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Rudolph Holiday Appetizer: Easy Christmas Party Snack

Rudolph Holiday Appetizer

A creamy, savory Rudolph-shaped cheese ball decorated with pretzel antlers, eyes, and a red nose. This no-bake Christmas appetizer is simple to prepare and perfect for holiday parties.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 minute
Servings: 10 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cheese Ball
  • 16 ounces Cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup Finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup Sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon Garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon Onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon Black pepper
  • 1/2 cup Cooked, crumbled bacon
Coating and Decorations
  • 1 cup Finely chopped pecans or additional shredded cheddar
  • 2 pieces Large pretzel twists
  • 2 pieces Candy eyes, black-olive slices, or small black-olive pieces
  • 1 piece Red cherry tomato, red bell-pepper piece, or red candy
For Serving
  • As needed Crackers, pretzel chips, or sliced vegetables

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Let the cream cheese soften at room temperature so it blends smoothly. If using bacon, cook it separately, let it cool, and crumble it before mixing.
  2. Mix the softened cream cheese, cheddar, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until evenly combined. Stir in the cooked bacon if using.
  3. Place the mixture on plastic wrap and shape it into a slightly oval ball or rounded reindeer head. Wrap it securely and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, until firm.
  4. Roll the chilled cheese ball in finely chopped pecans or additional shredded cheddar, pressing gently so the coating adheres. Transfer the coated cheese ball to a serving platter.
  5. Insert the pretzel twists at the top or sides to create antlers. Add the eyes and attach the red cherry tomato, bell-pepper piece, or red candy near the front as Rudolph's nose.
  6. Serve with crackers, pretzel chips, and sliced vegetables. For the firmest antlers and crispest decorations, add the facial features shortly before serving.

Notes

Chill the cheese mixture before shaping if it feels soft, and chill again after decorating if desired. Pretzels may soften when left in the moist cheese mixture for several hours, so add them close to serving time.