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Home » Recipes » Appetizer Recipes

Woodland Hedgehog Cheese Ball

Published: Dec 30, 2023 · Modified: Aug 17, 2024 by Emma Fajcz · As an Amazon Influencer, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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This hedgehog cheese ball is perfect for a boy's baby shower, a woodland themed first birthday party, church potlucks or casual parties with friends or colleagues.  With only 35 minutes of prep time, plus some chilling time, it's super easy to make!

If you're looking for more easy, cheesy appetizers, try our recipes for Bisquick sausage balls and buffalo chicken dip.

hedgehog cheese ball on a white plate.
Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Variations
  • How to Make Hedgehog Cheese Ball
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Serve
  • Expert Tips
  • Other Appetizer Recipes
  • Recipe
  • Comments

Ingredients

glass bowls of ingredients for hedgehog cheese ball.

Wondering what ingredients you need to make your own hedgehog cheese ball? Fortunately, you don't need anything fancy or hard to find! Let's talk about the key ingredients.

  • Cream Cheese: This soft cheese holds everything together and gives the cheese ball its creamy texture. Make sure it's at room temperature before you start.
  • Cheddar Cheese: We like to use extra sharp cheddar because of its wonderful flavor, but any semi-soft cheese will work here.
  • Spices: This recipe needs a lot of spices because we start by making a homemade French onion soup mix.
  • Nuts: I use a mixture of pecan halves and walnut pieces to give the hedghog its signature prickly appearance. Feel free to use any type of nuts you like.

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Variations

  • Spicy Version: Add more cayenne.
  • Nut Free: Use pretzel sticks instead of the nuts.
  • Healthier Version: Use low fat cream cheese or the American version of Neufchâtel cheese. Serve it with carrots and celery instead of crackers and bread.

How to Make Hedgehog Cheese Ball

grinding the spices and beating the cheese mixture.
  1. Grind the spices for the homemade onion soup mix together. (image 1)
  2. Beat together the cream cheese and grated cheddar until fluffy and smooth. (image 2)
adding the spices and chilling the cheese mixture.
  1. Add all the other ingredients, including the onion soup mix to taste.  Scrape down the sides and mix until well blended. (image 3)
  2. Chill the mixture for 2 hours. (image 4)
shaping and decorating the hedgehog cheese ball.
  1. Place the mixture on a piece of plastic wrap and roll into a ball.  Shape part of the ball into a point to make the hedgehog's body. (image 5)
  2. Unwrap the hedgehog and put it on a serving board or plate.  Stick rows of pecans and walnuts on its back to create spines, then add raisins for the eyes and nose. Serve with crackers and enjoy! (image 6)

Recipe FAQs

What are cheese balls made of?

Cheese balls are made from a mixture of a soft cheese, such as cream cheese, with a semi-hard or semi-soft cheese, like extra sharp cheddar. This creamy combination of cheeses is then seasoned with a variety of spices, condiments, or other flavorings.

Why is my cheese ball crumbly?

This happened because you probably used a hard cheese (like Parmesan) instead of a semi-hard or semi-soft cheese (like cheddar). The hard cheese can't blend well into the soft cheese, meaning that it won't hold together properly.

How long does a cheese ball keep?

It should last for a week in the fridge.  Make sure to keep it tightly covered with plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container to seal out fridge odors and to keep it fresh.

Is it OK to freeze a cheese ball?

Yes, cheese balls freeze very well. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then wrap in aluminum foil. Seal it inside a zip-top freezer bag and freeze for up to 1 month. Defrost the it in the fridge overnight before serving.

How do you use up leftover cheese ball?

Crumble up a leftovers and sprinkle over hot pasta.  Stir until melted and combined. Cut into cubes and toss with a green salad. Spread on bread and make a sandwich. Melt it in a saucepan and serve as a warm, cheesy dip. Add to omelettes or frittatas. Stuff chicken breasts or pork tenderloin with the cheese mixture. Serve with crudités.

Serve

Want to serve this hedgehog for a first birthday party or baby shower? The guests will love this adorable snack if you serve it on a slice of wood or cutting board. Decorate it with rosemary sprigs, frosted cranberries, and a cute sign.

If you're looking for other appetizer recipes, make sure to try our recipes for Bisquick sausage balls, sardine salad, British sausage rolls, and Hawaiian meatballs. You'll also love these pigs in a blanket rolls!

hedgehog cheese ball on a white plate with a bowl of crackers.

Expert Tips

  • Make your own soup mix.  It's a lot tastier and healthier than the store bought packet!
  • Grate the cheddar yourself.  The pre-grated kind will make the cheese ball gritty.
  • Keep your hands clean by shaping the mixture when it's wrapped in plastic wrap, then peeling it off when you're done.
  • Refrigerate leftovers for up to 1 week, or freeze them for up to 1 month.

Other Appetizer Recipes

  • bowl of sardine salad with crackers
    Simple Sardine Salad
  • large white bowl filled with cowboy caviar
    Cowboy Caviar
  • white serving plate of fried green tomatoes with one on a piece of parchment paper.
    Fried Green Tomatoes
  • person holding a piece of garlic toast
    Easy Garlic Toast

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Recipe

hedgehog cheese ball on a white plate with a bowl of crackers.

Woodland Hedgehog Cheese Ball

Woodland hedgehog cheese ball is a simple, savory appetizer that will be a stunning centerpiece at a woodland baby shower or first birthday.  Cream cheese, cheddar, Worcestershire sauce, and spices make this vegetarian snack idea a super cute, gender neutral munchie.
4.9 from 20 votes
Print Pin FavoriteSaved! Rate
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 35 minutes minutes
Inactive Time: 2 hours hours
Total Time: 2 hours hours 35 minutes minutes
Servings: 3 cups
Calories: 183kcal
Author: Brooke & Emma

Ingredients
 

For the Homemade Onion Soup Mix (⅓ cup, 42g)

  • ¼ cup dried minced onion
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons onion powder
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon celery salt
  • ¼ teaspoon paprika

For the Cheese Ball

  • 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 2 cups extra sharp cheddar cheese, grated
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • 2 ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme leaves

For the Decoration

  • 1 cup pecan halves
  • ⅓ cup walnut pieces
  • 2 dried black beans for the eyes
  • 1 raisin for the nose
  • Few sprigs of fresh rosemary

For Serving

  • Crackers of your choice
Keep your screen on while you work!

Instructions

Making the Onion Soup Mix

  • Stir together all the spices in a small bowl until well combined.
  • In a few batches, grind the spices a little smaller using a mortar and pestle.  Set aside.

Making the Cheese Ball

  • Beat the cream cheese and cheddar with a hand-held electric mixer until fluffy.  Beat in the sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and additional spices.  Add the homemade onion soup mix to taste.
  • Blend until thoroughly combined, scraping down the sides for an even mix.
  • Chill the cheese mixture in the fridge for about 2 hours to firm up the mixture.  You can keep it in the fridge for a few days at this point if you want to make it ahead.

Shaping & Decorating

  • Once the mixture has chilled enough to handle, place the mixture on a large piece of plastic wrap.  Fold the wrap around the cheese, then shape it into a smooth ball.  Use your hands to shape one end into a point to make the hedgehog's head.
  • Unwrap the hedgehog and place him on the serving board.  Make any adjustments to the shape, smoothing holes or creases with the back of a spoon.
  • Once you're satisfied with the hedgehog's shape, stick on the two dried beans for eyes and the raisin for a nose.  Decorate the hedgehog's back with rows of pecan halves and walnut pieces to look like spines.
  • Curl a few sprigs of fresh rosemary around the hedgehog to look like pine branches in a forest.  Serve with crackers.

Video

Notes

  • Make your own soup mix.  The store bought kind contains preservatives and extra salt.
  • Grate your own cheese.  The pre-grated kind will have a gritty texture in the cheese ball.
  • Wrap the mixture in plastic wrap as you're shaping it to keep your hands clean, then peel it off when you're done.
  • Want this spicy?  Add additional cayenne pepper to taste.
  • Refrigerate leftovers for up to 1 week, or freeze them.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoonsCalories: 183kcal (9%)Carbohydrates: 4g (1%)Protein: 5g (10%)Fat: 17g (26%)Saturated Fat: 7g (44%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 36mg (12%)Sodium: 186mg (8%)Potassium: 94mg (3%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 2g (2%)Vitamin A: 458IU (9%)Vitamin C: 1mg (1%)Calcium: 114mg (11%)Iron: 1mg (6%)

Serving sizes and nutritional information are only an estimate and may vary from your results.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Marissa Wells

    January 02, 2024 at 8:14 pm

    5 stars
    This turned out so good! My family and I made this for a holiday dinner last week. We used sliced almonds for the quills, and raisins for the eyes and nose. It was almost too cute to eat!

    Reply
    • Emma Fajcz

      January 03, 2024 at 9:07 am

      We're so happy to see that, Marissa! Thank you for making our recipe and sharing your review!

      Reply
  2. Debbie

    December 23, 2023 at 2:04 pm

    I have been looking for a different Appetizer to take to a Girl's Cocktail Party tomorrow and I have the ingredients for this and really like the presentation. Only change I will make is to use a large black olive cut into eye shapes and mouth, as I don't want anyone to accidentally bite on a dried bean. I think I will make spiced pecans and fill it in thicker without walnuts (don't have any) I have a rustic wooden Martha Stewart tray with silver twisted ropes for handles and a huge pine tree in back yard. Thanks for the great recipe, pictures presentation ideas.

    Reply
    • Emma Fajcz

      December 24, 2023 at 7:57 am

      Sounds great, Debbie! We hope everyone will enjoy the cheeseball!

      Reply
  3. Heather

    September 18, 2023 at 9:58 pm

    5 stars
    I made this for my daughter’s woodland creatures themed baby shower and it was such a hit! Not only was it easy to make and adorable, it was also absolutely delicious! I’m already planning on making it for future gatherings.

    Reply
    • Emma Fajcz

      September 19, 2023 at 7:02 am

      That's wonderful, Heather! Thank you for making our recipe. We're happy it could make your daughter's baby shower extra special.

      Reply
  4. Janinne

    December 04, 2022 at 10:12 pm

    Thank you for this recipe. Planning to use the hedgehog cheese ball for son and daughter-in-love’ s baby shower. Will also make the soup mix for my spice cabinet.

    Reply
    • Emma

      December 05, 2022 at 7:06 am

      You're welcome, Janinne! We hope you enjoy the cheese ball and the spice blend!

      Reply
  5. Megan

    November 14, 2021 at 3:22 pm

    5 stars
    Made this for a baby shower, so adorable!

    Reply
    • Emma

      November 15, 2021 at 6:24 am

      Thank you so much, Megan! We're thrilled that the hedgehog cheese ball was featured at your baby shower!

      Reply
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We're Brooke & Emma Fajcz, the mother-daughter team behind Savor the Flavour. Increase your kitchen confidence with our recipes, instructional photos, and helpful tips and facts. Our recipes have been featured in Oprah Magazine, The Guardian, Parade, Insider, Delish, and BuzzFeed.

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