Everything But The Bagel Ranch Reindeer Cheese Ball Appetizer Recipe
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The holidays are a time of celebration and spending time with family. But what appetizer do you make for your gatherings? This Reindeer Cheese Ball is perfect! It’s easy to put together and it’s such a fun appetizer that everyone will love.
I’ve got more fun Reindeer Crafts and Recipes for you to enjoy – right-click and open these ideas in a new tab so that you can read them after this one!
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Reindeer Cheese Ball
The full ingredients list and instructions are found in the printable recipe card at the end of this post. I highly recommend reading the blog post all the way through so that you don’t miss any tips or substitution suggestions and ensure that you have all the ingredients and equipment required and understand the steps and timings involved.
Want to add a fun touch to your appetizers this Christmas? Then you have to make this cute (and delicious) Reindeer Cheese Ball!
The ranch-flavored cheese ball is rolled in Everything [But The] Bagel seasoning. And if you can’t buy this blend of spices, it is so easy to make at home.*
With pretzels “antlers”, olive “eyes” and a cherry tomato for the reindeer’s red “nose” kids and adults alike are going to love this appetizer!
The Create the Holidays (formerly Create Christmas) series on The Purple Pumpkin Blog is filled with free printables, crafts, recipes, and more for Christmas and the Winter Holidays! You can check out Create the Holidays from 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 and 2012 for tons of awesome Holiday ideas and inspiration!
Ingredients & Equipment Used In This Recipe
While most ingredients can be bought in grocery stores, for your convenience, any specialized or notable ingredients and equipment needed for this recipe have been listed below and linked to Amazon or other stores if available online.
It may not include staple ingredients such as oil, salt, sugar, etc., as you’re likely to have those in your kitchen. The complete list of ingredients with measurements is found in the recipe card.
- Fresh Produce – Chives, Cherry Tomato
- Dairy – Cream Cheese, Cheddar Cheese
- Ranch Seasoning
- Everything [But The] Bagel Seasoning
- Black Olives
- Pretzels – two original size to make the antlers
What is Everything But the Bagel Seasoning?
This is a seasoning blend created by Trader Joe’s, an American grocery store that sells unique and interesting products (according to their website that is, I’ve never actually been to a Trader Joe’s!).
The seasoning contains white and black sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic & onion, and sea salt flakes which are found on top of an everything bagel. But the blend could be used on so many other things like salads, popcorn, dips, pasta…
Now, if you don’t have a Trader Joe’s near you – or in fact do not live in the USA, you can make it yourself at home!
*Homemade Everything [But The] Bagel Seasoning
Simply mix together the following ingredients and store in an airtight jar.
- 1 Tbsp sea salt flakes
- 1½ Tbsp dried minced garlic
- 1½ Tbsp dried onion flakes
- 1 Tbsp white sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp black sesame seeds
- 2 Tbsp poppy seeds
Recipes on The Purple Pumpkin Blog use both cup measurements and/or weighted measurements. American cups and kitchen food scales are handy pieces of equipment to have in your kitchen as it means you’ll be able to make all of the different recipes on my blog. I try to give American, imperial, and metric measurements in my recipes. Please note, you can mix cup measurements with weighted measurements, but never mix imperial (pounds, ounces, pints, etc.,) with metric (kilograms, grams, litres, etc.,).
More Recipes Using Cheese
One of the hero ingredients in this dish is cheese, so here are some more recipes using the same:
- One-Pot Easy Beer Cheese Soup Recipe
- Fully Loaded Mexican Street Corn with Mexican Crema & Cotija Cheese
- Creamy Cauliflower Cheese Casserole with Bacon
More Holiday Appetizer Recipes
Looking for more appetizers to make for the holidays? Check these recipes out next:
- Christmas Brie Crostini Appetizer with Orange-Cranberry Relish
- 5-Ingredient Cranberry Pecan Goat Cheese Log Appetizer For the Holidays
- Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates Wrapped in Bacon – Holiday Appetizer Recipe
How Do I Make a Reindeer Cheese Ball?
Check out the printable recipe card below with full ingredients and instructions. Any demonstration photos do not print out to save your ink.
Reindeer Cheese Ball Appetizer
Ingredients
- 2 8-oz/225g blocks of cream cheese, room temperature
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 1-oz/28g package Ranch Seasoning
- ½ Tbsp chopped chives
- Everything [But The] Bagel Seasoning
- 2 black olives for the eyes
- 1 cherry tomato for the nose
- 2 original sized pretzels for antlers
- Crackers for serving
Instructions
- Place the room temperature cream cheese and ranch seasoning into a bowl and mix until well blended.
- Add the chives and mix thoroughly to combine.
- Add shredded cheese to the cream cheese mixture and combine well.
- Transfer the cheese mixture to a sheet of plastic wrap and use the wrap to form the cheese mixture into a ball. (Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight. Can be made several days ahead.)
- Right before serving, roll the cheese ball into the Everything [But The] Bagel seasoning and place on a serving plate/tray.
- Insert two black olives for eyes and one cherry tomato as a nose. Add pretzels for antlers and serve with crackers or veggies. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate and will depend on the quality of ingredients used and serving sizes. If you need exact calories and macros, please do your own calculations.
Make It A Holiday Dinner!
You’ve made the appetizer, but what about the rest of the courses?
Here are additional recipes to make a full meal for a holiday dinner party!
- Soup: 30 Minute Ground Turkey Mushroom Soup Recipe
- Salad: Roasted Fennel and Grapefruit Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
- Main Dish: Apple and Rosemary Stuffed Pork Chops
- Side Dish: Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes – A Quick & Tasty Side Dish
- Beverage: Cranberry Moscow Mule Cocktail for the Holidays
- Dessert: Rocky “Holiday” Road
There are 500+ Recipes on The Purple Pumpkin Blog for you to enjoy – please feel free to check them out too.
The Create the Holidays series on The Purple Pumpkin Blog features free printables, crafts, recipes, and more for Christmas and the Winter Holidays. Check out Create the Holidays (formerly Create Christmas) from 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2012.