Snowman Cheese Ball – Christmas Appetizer

When I arrive to a party, the first thing I look for is the cheese plate. And I love a holiday cheese ball.

If you’ve never had a cheese ball before, it’s like a creamy cheese dip that you shape into a ball. Then, you can use either a cheese knife or crackers to dip and spread with.

This Christmas appetizer is easy to make with only a few simple ingredients. And shaping this snowman cheese ball is like a little craft project! It’s fun for any host or as a little project you could do with kids.

Related: Easy Holiday Cheese Ball Wreath – for more flavor ideas

Cheese Ball Ingredients:

Cream cheese
Ranch seasoning mix
Parmesan cheese – the powdery kind

How to Make a Cheese Ball:

Mix the seasoning blend in with the cream cheese. Form balls and wrap in plastic wrap to refrigerate. Once you’re ready to serve, roll the balls in the Parmesan cheese and decorate them like a snowman!

You can choose to make your snowman cheese ball upright, like pictured here. Or it could be lying on its back, which makes it a little more stable and easier for guests to dip into. Either way, it’s really cute!

Tips for Success:

If you’d like to mix in a few other spices along with the ranch seasoning you can! Sprinkle in a little cayenne if you want to add some spice.
Refrigerate the cheese balls for at least a couple hours (and up to three days) before use.
You can decorate your snowman with whole peppercorns, mini M&Ms, a carrot tip, or any other edible elements you want.

Serving Suggestions:

Here are some ideas of what you serve this snowman cheese ball with:

Crackers! Store bought or homemade pepper jack crackers
Mini toasts or toasted baguette
Cut vegetables like bell pepper or carrots
Olives or other pickled sides – make refrigerator pickles