This playful Easter cheese ball is made with just 6 ingredients including cream cheese, cheddar, bacon, ranch seasoning mix, and Worcestershire sauce. Formed into the shape of a carrot, sprinkled with cheese, and finished off with fresh leafy greens for the carrot top, this adorable appetizer is colorful, fun, and delicious with crackers!
Carrot Cheese Ball
Cute Easter party food is kinda my thing. You’ve seen my Easter Egg Fruit Pizza and Spring Chick Wafer Cookies, right?
Well, I needed a savory appetizer option to go with the cute desserts and festive cheese balls are always a fun and easy way to present a party appetizer.
For the winter months, I have a snowman cheese ball and now for Easter, a savory carrot cheese ball…with an Easter bunny dessert cheese ball for after!
It’s such an easy way to add an extra element of surprise or elevate your festivities no matter the occasion.
This adorable carrot-shaped dip makes a bang during Easter dinner, of course, but it is also something that can be made anytime.
Why you’ll love making an Easter Cheese Ball 🥕
Easy Easter appetizer – Comes together with about 15 minutes of prep time and the rest is hands-off chill time. Best of all, you’ve probably got most of the ingredients on hand.
Great make-ahead appetizer – Save time on the day of your gathering and prepare it the day before. This perfect appetizer may be even better the next day.
Great for kids and adults – It’s so much fun to make and cute to look at, but it’s not just kids that love it!
Versatile – You can switch up the flavors in this Easter carrot cheese ball or switch up the shape of the carrot to make an Easter Egg or a bunny instead.
Delicious – Two kinds of cheese, bacon, and ranch seasoning! This classic flavor combination is one everyone can get behind. It’s comforting, tasty, and familiar!
Equipment you’ll need
Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe, why you need them, and possible substitutions. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card with measurements.
- Cream Cheese – Bring it to room temperature about 30 minutes before, maybe a little longer if your kitchen is cold. You want it to be soft enough to cream easily without leaving lumps.
- Ranch Seasoning Mix – I have a quick and easy homemade ranch seasoning blend I like to use. You can also use the store-bought packets if you have them.
- Cheddar Cheese – I must insist you use freshly grated orange cheddar that you’ve shredded yourself! The prepackaged stuff isn’t as flavorful and comes with an anti-clumping agent that coats the cheese, which isn’t the greatest. Mild cheddar pairs nicely but use your favorite.
- Bacon – Cook and crumble the bacon (I recommend oven baked bacon). This is something you can do ahead of time, or do it while your cream cheese is busy sitting on the counter getting softer. If you want to save some time, use a package or real bacon pieces.
- Worcestershire Sauce – A yummy umami, salty, savory element that adds even more flavor to the tangy cream cheese.
- Cilantro or Parsley – For the carrot top, use a bunch of parsley or cilantro. It adds a nice pop of green to the orange.
How to make this Easter Cheese Ball recipe
This section shows you how to make this recipe, with process photos showing the steps to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Step One: Use a hand mixer (or bowl of a stand mixer), and mix softened cream cheese and ranch seasoning in a large mixing bowl on low speed until well combined. Then, add a cup of shredded cheddar, the bacon bits, and Worcestershire to the mixture. Stir again to combine.
- Step Two: Transfer the cheese mixture to a plastic wrap-lined baking sheet. Use the plastic wrap to help mold it into a carrot shape. Flip it onto a large serving platter or cutting board.
- Step Three: Cover the outside of the Easter cheese ball with remaining grated orange cheddar and press it gently to make sure it sticks. Add cilantro or flat leaf or curly parsley stems to the top of the Easter cheese ball for that full carrot effect!
- Step Four: Let it chill for at least 30 minutes in the fridge until firm. Serve with crackers, veggies, olives, or your favorite dippers!
What to serve with a Carrot Cheeseball
Whether an orange honey spiral ham or a slow cooker pot roast is on your Easter menu this year, this easy low-carb appetizer is a great way to start!
I like to use a large wooden charcuterie board as my platter. It’s easy to put together a bit of a sampling that way.
Along with the Easter cheese ball and crackers, I’ll have little bowls of cinnamon sugar candied almonds, candied pecans, or candied cinnamon sugar cashews. The sweet and crunch factor is great with the savory dip.
You can also have black olives, cucumber slices, baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, etc. in those bowls. Whatever floats your boat!
Then for dessert, it’s all about the slow cooker Easter candy, Cadbury mini eggs cookie bars, and Easter egg fruit pizza.
I haven’t decided which I’m going with this year, but if I can’t decide, it’ll be up to my kids!
Tips & Suggestions 🥕
- Keep it vegetarian by omitting the bacon crumbles. Throw in some chopped green onions instead.
- Full fat cream cheese will deliver richness, however low fat can be used in its place. Do not use the kind from a tub, use the block.
- Switch up the flavors in this recipe. Use chive cream cheese instead of plain, and skip the ranch seasoning.
- Add onion powder, garlic powder, hot sauce, etc.
- Use a different type of cheese inside the carrot cheese ball as long as you keep the outside orange cheddar!
- You can use a mild or aged cheddar, it’s up to you how sharp you like yours.
- If you’re having trouble forming your carrot, chill the mixture first. It may be easier to work with once it’s a bit firmer.
How to store leftover Easter Cheese Ball
How to store leftovers
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
You can wrap it in plastic wrap first if desired. Sometimes using plastic wrap makes it easier to transfer it from one spot to another.
How many days does a cheese ball last?
This cheesy appetizer will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
FAQs
Can I make this ahead of time?
Absolutely! It’s so easy to prep up to 3 days ahead of time. Wait to add the green stems and grated cheddar to the outside until just before serving for the best taste and optimal freshness.
What is a good cracker for a cheese ball?
You can’t go wrong with whatever your favorites are. We love crostini, Ritz, pretzels, Triscuit crackers, you name it.
Chips are also a must! Tortilla chips, potato chips, and pita chips!
How to use leftovers?
I bet it would be great as a school lunch snack, spread in celery sticks, or used as a topping on toast or a bagel. You could even use it as a sandwich filling or spread in a wrap.
Need more appetizer dip recipes? Try these:
Crockpot Spinach Artichoke Dip
Click here for my entire collection of dip recipes.
Easter Cheese Ball
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- 2 Tablespoons ranch seasoning mix or one packet
- 2 cups finely shredded cheddar cheese divided
- 6 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 bunch cilantro or parsley for carrot top
Instructions
- To a large bowl, add the softened cream cheese and ranch seasoning. Use a hand mixer on low to mix until well combined.
- Add one cup of the shredded cheddar, the crumbled bacon, and Worcestershire sauce to the mixture. Stir until combined.
- Lay out a large piece of plastic wrap on a baking sheet and place the cheese mixture on top. Use the plastic wrap to help form it into the shape of a carrot.
- Flip the carrot-shaped cheese ball to a large serving platter or cutting board.
- Use the remaining cup of cheddar cheese to cover the cheese ball, pressing gently to make sure it sticks.
- Place cilantro or parsley stems into the top of the carrot cheese ball.
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes to let the cheese ball firm up.
- Serve with crackers, veggies, olives, or your favorite dippers.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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I’m curious how many times the recipe needs to be multiplied in order to make the same size cheese ball as shown in the picutre? That looks like so much more than just two blocks of cream cheese? Thanks! Sounds delicious!
The pics show the recipe as written. You can see the two blocks of cream cheese in the pics above – adding the cheese & bacon increases the size 🙂
Made this for my Easter charcuterie board. When I tasted it, I was afraid people wouldn’t like it with the Worcestershire. I didn’t care for the Worcestershire, but my family loved the dip! It actually makes a TON! It was a big hit. Thanks!
I’m glad it was a hit! The worcestershire can easily be left out next time if you want to give it another try 🙂
Made this for Easter. Yummy! Easy to make.
Thanks, Cindy!