepper
  • Green Onion
  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • Black Olives
pin it in your style