Snowman Cheeseball

Your winter parties will deliver the tastiest spread this holiday season with this simple Snowman Cheeseball. The perfect appetizer to add an extra dash of charm to your holiday party this winter.

This is one of my favorite holiday appetizers. While ordinary cheeseball recipes are great, this easy snowman cheese ball recipe (equipped with a tiny carrot nose) delivers the fun with its adorable snowman design.

This is the recipe all your friends and family will be asking for, and not just because the presentation is easy to achieve, but because it tastes amazing. It is perfect with our charcuterie chalet or charcuterTREE. Learn how to make a charcuterie tree here.

Cream cheese, white cheddar cheese, and bacon are just a few of the delicious, simple ingredients in this easy cheeseball. It’s so creamy and delicious, you’ll have your party guests coming back for more.

Don’t miss out on other delicious holiday appetizer recipes like our Christmas cheese ball or pumpkin feta dip. And if you need something sweet and sassy to add to your holiday spread check out these frosted ginger cookies.

Need more easy dishes to bring to the parties you attend? Try easy Christmas popcorn for a festive sweet treat. Or try this Thanksgiving charcuterie board for an impressive appetizer. Or these gluten-free Thanksgiving dessert ideas.

I can’t wait for you to try this delicious holiday appetizer. It’s so fun and easy to make, and I absolutely love serving it for holiday parties. Not only because it looks great, but it tastes as good as it looks.

So, delight your guests with a snowman that won’t melt. Instead, this cute little guy will warm the hearts of all your friends and family during these winter months.

Why you should make this recipe

• This snowman cheeseball is sure to make an amazing centerpiece to all your winter parties
• Simple and fun to make
• Every party needs a savory snack
• This easy recipe is absolutely delicious!

Ingredients Needed

• Cream cheese - This tasty ingredient holds the whole snowman together.
• Cheddar cheese – Let’s not forget about another tasty cheese.
• Lemon juice – A little splash of lemon brings all the flavors together.
• Onion ­– Throw some onion in for a savory crunch of flavor.
• Garlic salt – Pump up the savory flavors with a sprinkle of garlic salt.
• Chives – This ingredient may be be simple, but it packs a delicious punch.
• Parsley – A dash of parsley adds a hint of color and freshness. I recommend fresh parsley.
• Mayonnaise – Yep! Trust me on this one, you and all your party guests will be glad this ingredient made the cut.
• Crumbled bacon – Mmm, yes. The crunch, the flavor, so many good reasons to add bacon.
• White cheddar – One more cheese to top it all off and make the tastiest snowman you’ve ever eaten.
• Decorations (carrot, rosemary, whole peppercorns) – No snowman would be complete without a face and these ingredients are the perfect addition. Make sure you use full sprigs of fresh rosemary for the snowman’s arms.

How to make Snowman Cheeseball

Mix!

Set the carrot, rosemary, peppercorns, and white cheddar aside. You will use these ingredients for decoration, so don’t get them mixed up with the others.

Put the rest of the ingredients into a large mixing bowl and stir. Mix until they’re well combined and you can shape your snowman.

Shape the snowman

Divide the cream cheese mixture into two balls. One bigger for the snowman’s body and a smaller cheese ball for the head. Wrap them up individually in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Remove cheese balls from the refrigerator, unwrap, and roll them in the shredded white cheddar cheese. On a serving platter, stack the smaller ball on top of the bigger one to create the snowman's base and head.

Decorate! Cut the tip of a baby carrot into a triangular shape for the nose, and use peppercorns for the eyes, mouth, and buttons. Then use your sprigs of rosemary for the arms. And voila! The perfect party appetizer. Your snowman is ready to serve with your favorite dippers.

Tips for success

Room temperature cream cheese

Working with room-temperature cream cheese is so much easier than working with a brick straight from the fridge. So, pull it out of the fridge at least 30 minutes before you make the cheese ball.

Cook bacon first

While you don’t have to use fresh bacon for this recipe, it is absolutely delicious to use it fresh from the butcher. Cook up the bacon so it’s nice and crispy and let it cool before you make this cheeseball so you can break it into pieces and add it to the recipe.

Variations

• Seasoned bacon – Try using a seasoned bacon to spice things up a bit. Want a little sweetness? Use brown sugar bacon. A little more spice? Use bacon seasoned with green chilies.
• Pretzel sticks – Use pretzel sticks or rods for arms instead of rosemary for a different spin on the decoration.
• Fresh fruit – Add an extra sweet-tart flavor with some crushed pineapple (strain well first), or some pomegranate seeds.
• Sliced almonds – If you like that nutty crunch, you can add sliced almonds to the cheese mixture, or even dress up the outside with a few of them if you prefer that to the white cheddar cheese.
• Celery sticks - Use celery sticks for arms for another twist on some fun edible arms.
• Red peppers - Chop up some red peppers for an extra dash of red to add some extra color to this Christmas appetizer. Or even chop into larger wedges and spread this delicious creation on top. You can do the same with an orange bell pepper.

Storage and Freezing

Storing – Store the leftover cheeseball in plastic wrap and place in an airtight container for up to five days.

Freezing – Wrap the leftover cheeseball in plastic wrap and place in an airtight container or freezer bag and store for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

FAQ

Can I make this gluten free?

Yes! Just make sure you use gluten-free bacon. That smoke flavor can get tricky and sneak into some different brands of bacon. Then make sure you serve your cheeseball with gluten-free dippers. You’re set!

Can I use a different kind of cheese?

You can use many different kinds of cheeses in this adorable snowman cheese ball recipe. But I recommend that you use primarily soft cheeses like the cheddars in the original recipe or jack cheeses. You could certainly add a bit a parmesan cheese, but avoid using too many hard or dry cheeses because they are more difficult to spread. 

Ways to enjoy 

This recipe is sure to be the adorably tasty centerpiece for the perfect winter party! Serve this cheeseball alongside a Christmas charcuterie board for amazing dippers to share across your holiday table spread.

The winter season wouldn’t be the same without a little red and green to add a festive and cheery flair. So, don’t miss the chance to serve this up with a fizzy cranberry mocktail and green Christmas drinks. Your holiday parties will be the hit of the season!