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This easy, festive, and super adorable Snowman Cheese Ball is the perfect appetizer made with two different kinds of cheese for the body and fun add-ons for the face! It’s a simple, cost-effective way to delight your friends and family during the holiday season!
Christmas Cheese Ball
This wintry take on the classic cheeseball falls pretty high on the list of favorite holiday appetizers.
We’re making a snowman, which is almost too cute to eat. Then you remember it’s a ball of delicious cheese so there’s no resisting diving in.
It’s made with 2 different kinds of cheese, a bit of seasoning, chocolate chips for the eyes and buttons, and a baby carrot for the nose.
With just 15 minutes of prep time, the hardest part is waiting for it to set, but the oohs and ahhs you’ll get from this simple and impressive crowd pleaser, is definitely worth it.
If you love a theme, reindeer cookies and snowman Oreo balls are fun to add to the mix.
Whip up some cranberry prosecco spritzers for everyone to sip on as they mix and mingle and your guests may never leave!
Why you’ll love making a Snowman Cheese Ball
It’s an easy recipe! – No doubt having easy delicious recipes in your back pocket around the busiest time of the year comes in handy. The fact that it’s fun, festive, and super cute is a bonus! Make it in advance and spend less time in the kitchen and more time with friends and family!
Perfect party appetizer – Whether it’s a Christmas dinner centerpiece or an appetizer for all your upcoming holiday parties, this cute little guy is a hit no matter what. It will become a scrumptious tradition in your home from now on!
Budget-friendly – You can get as fancy or as basic as you’d like. If you like high-quality cheese from boutique cheese shops, have at it! If not, use whatever you’ve got on hand from your local grocery stores and keep it within budget.
Customizable – Use any kind of cheese you want, swap the chocolate chips for various other items, and the same goes for the nose. This recipe is a jumping-off point, but you can get as creative as you like. See below for ideas.
Equipment you’ll need
- Mixer – Either a stand mixer, hand mixer, or just a good ole spoon.
- Mixing bowls – If a stand mixer isn’t in the budget at the moment, a great set of stainless steel bowls will do just fine.
- Cheese knife – I actually don’t have a cheese knife and had to borrow one from my neighbor lol
- Cheese grater – I love this thing & how easy it makes grating your own cheese.
Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card.
- CREAM CHEESE – Remember to bring your cream cheese to room temperature at least 30 minutes ahead of time. This way you’ll be able to cream it and form it nicely without leaving behind lumps. Use a block, not a container of cream cheese.
- MONTEREY JACK CHEESE – I always recommend using freshly grated from a block rather than buying it pre-shredded. It tastes better because it’s not coated in any anti-clumping agent. It’s also easier to control the grating size. You want to divide it into regular and finely grated cheese. Mozzarella cheese or white cheddar cheese are great alternatives.
- GARLIC POWDER & ONION POWDER – A simple way to add even more flavor to this fun appetizer.
- BABY CARROT – For the nose! You may need to cut the tip of a baby carrot so it points, or just leave it as is.
- CHOCOLATE CHIPS – A sweet way to add the eyes, mouth, and buttons to your snowman cheese ball.
How to make a Snowman Cheeseball
The base recipe is the cream cheese and the amount of shredded cheese, you are free to use your creativity after that.
- STEP ONE: First, you’ll combine both kinds of cheese and seasoning in the bowl of a stand mixer. Use the paddle attachment to mix until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as you go. If you don’t have a stand mixer, use mixing bowls and a spatula instead. Scoop out the mixture onto a clean surface.
- STEP TWO: Then, divide cheese mixture into two different-size balls. You want the largest ball to be used as the snowman’s base (body), and a smaller cheese ball to be used for the head. Wrap each one in its own sheet of plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours.
- STEP THREE: Next, remove the plastic wrap and roll each ball in finely shredded cheese to give it the snowflake look. This is great to do just before serving because once it’s been rolled, you want to place it in the center of a serving platter. Start with the large one and follow this with the small one and place it on top, making the snowman shape.
- STEP FOUR: Last, make the snowman’s face by adding chocolate chips for the eyes, mouth, and buttons, and small carrot cut in a triangular shape for the nose. How cute is this?!
What to serve with a Snowman Cheese Ball
A cheese ball recipe is traditionally served as a spread or a dip so you want to serve it with a variety of dippable items. Things like crackers, bagel chips, pretzel sticks, homemade soft pretzels, celery sticks, homemade tortilla chips, bread, squash chips, you name it.
If it’s the centerpiece of a dinner table, I’m going to be serving it with my classic holiday fare like slow cooker turkey breast, gravy, garlic mashed potatoes, and classic cranberry sauce, of course!
However, if it’s part of an appetizer spread, I’ll always include a few other of my 10 homemade dips for chips, crackers, and veggies.
Possible Substitutions/Additions ⛄️
- The cheeseball itself is very versatile, you can use flavored cream cheese, such as chive. You could also use a white cheddar or Colby cheese.
- If you want to flavor the plain cream cheese you already have on hand, sprinkle in some ranch seasoning mix or everything bagel seasoning for added flavor.
- For the eyes & mouth, if you don’t have any chocolate chips, whole peppercorns, black licorice, black olives, raisins, or black jelly beans will work too.
- Add sprigs of fresh rosemary around the serving plate for a rustic winter theme, or use them as arms!
- To add a little heat to the snowman cheese ball, sprinkle in some cayenne pepper along with the garlic and onion powder.
How to store leftovers
Once you’ve started eating it and dipping in it, it will soon no longer look like a snowman cheese ball and just be a pile of cheese! Maybe the snowman melted?
Any leftovers can be kept in plastic wrap. You can transfer the wrapped cheese to a container or a zip-top bag if you prefer, or keep it as is.
How long will a Snowman Cheese Ball last in the fridge?
It’s always nice to eat it the same day, but if you have to store it, it’ll keep fresh in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Can I freeze it?
Technically you can, but that doesn’t mean you should. I don’t enjoy the texture of it once it’s been frozen and thawed. However, yes, it’s possible.
FAQs
Can I make this ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can form and wrap the cheeseballs up to 3 days ahead of time. Just before serving, roll them around in the finely grated cheese, stack them, then add the chocolate chips and carrot nose.
You can also assemble it completely ahead of time and bring it out ready to serve.
Is it best served room temperature or cold?
I bring mine out about 30 minutes before serving so that way it’s warm enough not to break the crackers! You’re not trying to serve hot cheese, but warm enough so that it’s easy to dip into. Don’t leave it out for more than 2 hours.
Should I avoid any types of cheese?
I’d avoid hard cheeses like parmesan, there isn’t enough moisture in them to make them creamy, which leads to gritty cheese balls.
Why is my cheese ball crumbly?
This can be caused by not giving the cheese enough time to set once it’s been formed into a ball. It’s important not to skip this step!
Need more delicious holiday appetizer recipes? Try these:
Garlic Herb Dip
Easy Taco Dip Recipe
Creamy Salsa Dip Recipe
Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip
Baked Brie with Pecans & Honey
Click here for my entire collection of appetizer recipes.
More cheeseball recipes
Christmas Tree Shape Cheese Ball
Sun Dried Tomato Cheese Ball
Bacon Cheddar Cheese Ball
Everything Bagel Cheese Ball
Pineapple Cheese Ball
Easter Cheese Ball
Snowman Ball Cheese
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 16 ounces Monterey Jack cheese shredded
- 12 ounces Monterey Jack cheese finely shredded
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 small baby carrot cut into a triangle
- chocolate chips
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, shredded Monterey Jack, garlic salt, and onion powder. Mix until well combined.
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Scoop the cheese mixture onto the counter.
- Divide the cheese mixture into two balls, one large ball for the bottom and one small ball for the head.
- Cut two separate pieces of plastic wrap. Wrap each ball individually in its own sheet of plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 4 hours, up to overnight.
- Remove from plastic wrap, and roll each ball in the finely shredded cheese. Place the larger ball in the center of a serving tray, and place the smaller ball on top.
- Add chocolate chips for the eyes, mouth, and buttons, and add a baby carrot for the nose.
- Serve with crackers, pretzels, veggie sticks, etc.
Notes
- The cheese is divided into different uses – 16 ounces should be shredded and 12 ounces should be finely shredded/grated for coating.
- I used chocolate chips but other options would be black beans, black olives, whole peppercorns, chunks of black licorice, etc.
- Any white cheese would work – white cheddar or mozzarella are good options.
- Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Can be made up to 3 days in advance. Wait to assemble until the day of serving.
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.
I would add a green pepper scarf
This absolutely the cutest Cheeseball I have ever seen, wouldn’t change a thing!
The snowman seems to need a hat as well as a scarf — maybe a red pepper for a scarf and something black for his hat. I would try the chive cream cheese in the recipe.
Cute just the way it is
I would try it first as is. It sounds good to me.
So cute, simple, and yummy! Definitely gonna have to make this when I host Christmas dinner. My family prefers with plain cream cheese.
I think I’d substitute sharp cheddar for half of the Monterey jack cheese. Maybe add just a little red pepper flakes for a spicy version? A ring of red bell pepper along with strips of red bell pepper would make a festive scarf.
I would use jalapeño cream cheese, shredded sharp cheddar & sliced olives for buttons. This is SO stinkin Ca-Ute!!
I love this recipe! I would make it exactly how you have it.
I think the red pepper for a scarf is a great idea, but I was thinking maybe part of a Hershey chocolate bar for a hat. A couple of pieces laying sideways for a brim and then a chunk of maybe 3 behind it for the hat itself.
So cute. Would be good with white cheddar also
I think it is adorable just the way it is my only question is where to get the cream cheese. I have only seen that in a pre-whipped container that in a soft version in container never in block form? I would love to try to make this for the Christmas holidays.
You’re right, chive was a typo.
I don’t think I would change anything…. But I would probably try it with regular cream cheese and maybe white cheddar or havarti
I’d keep the recipe as is! Such a cute idea!