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Easy Spiderweb Cheese Ball with Crackers

spiderweb cheese ball - featured image
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A creamy, savory cheese ball shaped into a spiderweb design, perfect for Halloween parties or any gathering. Quick to make with simple ingredients, it’s a crowd-pleasing appetizer that looks impressive but comes together in minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 16 ounces cream cheese (two 8-ounce blocks), softened
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (about 8 ounces)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ cup roasted red peppers, finely chopped
  • ¼ cup black olives, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chives or green onions, finely chopped
  • ¼ cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt (for spiderweb design)
  • Crackers of your choice (for serving)

Instructions

  1. Soften the cream cheese: Take cream cheese out of fridge 30-45 minutes before starting, or microwave in 10-second bursts until soft.
  2. Mix the base: In a large mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Beat with a hand mixer on medium speed until smooth and well combined, about 2-3 minutes. Scrape down sides halfway through.
  3. Add the mix-ins: Fold in chopped roasted red peppers and black olives by hand with a spatula until just combined.
  4. Shape the ball: Lay out a large piece of plastic wrap on counter. Scoop cheese mixture onto center of plastic wrap. Gather edges and twist to form a tight ball, shaping with hands through plastic.
  5. Chill the ball: Place wrapped cheese ball in refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
  6. Prepare the coating: While cheese ball chills, finely chop fresh chives or green onions and spread on parchment paper.
  7. Coat the ball: Once firm, unwrap cheese ball and roll gently in chives on parchment paper, pressing coating into surface.
  8. Make the spiderweb design: Transfer sour cream or Greek yogurt to a small piping bag or zip-top bag. Snip off a tiny corner. Pipe a small circle on top center of cheese ball, then pipe concentric circles around it, spacing about ½ inch apart (4-5 circles total).
  9. Create the web lines: Take a toothpick and gently drag from center circle outward through all concentric circles at 8 evenly spaced points (like clock positions: 12, 1:30, 3, 4:30, 6, 7:30, 9, 10:30). Wipe toothpick clean between each line.
  10. Final chill: Place decorated cheese ball back in fridge for 15-20 minutes to set design.
  11. Serve: Transfer to serving platter, arrange crackers around it, and serve immediately or keep refrigerated until ready.

Notes

Full-fat cream cheese is essential for structure. Chill the cheese ball for at least 2 hours before decorating. If sour cream is too thick, thin with a teaspoon of milk; if too thin, add a pinch of cornstarch. The cheese ball can be made up to 3 days ahead (add coating and design on serving day). Undecorated cheese ball can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: cheese ball, spiderweb, Halloween appetizer, cream cheese, party appetizer, easy appetizer

Find it online: https://sofiaspice.com/easy-spiderweb-cheese-ball-with-crackers/