Spider Cheese Ball + Other Halloween Treats

Halloween is the time of the year where all the ghosts and goblins come out to play, and people get really creative with their food. From fingers to brains, there is no holding back. I prefer to forego the shock value when I host Halloween parties, but I still want to impress my friends.

This post is kindly sponsored by Tyson and The Women Bloggers. All opinions and my love of Halloween are my own. #WMDeliciousDisguises

I was at Walmart getting Halloween decorations and I picked up a variety of Tyson products to serve. The freezer section was full of goodies! I couldn’t wait to come up with something to pair with the State Fair Corn Bogs and Tyson Any’tizers Chicken Fries. Cheese goes with everything, of course, so I wanted to create a spooky cheese ball.

Maybe my smiling spider isn’t spooky, but he’s so cute! This cheese ball is full of goodness and covered in poppy seeds to give it the color it needs.

Pretzel rods (not sticks) make up the thick legs, making it reminiscent of the big hairy spider that was crawling on my window sill last week!

Spider Cheese Ball

Ingredients

Cheese Ball
1/2 cup thick and chunky salsa
1/4 cup sliced green onions
2 tablespoons Land O Lakes® Butter, softened
6 ounces (1 1/2 cups) shredded Cheddar cheese
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh garlic

Coating and Decorations
3 tablespoons poppy seeds
2 black pitted olives
Red bell pepper
4 pretzel rods

Directions

Combine all cheese ball ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat at medium speed for 45 seconds or until creamy. Cover mixture and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Reserve 2 tablespoons cheese mixture for legs.

Place poppy seeds into large shallow bowl. Shape 1/2 cup cheese mixture into ball for spider head. The cheese mixture may still be too “mushy,” but do your best. Shape remaining mixture into spider body. Roll cheese balls in poppy seeds, pressing seeds onto balls to coat. Place onto large plate or platter and form spider to your liking and add more poppy seeds if you so desire.

Cut black olives in half. Cut red pepper into small pieces for middle of eyes and mouth. Place black olives and red pepper pieces onto toothpick and push into spider’s head for eye. Use two toothpicks to place red pepper for mouth. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours. You can chill overnight.

Just before serving, attach legs by cutting each pretzel rod in thirds. Insert 3 pieces into each side of body. Use reserved cheese mixture to attach remaining pretzel piece to form bent legs.

This spider cheese ball recipe is sure to be crowd pleaser at your Halloween party. Print the recipe below. This recipe takes a while to make, so take advantage of the fully cooked Tyson products that only need to be heated up.

Corn Dog Centipedes

This one is really easy. Stick some chow mein noodles in mini corn dogs as legs, ketchup for eyes, and violà!

What delicious disguises can you come up with? Let me know in the comments!

PRINT IT

Spider Cheese Ball

This spooky cheese ball appetizer is perfect for your Halloween party.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Chill Time 5 hours hrs

Total Time 5 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Servings 1

Ingredients

  

For the Cheese Ball:

• 1/2 cup thick and chunky salsa
• 1/4 cup sliced green onions
• 2 tablespoons Butter softened
• 6 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese 1 1/2 cups
• 8 oz cream cheese softened
• 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh garlic

For the Coating and Decorations:

• 3 tablespoons poppy seeds
• 2 black pitted olives
• Red bell pepper
• 4 pretzel rods

Instructions

 

• Combine all cheese ball ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat at medium speed for 45 seconds or until creamy. Cover mixture and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Reserve 2 tablespoons cheese mixture for legs.
• Place poppy seeds into large shallow bowl. Shape 1/2 cup cheese mixture into ball for spider head. The cheese mixture may still be too “mushy,” but do your best. Shape remaining mixture into spider body. Roll cheese balls in poppy seeds, pressing seeds onto balls to coat. Place onto large plate or platter and form spider to your liking and add more poppy seeds if you so desire.
• Cut black olives in half. Cut red pepper into small pieces for middle of eyes and mouth. Place black olives and red pepper pieces onto toothpick and push into spider’s head for eye. Use two toothpicks to place red pepper for mouth. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours. You can chill overnight.
• Just before serving, attach legs by cutting each pretzel rod in thirds. Insert 3 pieces into each side of body. Use reserved cheese mixture to attach remaining pretzel piece to form bent legs.

PIN IT