Santa Cheese Ball

Sue here. 

I just had to share this super quick, super easy, super de duper cute appetizer that would be perfect for your next holiday get-together. 

I was inspired by a photo of a cheese ball on the cover of Women's World Magazine this month. I used Jo and I's go-to cheese ball recipe that is always a big hit. Trust me, people will be asking you for the recipe wherever you bring it.

This only took me about 10 minutes to put together and then it just needs to chill until ready to serve. 

Seriously.

10  minutes.

Now you can give people another opportunity to see how fabulous you are!

Santa Cheese Ball

Ingredients

2 bricks Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened

1 cup shredded, aged cheddar

2 cans of canned ham (about 1 cup total)

1/3 cup finely diced onion

2 - 3 generous dashes of Worcestershire sauce 

few drops of red food coloring

approx 1/4 to 1/3 cup ketchup

2 cups shredded Mozzarella

2 cherry tomatoes

2 black olives

2 spinach leaves

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, cream the Philly cream cheese until smooth, scraping sides of bowl as necessary. Add in the aged cheddar, canned ham, onion, Worcestershire sauce, and a few drops of red food coloring. Mix until well combined.

Remove about 2 tablespoons of this mixture and place in a small bowl. This is going to be your pom-pom on Santa's hat.

Take remaining cream cheese mixture and shape into a giant "teardrop" shape on a serving plate. Curl the very tip of the "tear drop" over a little. (This is the tip of Santa's hat.)

Carefully spread the ketchup about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way down from the tip of the "teardrop" - not too thick, just enough to cover the cheese ball.

Take the shredded mozzarella cheese and place it around the uncovered part of the tear drop in a fairly circular shape. (This is Santa's hair and beard)

To make the holly decoration on Santa's hat - place the 2 spinach leaves down and then place a cherry tomato on top.

To make Santa's face - place the cherry tomato for his nose and the 2 olives for his eyes. 

Take the 2 Tablespoons of reserved cheese ball that you set aside earlier and roll it into a ball. You can roll it in some finely shredded mozza if desired. Place on the top of Santa's hat for a pom-pom.

I put in a few drops of red food coloring so Santa's face stood out a bit from all that mozzarella cheese. He is otherwise a bit pale. 

This cheese ball is so versatile. We used it HERE for our Easter carrot cheese ball. We just left out the red food coloring. 

I like to serve this with different types of crackers or even baguette bread sliced up. 

We sharing at these fun linky parties - My Turn (for us) and Carole's Chatter