Turn your holiday table into a festive delight with this Rudolph Reindeer Cheese Ball! Made with creamy cheese, crispy bacon, and toasted pecans, then decorated with olives, a cherry tomato nose, and mini pretzel antlers—this adorable appetizer is as fun to make as it is to eat. Serve it with crackers and smiles for a Christmas party everyone will remember!
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1½ cups shredded sharp cheddar
- 4 slices cooked bacon, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoon chives, minced
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper, small pinch salt
- 1 cup finely chopped pecans, lightly toasted
- Decorations: 2 black olives, 1 cherry tomato, 2 mini pretzels
- Crackers for serving
Directions
- Mix base: In a bowl, combine cream cheese, cheddar, bacon, chives, Worcestershire, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, and salt.
- Chill: Transfer to plastic wrap, shape into a ball, and chill 30–45 minutes to firm.
- Coat: Roll the ball in pecans until fully covered.
- Decorate: Press in olive “eyes,” a cherry-tomato “nose,” and pretzel “antlers.”
- Serve/Make-ahead: Plate with cheese spreaders and crackers. Make up to 2 days ahead; add pretzels right before serving so they stay crisp.
Try this Recipe too: Cheesy Pull-Apart Christmas Tree Bread
