Football Cheese Ball Appetizer
easy game day appetizer idea
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Best Game Day Appetizer
When it comes to game day snacking while watching sports, my husband always requests my homemade cheese ball. I figured I’d have some fun with this one making it football shaped. This easy to make football shaped cheese ball would be the hit of any game day party or Superbowl. Make ahead and store in fridge up to one week, transfer to serving tray and add a variety of crackers for an irresistible appetizer everyone will enjoy.
Some other ideas for fun-shaped cheeseballs would be a basketball, heart, Christmas tree or turkey. Find my guide to making an impressive turkey-shaped cheeseball by clicking HERE.
Let’s begin!
Football Cheese Ball Ingredients
16 oz cream cheese, softened
8 oz sharp cheddar cheese block, grated
1/2 tsp Nature’s Flavors Hickory Smoke flavor extract (or liquid smoke)
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp Tabasco pepper sauce
1/2 tsp rubbed sage
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp garlic powder
dash of pepper
1 cup pecans, finely chopped
Optional garnish: Swiss cheese to cut the football stitching
How to make a football shaped cheese ball
Instructions
Beat cream cheese in a large mixing bowl with electric mixer until smooth. Next, add cheddar cheese, smoke extract, Worcestershire, hot sauce, sage, paprika, garlic powder and pepper and mix together until well blended with electric beater.
Lay out some plastic wrap. Scrape down sides of bowl and scoop mixture onto plastic wrap. Cover and twist sides and form into a football shape. Chill in fridge for 5-8 minutes to harden more before adding pecans and optional Swiss cheese garnish.
You can either use Swiss or white cheddar cheese slices or block cheese (I had some leftover from a Christmas gift I used) and cut and shape for football stitching. Use my photos as a reference, but it doesn’t have to be perfect.
Store cheese ball covered in fridge for up to a week or until ready to serve. When ready to serve, transfer cheese ball to serving tray and add a variety of crackers or pretzels around and a cheese knife or butter knife to cut and serve.
This delicious football shaped cheese ball appetizer will surely be a touch down at your game day or Superbowl party!
Enjoy!
🏈Julie
Football shaped cheese ball appetizer
Ingredients
Instructions
- Beat cream cheese in a large mixing bowl with electric mixer until smooth. Next, add cheddar cheese, smoke extract, Worcestershire, hot sauce, sage, paprika, garlic powder and pepper and mix together until well blended with electric beater.
- Lay out some plastic wrap. Scrape down sides of bowl and scoop mixture onto plastic wrap. Cover and twist sides and form into a football shape. Chill in fridge for 5-8 minutes to harden more before adding pecans and optional Swiss cheese garnish.
- You can either use Swiss or white cheddar cheese slices or block cheese (I had some leftover from a Christmas gift I used) and cut and shape for football stitching. Use my photos as a reference, but it doesn’t have to be perfect.
- Store cheese ball covered in fridge for up to a week or until ready to serve. When ready to serve, transfer cheese ball to serving tray and add a variety of crackers or pretzels around and a cheese knife or butter knife to cut and serve.
Notes
How long will cheese ball last in fridge? Store cheese ball covered in fridge for up to a week.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
167Fat (grams)
16 gSat. Fat (grams)
7 gCarbs (grams)
2 gFiber (grams)
1 gNet carbs
2 gSugar (grams)
1 gProtein (grams)
5 gSodium (milligrams)
165 mgCholesterol (grams)
36 mgNutritional Information is provided as a courtesy only and should be viewed as an estimate. Ingredients can vary with brands and size and Inspiration Apron makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information. Per serving.
