This easy snowman cheeseball is the perfect keto appetizer for all of your winter celebrations! It’s easy to make and looks adorable as the centerpiece of a buffet table. Did I mention it’s delicious? This post is sponsored by Cabot Creamery.
Your mama always told you not to play with your food, but I say why not? Why shouldn’t we have a little fun with our holiday appetizers and treats, and turn them into edible showpieces?
This fun snowman cheeseball is case in point. He’s absolutely adorable to look at, but he’s also so tasty no one will mind digging in. And the kids get such a kick out of food shaped like characters they love.
I’m not really the crafty sort, but I had such fun creating this guy with Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar. It comes together really easily and holds up really well for get togethers. I plan on making another for our annual New Year’s party.
Really, really good cheddar
You are likely already aware about how much I love Cabot Cheddar. I use it in a lot of my keto appetizers, such as:
Truth be told, I could probably make a whole appetizer table out of recipes made with their fabulous cheddar.
For this snowman cheeseball, I featured the Seriously Sharp 18 month aged cheddar. It’s a gorgeous aged cheese that’s at home on the most elegant charcuterie board. But it also goes beautifully in comfort food recipes, and elevates keto casseroles and soups.
And it takes your cheeseball to a whole new level!
Ingredients
Many cheeseball recipes take packaged ranch seasoning, which isn’t the healthiest option. I took some inspiration from my homemade boursin to boost the flavor.
- Cheddar cheese (I recommend any Cabot variety, but the seriously sharp is so good!)
- Cream cheese
- Butter
- Garlic
- Parsley
- Onion powder
- Salt and pepper
For decorating the snowman
- Peppercorns
- Baby carrot
- Rosemary sprigs
How to make a Snowman Cheeseball
This is the kind of recipe that makes people think you worked REALLY hard. You don’t have to tell them how easy it is!
- Grate the cheddar finely. To make it look more like snow, I recommend the small holes on a box grater or on the grating blade of a food processor. I did mine in the food processor and it made short work of that 8 ounce block.
- Beat the cream cheese and butter. They should be very smooth and well combined before proceeding. No one wants lumps in their cheeseballs!
- Add the seasonings and half of the cheese. Beat these in until well combined.
- Form with greased hands. At this point, the cheese mixture is quite sticky. Lightly greasing your hands helps to keep it from sticking.
- Refrigerate. The balls need to firm up in the fridge before you attempt to stack them.
- Roll in grated cheddar. Use the remaining half of your grated cheese to roll the balls and make them look like freshly packed snowballs.
- Assemble the snowman. Place the larger ball on a serving platter and use two toothpicks to secure the smaller ball on top.
- Decorate! I used peppercorns for the eyes, mouth, and buttons, and the very tip of a baby carrot for the nose. Then I stripped most of the leaves off of two rosemary sprigs. Voila! A snowman made of cheese.
What to serve with Keto Cheeseball Snowman
You have lots of options, both homemade and store-bought! Here are some ideas:
- Homemade keto crackers
- Real Phat crackers (use FOODDREAMER for 10% off)
- Cucumber slices
- Mini peppers (slice them open to spread the cheese on top)
- Celery sticks
Storage Information
The unassembled cheeseballs can be stored, wrapped in plastic, for several days. Once you’ve put together the snowman, it will dry out if left out longer than a day.
But the leftovers can be pressed into a sealable container and will last several weeks, as long as your ingredients were fresh.
Easy Snowman Cheeseball
Ingredients
- 8 ounces Cabot Seriously Sharp White Cheddar divided
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup butter softened
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 10 whole peppercorns
- 1 thin baby carrot
- 2 rosemary sprigs
Instructions
- Grate the cheddar on the small holes of a box grater, or use a food processor with a grating blade.
- In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese and butter until well combined and smooth. Beat in half of the cheddar, the garlic, parsley, onion powder, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Divide the mixture into two uneven portions, using about two thirds for the body and one third for the head. Grease your hands lightly with olive or avocado oil and roll into balls. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate 2 hours.
- When the balls are chilled, unwrap the balls and roll in the remaining grated cheddar. Place the large ball on a serving platter. Press two toothpicks about halfway down into the top of the ball. Place the smaller ball on top, secured in place by the toothpicks.
- Use the peppercorns to make eyes and a mouth on the head of the snowman, and buttons down the body.
- Cut the tip off the thin carrot and use for the nose. Remove most of the rosemary leaves from the sprigs and press in as the arms of the snowman. Spread any leftover grated cheese around the bottom as snow.
- Serve at room temperature for easier scooping.
Lori says
What an adorable idea! so simple, yet sure to put a smile on every face. This one is a keeper, but then, ALL your recipes are keepers! Thank you so much for all your dedicated work, delicious recipes and wonderful blog! Merry Christmas!
Pinky Pincus says
Hi. What a great at idea! I know that I’ll love it. What do you suggest if I want to take it to someone’s home? Transport it assembled or stack the balls once I get there?
Thanks for another great recipe!
CAROLE says
I made Mr. Snowman for our party today. He was the hit. Absolutely delicious. Just for fun I found a tiny hat for him to wear.
Angie says
What kind of crackers do you serve with this?
Carolyn says
Please read the post as I link to several options!
CAROLE says
Hi Angie, I used low salt wheat thins.
Gretchen Birdwell says
My goddaughter, husband, and 2-year old son will be visiting tomorrow. Saw this and just have to make it–looking forward to seeing Elliott’s face when he catches a glimps of this snowman!
Shannon Merritt says
We loved this cheeseball! I made it for Christmas Eve lunch & my husband & kids loved it! This will remain on our Christmas Eve appetizer menu. Thanks for all your cookbooks &nfor your website. Your cookbooks are my go-to for family dinners.
Carolyn says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Dyane Elliott says
It’s delicious and was the hit of the party.
Linda Kahega says
Super easy, quite the hit at potlucks and appetizer for dinner parties
Rachel says
Made this for a Christmas appetizer and it was a hit! I don’t usually do cute things because it’s just my husband and I but I did this time and I’m so glad I did! The garlic was very strong but perhaps it’s because I used 4 larger cloves since it was a new bulb. Next time I’ll either use 2 larger cloves or 3-4 of the smaller ones. I used a non-keto rolled chip for the arms and broke off a piece for the nose since we didn’t have any rosemary or carrots but just didn’t eat those pieces. Thank you!
Carolyn says
Glad you liked it!
Allyssa says
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing snowman cheeseball recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
Lily says
This was so creative and cute, I made this for our movie night just for fun and the kids loved it, they even made mini snowballs around the snowman!!
Betsy says
This is so incredibly cute! So cute I don’t want to eat him! But. CABOT. I mean, that is the best cheese! So good. Absolutely my favorite brand of cheese! This cheeseball recipe is so delicious. So good. And the design is sure to make it the center of attention! <3
pdx girl says
OMG I can’t even handle the level of cuteness here. I didn’t read this 1st I just looked at the picture. Now I have to go back and read it.