Description

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.

Scale

Ingredients

For the Homemade Onion Soup Mix (1/3 cup, 42g)

1/4 cup dried minced onion
1 1/4 teaspoons onion powder
1 1/4 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon celery salt
1/4 teaspoon paprika

For the Cheese Ball

16 ounces cream cheese, softened (453g)
2 cups extra sharp cheddar cheese, grated (240g)
1/4 cup sour cream (60 ml)
2 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

For the Decoration

1 cup pecan halves
1/3 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

Instructions

Making the Homemade Onion Soup Mix (5 minutes)

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 (10 minutes + 2 hours chilling)

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 the Cheese Ball (15 minutes)

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.

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.

Category: Appetizer
Method: Mixer
Cuisine: American

Keywords: woodland hedgehog, cheese ball