Putting a playful spin on food is one of the greatest joys of celebrating the holidays. Maybe that's just my opinion as a seasoned food writer, but come on! Cute, seasonal treats not only taste good but they also bring smiles, spark conversation and set the mood for festive gatherings. With Halloween around the corner, it felt like the perfect excuse to get creative in the kitchen and transform the ordinary snacks I feed my kids into spooky delights.
Luckily, you don't have to have a PhD in Pinterest to make a cute (and creepy) Halloween spread. For example, you can cut sandwiches into ghost shapes, add black and orange sprinkles on cookies, pipe “webs” with melted chocolate onto cupcakes or dress up fruit with candy eyes. Being spooky can really be that simple. And when it comes to appetizers, nothing steals the show quite like a festive jack-o’-lantern cheese ball.
Related: This Spooky Casserole Will Be a Hit at Halloween
Maegan Brown, the content creator behind The BakerMama, has built a reputation for turning everyday dishes into cute and clever holiday creations, and her Halloween-ready Jack-O’-Lantern Cheese Ball recipe is the perfect example.
The cute app caught my eye when I was scrolling through her Instagram page. It's tasty, whimsical and surprisingly simple—three things I always look for in a party recipe. The recipe transforms a standard cheese ball into a pumpkin-shaped centerpiece that will instantly elevate your Halloween spread. The secret? One clever food that's used in a creative way.
To get the scoop on this crafty app, we reached out to Brown to get her top tips and advice for making this snack at home.
Related:19 Halloween Treat Ideas for Kids That Are Scary Easy?? SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & more in our daily Parade Eats newsletter. ??
Ingredients You Need to Make a Jack-O’-Lantern Cheese Ball
The ingredients list for this cute and crafty recipe is short and simple. You'll need a block of softened cream cheese, shredded orange cheddar, crushed Cheetos, kosher salt, large black olives and one red bell pepper stem.
Related: 19 Last-Minute Halloween Treat Ideas for Kids That Are Scary Easy
Start with the star of the show: the Cheetos. They're the perfect color for coating your cheesy pumpkin and they taste great too, so you'll also add some to the cream cheese mixture. All you have to do is crush them into fine crumbs using a food chopper or rolling pin, then set aside.
Next, in a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar, crushed Cheetos and salt until smooth. Shape the mixture into a ball with your hands. Roll the ball in more crushed Cheetos until fully coated. Flatten the bottom of the ball slightly so it resembles a pumpkin and place it on a serving platter.
Slice black olives into triangles and press them gently into the cheese ball to form a jack-o’-lantern face, then insert the red bell pepper stem into the top for a pumpkin “stem.” That's it!
Serve your spooky showstopper with colorful veggies, pretzel crisps or chips, and you have a playful pumpkin-shaped appetizer that’s just as fun to look at as it is to eat.
The Cheetos coating creates that bright orange glow, while the olives add spooky personality that makes it more than delicious—it's fun, too!
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My Attempt At Making a Jack-O’-Lantern Cheese Ball
I tried my hand at making this, 'Nailed It!' style, and not was it easy, but it was delicious, too! The best part of this, though, was that my kids got a huge laugh out of my attempt. While I got the recipe right, the presentation was a little bit off. Depending on your perspective, that could be a good or a bad thing. Halloween is a holiday that embraces everything messy, scary and not-quite-right, so maybe I did ok after all?
I did learn a thing or two when I was making this recipe, which will help me for next time (and might help you, too). My cheese ball cracked as I was putting the olives and stem on it, so next time I'll use a bit more force to mold it into a ball. I had a hard time mixing the cheese, so I used my hands and kneaded it all together like bread dough, then formed it into a ball and rolled it in the Cheetos. I also realized that my olive slices were too big, and they made my jack-o-lantern face look more comical or alien-like than a classic pumpkin face.
But, at the end of the day, it tasted great and it was a fun project to do. What's even better? The whole thing took less than 10 minutes to put together.
Related: Cute and Easy Monster Cookies are a Halloween Win
Tips for Making the Best Jack-O’-Lantern Cheese Ball From The BakerMama Herself
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When Parade asked Brown how home cooks can make this dish their own, she emphasized flexibility.
“One of my favorite things about this cheese ball is how easy it is to customize,” she says. “You can swap in sharp cheddar for a bolder flavor, Colby Jack for something kid-friendly, or mix in jalapeños, hot sauce or bacon for extra kick. Even the coating is fair game—Doritos, everything bagel seasoning or fresh herbs all work.”
When it comes to serving, Brown loves offering a mix of textures and colors. “Classic crackers are always a hit, but pretzel crisps and blue corn chips add great crunch,” she says. “I like surrounding it with veggies—carrot sticks, celery, cucumber, bell peppers—because they look so pretty around the pumpkin. For parties, it’s fun to turn it into a whole Halloween board with grapes, olives, apples, candy corn and more.”
Her best advice? Do not stress. “Don’t overthink it! It’s much easier than it looks,” Brown adds. “Make the cheese ball a day or two ahead, wrap it up and roll it right before serving. Guests will be impressed, and you’ll love how simple it is.”
With just a few ingredients and a dash of creativity, you’ll have a Halloween centerpiece that doubles as a crowd-pleasing snack. This jack-o’-lantern cheese ball proves that food can be both festive and fuss-free—a win for every host.
Up Next:
Related: 15 Popular Crackers, Ranked Worst to Best
Source:
• Maegan Brown, content creator behind The BakerMama and author of three cookbooks: Beautiful Boards, Spectacular Spreads andBrilliant Bites.
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