Festive Turkey Cheese Ball Recipe Perfect for Holidays
A festive turkey-shaped cheese ball that serves as a delicious centerpiece for holiday gatherings, combining creamy cheese and savory flavors with creative decorations.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours (chilling time)
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 (8 oz) packages of cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional, for freshness)
- 2 green onions, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Pretzel rods (for the tail feathers)
- Cheddar cheese slices (cut into feather shapes)
- Olives (for eyes)
- Red bell pepper (for the wattle)
- Mini pepperoni slices (for the body)
- 1 candy corn (for the beak)
- Assorted crackers
- Fresh vegetable sticks like celery, carrots, and cucumber
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar, parsley, green onions, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Using your hands, shape the mixture into a large ball. Place it on a piece of plastic wrap and tightly wrap it. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Once chilled, unwrap the cheese ball and place it on your serving platter. Smooth out any rough edges with a butter knife or spatula.
- Start decorating your turkey. Use pretzel rods as the tail feathers—stick them into the back of the cheese ball so they fan out. Arrange cheddar cheese slices cut into feather shapes around the pretzels.
- For the face of the turkey, use two olives for the eyes. Cut a small triangle from the candy corn to create the beak and attach it beneath the eyes. Slice a piece of red bell pepper into a small curved shape for the wattle and place it next to the beak.
- Finish the turkey by covering the remaining cheese ball surface with mini pepperoni slices. Press them gently into the cheese to create a cohesive look.
- Arrange crackers and vegetable sticks around the turkey for dipping and serve chilled.
Notes
[‘Make sure your cream cheese is fully softened before mixing for a smoother texture.’, ‘Refrigerate the cheese ball for at least 2 hours or overnight to firm it up for easier shaping and decorating.’, ‘Feel free to get creative with the decorations—imperfect shapes add character to your turkey design.’, ‘You can prepare the cheese ball and decorations a day ahead and assemble before serving.’, ‘Serve chilled for the best texture and flavor.’]
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/12 of the cheese b
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Protein: 5
Keywords: holiday appetizer, Thanksgiving recipe, cheese ball, festive turkey, party food, holiday centerpiece