Description
Spider Cheeseballs are a fun and spooky appetizer perfect for Halloween parties. Cream cheese and goat cheese blend with herbs and garlic, then coated in black sesame seeds to resemble spider bodies. Pretzel sticks create the legs, making a playful presentation that’s both tasty and festive.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Mixture
- 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 ounces goat cheese
- 4 green onions, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon dried dill weed
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Coating and Decoration
- 1/2 cup black sesame seeds
- 2 cups pretzel sticks
- Additional pretzels and crackers for serving
Instructions
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese and extra virgin olive oil until smooth and well combined. Then, beat in the goat cheese, chopped green onions, minced garlic, dried dill weed, dried oregano, kosher salt, and black pepper until evenly mixed. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to firm up and enhance flavors.
- Form Cheeseballs: Using your hands, roll the chilled cheese mixture into balls. For small spiders, make 1 1/2-inch balls; for large spiders, form 3-inch balls. The size will determine the scale of your spider appetizer.
- Coat with Sesame Seeds: Roll each cheese ball in the black sesame seeds to coat fully. This gives the appearance of the spider’s body and adds a nutty crunch and color contrast.
- Attach Pretzel Legs: For small spiders, break pretzel sticks in half and insert four pretzel legs on each side of the cheese ball to create eight legs total. For large spiders, use whole pretzel sticks to place four legs on each side. Arrange gently to avoid breaking the cheese balls.
- Chill Before Serving: Cover the decorated Spider Cheeseballs tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or until ready to serve. This helps the cheese set and the pretzel legs stay firm. Serve with additional pretzels and crackers as dippers for a complete appetizer experience.
Notes
- Ensure cream cheese is softened to room temperature for easier mixing.
- Chilling the cheese mixture before rolling helps prevent sticking to your hands.
- Black sesame seeds can be substituted with black poppy seeds if unavailable.
- For added flavor, consider mixing in finely chopped fresh herbs such as parsley or chives.
- Keep the cheeseballs refrigerated until serving to maintain shape and freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 small cheeseball with pretzel legs
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
