Everything Bagel Cheeseball
No matter what time of year it is, this Everything Bagel Cheeseball is sure to delight your guests as the perfect fall appetizer. Shaped into a pumpkin, it makes the perfect fall treat.
No matter what time of year it is, this Everything Bagel Cheeseball is sure to delight your guests as the perfect fall appetizer. Shaped into a pumpkin, it makes the perfect fall treat.
- Carbohydrate 1.06409625124721 g
- Cholesterol 19.0884375035544 mg
- Fat 6.01722000114617 g
- Fiber 0.12374999846293 g
- Protein 3.89079375035773 g
- Saturated Fat 3.79852537568766 g
- Serving Size 1 1 people (29g)
- Sodium 104.222062527626 mg
- Sugar 0.940346252784285 g
- Trans Fat 0.314641875066291 g
- Calories 73 calories
Step-by-step
- In a bowl, mix together the cream cheese, sour cream, horseradish, cheddar cheese, scallions, and bacon.
- Form the mixture into a ball, wrap with plastic wrap, and chill for an hour.
- Once the cheeseball has set, roll it into the Everything But the Bagel seasoning blend to evenly coat.
- (To make your cheeseball resemble a pumpkin, add a real or faux pumpkin stem to the top. Then use the tip of a chopstick or the back of a butter knife to create grooves.)
- Serve with bagel chips and crackers.
Swapping sour cream for plain Greek yogurt introduces more moisture and acidity into the dairy base. Temperature control dictates success here. Soften the cream cheese to exactly 65 degrees Fahrenheit before mixing to prevent lumps. Chilling the formed sphere for at least sixty minutes firms the dairy fats enough to hold a carved shape.
Make-Ahead Storage and Freezing
Dairy structures handle refrigeration poorly past forty-eight hours once mixed with high-moisture add-ins like scallions. Wrap the un-seasoned cheese ball tightly in plastic wrap to store in the refrigerator for up to two days. Freezing changes the emulsion stability of cream cheese permanently, causing separation and a watery texture upon thawing. Apply the seed coating immediately before serving to prevent the salt in the seasoning from drawing out moisture and turning the outer layer soggy.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
Rushing the chilling step leads to structural collapse during shaping. Pressing the seasoning into the surface too firmly flattens the carved pumpkin grooves. Use a chilled chopstick to reinforce these indentations after rolling the exterior in seeds.
