With yummy cheddar and cream cheese under a crushed Cheetos coating, this Jack-O’-Lantern Cheese Ball makes a bright, fun and festive appetizer for your Halloween get togethers.
What a Cheeseball!
Carve some yum! into your Halloween fun with this festive Jack-O’-Lantern Cheese Ball! Y’all, this appetizer is so easy and so fun. All you need is cheddar and cream cheese with some Cheetos for crunch. Then it’s all rolled up in a ball and coated with a bright orange Cheetos dust. His eyes and silly grin are made from black olive triangles. Seriously, this fun little guy could not be more simple to make. And your guests will love snacking on this delightful Halloween cheese ball.
Watch Me Make a Jack-O’-Lantern Cheese Ball
Step into the kitchen with me and make this fun and festive Jack-O’-Lantern Cheese Ball.
How to Make a Jack-O’-Lantern Cheese Ball
- Using a hand powered food chopper, crush Cheetos into tiny pieces, almost like Cheeto dust. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, stir together softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, 1 cup of the crushed Cheetos and salt until well combined.
- Form mixture into a ball with your hands.
- Place the remaining 1 cup of crushed Cheetos in a shallow bowl and roll the cheese ball in them until it is completely coated.
- Flatten the cheese ball slightly on the bottom to look like a pumpkin shape and then place in the center of a serving platter.
- Cut black olives into triangles and press into the cheese ball to create the look of a Jack-O’-Lantern’s face.
- Press the bell pepper stem into the top center of the cheese ball.
How to Serve and Store a Jack-O’-Lantern Cheese Ball
Keep refrigerated until serving. Serve the cheese ball with your favorite dippers. We like:
- sliced red bell pepper
- sliced yellow bell pepper
- pretzel crisps
- blue corn tortilla chips
- Fritos chips
Can I store leftover cheese ball? You sure can! Wrap any leftover cheese ball tightly in plastic wrap. Then store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
Can I freeze a cheese ball? You bet! If you want to make the Jack-O’-Lantern Cheese Ball in advance, wrap the cheeseball tightly in plastic wrap (without the pepper stem). Then place it in a freezer safe storage bag and freeze for up to one month. Allow it to thaw completely in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
Pumpkin Cheese Ball
After you enjoy this Jack-O’-Lantern Cheese Ball for Halloween, you’ll want to make my Pumpkin Cheese Ball for all your other fall gatherings. A hint of pumpkin spice adds some fall pep to this festive Pumpkin Cheese Ball. Perfect for dipping, it makes a fun and delicious appetizer for your Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving get together.
More Halloween Treats
Make your Halloween party one they won’t soon forget. With delicious goodies for kids and kids-at-heart, these Spectacularly Spooky Halloween Boards and Treats are frightfully fun to make and eat!
If you make this fun Jack-O’-Lantern Cheese Ball, be sure to snap a picture and share it with me or tag me on Instagram @thebakermama so I can see. 
I love seeing how inspired and creative y’all get with the recipes I share. Enjoy!
xoxo,
Jack-O’-Lantern Cheese Ball
Prep Time: 10
Total Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 8+
Cheese Ball Ingredients:
- 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups shredded orange cheddar cheese
- 2 cups crushed Cheetos, divided (8.5 ounce bag)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 5 extra large black olives, for decorating
- 1 red bell pepper stem
For Serving:
- bell pepper slices
- pretzel crisps
- blue corn tortilla chips
Instructions
- Using a food chopper, crush Cheetos into tiny pieces, almost like Cheeto dust. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, 1 cup crushed Cheetos and salt until well combined.
- Form mixture into a ball with your hands.
- Place the remaining 1 cup of crushed Cheetos in a shallow bowl and roll the cheese ball in them until it is completely coated.
- Flatten the cheese ball slightly on the bottom to look like a pumpkin shape and then place in the center of a serving platter.
- Cut black olives into triangles and press into the cheese ball to create the look of a jack-o’-lantern’s face.
- Press the bell pepper stem into the top center of the cheese ball.
- Serve with sliced red and yellow bell peppers, pretzel crisps, and blue corn tortilla chips.
