Cheese Spread Hedgehog Cheese Ball Recipes

CHEESE SPREAD (HEDGEHOG CHEESE BALL)

Steps:

• Combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, bacon pieces and dill weed.
• Fold in green onion, salt and pepper.
• Refrigerate covered until solid. Shape into a ball, pine cone or hedgehog.
• Insert almonds into the cheese spread in rows.
• Optional: cut olive in half, use for nose. Slice olive and cut it in half and press in for eyes.

WOODLAND HEDGEHOG CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• Stir together all the spices in a small bowl until well combined.
• In a few batches, grind the spices a little smaller using a mortar and pestle. Set aside.
• Beat the cream cheese and cheddar with a hand-held electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in the sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and additional spices. Add the homemade onion soup mix to taste.
• Blend until thoroughly combined, scraping down the sides for an even mix.
• Chill the cheese mixture in the fridge for about 2 hours to firm up the mixture. You can keep it in the fridge for a few days at this point if you want to make it ahead.
• Once the mixture has chilled enough to handle, place the mixture on a large piece of plastic wrap. Fold the wrap around the cheese, then shape it into a smooth ball. Use your hands to shape one end into a point to make the hedgehog's head.
• Unwrap the hedgehog and place him on the serving board. Make any adjustments to the shape, smoothing holes or creases with the back of a spoon.
• Once you're satisfied with the hedgehog's shape, stick on the two dried beans for eyes and the raisin for a nose. Decorate the hedgehog's back with rows of pecan halves and walnut pieces to look like spines.
• Curl a few sprigs of fresh rosemary around the hedgehog to look like pine branches in a forest. Serve with crackers.

PINE CONE CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• Stir cream cheese, goat cheese, parsley, tarragon, thyme, garlic, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper together in a bowl until smooth and well-mixed.
• Turn cheese mixture out onto a serving platter and form into a tapered oval shape to resemble a pine cone.
• Starting at the tapered end, press almonds into the cheese cone so that the tip of the almond is facing out and down, and cheese cone is completely covered with almonds and resembles a pine cone. Place rosemary sprigs at the top to resemble pine needles.