How to Make a Turkey Cheese Ball: A Delicious and Festive Appetizer

The turkey cheese ball is an easy and entertaining appetizer to serve at your Thanksgiving gathering. The holidays are a time for family, friends, and of course, delicious food! Everybody at the table is going to love this cute and simple dish.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps of making a turkey cheese ball, from gathering the ingredients to assembling the final masterpiece. We’ll also provide some tips and tricks for making the process even easier. So, let’s get started!

Gather Your Ingredients

The first step to making a turkey cheese ball is to gather all of your ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

For the cheese ball:

• 12 ounces (1 ½ blocks) of cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup sour cream
• 1½ cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 small corner from a cheddar cheese block
• 3 tablespoons powder ranch seasoning – NOT ranch dip mix
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 8 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled (divided)

For the turkey head:

• 1 large pretzel rod
• 2 candy eyes
• 1 small corner from a cheddar cheese block

For the turkey tail:

• 3+ large pretzel twists
• 5+ mini pretzels

Additional:

• Plastic wrap
• Serving platter
• Pretzel sticks and assorted crackers

Make the Cheese Ball

Once you have all of your ingredients gathered, it’s time to make the cheese ball. Here’s how:

1. Combine the cream cheese, sour cream, ranch seasoning, red pepper flakes, and garlic powder in a large bowl. You can use an electric mixer or stand mixer if your cream cheese isn’t softened completely.
2. Add the cheddar cheese and 1/3 cup bacon crumbles to the mixture and mix well.
3. Remove 3 tablespoons from the mixture and set aside. This will be used for the turkey’s head.
4. Lay out a large piece of plastic wrap and place the remaining cheese ball mixture in the center. Wrap the cheeseball mixture by pulling the corners of the plastic wrap together and forming a ball. You can better shape the ball through the plastic wrap.
5. Repeat step 4 with the 3 tablespoons of cheeseball mixture that you set aside. This will be the turkey’s head.
6. Refrigerate your cheeseballs for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Assemble the Turkey

Once the cheeseballs are chilled it’s time to assemble the turkey. Here’s how:

1. Unwrap your cheeseballs. They should be chilled and solid holding a ball shape.
2. To form the turkey’s head, place a pretzel rod about ½ inch into the small cheeseball. Add the cheddar cheese block corner as the beak, and add candy eyes. Place the other end of the pretzel rod into the front top of the large cheeseball. It should go far into the cheeseball to help hold the weight of the head.
3. To form the turkey tail, place large pretzel twists into the back of the cheeseball slightly overlapping but side by side. Press firmly so that the cheeseball holds the pretzels upright. Place the small pretzel twists in front of the large pretzel twists.
4. Finally, using a spoon or your hands, pack the remaining bacon crumbles around the outside of the cheeseball and turkey head to coat your cheeseball turkey.

Serve and Enjoy!

Your turkey cheese ball is now complete! Serve it on a platter with pretzel sticks and assorted crackers. It’s sure to be a hit with everyone at your Thanksgiving gathering.

Tips and Tricks

Here are a few tips and tricks for making your turkey cheese ball even better:

• Use high-quality ingredients. This will make a big difference in the flavor of your cheese ball.
• Don’t overmix the cheese ball. This will make it tough.
• Chill the cheese ball for at least 4 hours before serving. This will help it set up and make it easier to handle.
• Get creative with the decorations! You can use different types of pretzels, crackers, and vegetables to create your turkey.
• Serve the cheese ball with a variety of dippers. This will give your guests options and make the appetizer even more enjoyable.

An enjoyable and simple way to bring some holiday cheer to your Thanksgiving gathering is to make turkey cheese balls. All you need is a few basic ingredients and some time to make an amazing and delectable appetizer that will please everyone. Start making your turkey cheese ball now, and don’t wait around!