Pumpkin Cheese Ball Recipe

You were going to figure this out eventually anyway, so let's just own it from the start: There's actually not a bit of pumpkin in this recipe. But once you taste a bite of this cheese ball, you won't mind at all. And the bit of extra effort needed to craft the thing into pumpkin shape and color is well worth the added cheer this charming appetizer will bring to your autumnal gathering. (And hey, there's not even any pumpkin in that pumpkin spice latte, so go figure!)

While this festive food will catch the eye of all your partygoers, it's deceptively easy to make. "It's pretty safe, I'd say," says chef and recipe developer Catherine Brookes of Blue Sky Eating. "Just make sure to chill for at least four hours, or it might not retain the shape once you remove from the wrap," she adds. So do plan ahead, but being a proper party host, you were going to do that anyway, no?

So yeah, there's no pumpkin anything in here, as noted. But what ingredients will you need to make this awesome app? Well, you'll need cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, fresh finely chopped chives, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, finely grated Red Leicester cheese (or any other orange-colored cheese), and a bell pepper.

And as for hardware, you'll need plastic wrap and rubber bands. And that's it — there's actually no cooking for this one, just lots of chilling.

Add all ingredients (except for the Red Leicester cheese) to a food processor on high speed, and blitz them until they are well combined.

Next, lay out a sheet of plastic wrap and spoon the mixture into a pile in the center. Wrap the plastic tightly around the cheese mixture to shape it into a ball with your hands. "You may need to use two sheets of wrap to stop the cheese from spilling out the sides," says Brookes.

Now place the elastic bands around the cheese ball to form indents and create the pumpkin-like shape.

Chill the cheese ball in the fridge for at least four hours but preferably overnight, which will ensure it is firmly set. Once the cheese ball is properly chilled, unwrap the cheese ball — er, pumpkin — and carefully turn it out onto a plate. Push bits of the Red Leicester cheese all over the ball to create the orange color, then top the cheese pumpkin with the stem of a bell pepper to complete the pumpkin look — just make sure your guests know that part is for looks, not consumption.

Your work is done! Serve your lovely cheese pumpkin with sliced bell pepper strip, celery and carrot sticks, crackers, or anything else you'd like to use for dipping.

"I love the idea of toasted baguette," Brookes says, adding: "Or tortilla chips would be great too." And if you have any of your seasonal cheese ball left after the party or if you want to plan well in advance, Brookes says, "It should keep well for up to four days covered in the fridge. So you can definitely make it ahead and keep the leftovers, too."