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Easy Football Shaped Cheese Ball Recipe with Pretzel Laces for Game Day Fun

football shaped cheese ball - featured image
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A quick and easy football-shaped cheese ball with pretzel laces, perfect for game day snacks that are both festive and crowd-pleasing.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup (100 g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 2 tbsp green onions, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 20–25 mini pretzel sticks
  • 1/2 cup (50 g) chopped nuts or crushed pretzels (optional)
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Soften the cream cheese by letting it sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes until soft but not melted.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, finely chopped green onions, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir until well blended and creamy but firm enough to shape.
  3. Lay out a large piece of plastic wrap on the counter. Spoon the cheese mixture onto the plastic wrap and shape it into an oval football shape about 7 inches long and 3-4 inches wide using your hands wrapped in the plastic. Wrap tightly and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
  4. If desired, spread chopped nuts or crushed pretzels on a plate. Unwrap the chilled cheese ball and roll it gently over the coating until evenly covered. Return to the fridge for 15 minutes.
  5. Place the cheese ball on a serving platter. Press mini pretzel sticks across the top in two parallel lines to mimic football laces. Use smaller broken pretzel pieces to create the laces between the lines, pressing gently into the cheese. To prevent breaking, warm pretzels in the oven at 200°F (95°C) for 3-4 minutes to make them more flexible.
  6. Chill the decorated cheese ball in the fridge for 15-20 minutes to set. Serve with crackers, sliced veggies, or alongside a fresh salad.

Notes

Use plastic wrap to shape the cheese ball to avoid sticky hands and get a smooth surface. Warm pretzels briefly to make them more flexible and prevent breaking. Chill the cheese ball longer if it is too soft to hold shape. A dab of cream cheese can be used as glue to secure pretzel laces. Prepare up to 2 days ahead but add pretzel laces just before serving to keep them crunchy. Dairy-free and gluten-free substitutions are possible.

Nutrition

Keywords: football cheese ball, game day snack, cheese ball recipe, pretzel laces, easy appetizer, party snack

Find it online: https://hungermind.com/easy-football-shaped-cheese-ball-recipe-with-pretzel-laces-for-game-day-fun/