Jack-o'-Lantern Cheese Ball

Est. Cost: $12.11 | $3.03 per person

Estimated cost based on featured sale items only. Does not include common pantry staples (oil, salt, spices, etc.).

A sharp cheddar and cream cheese ball shaped into a little pumpkin with kitchen twine, studded with crisp apple and tart dried cranberries. Roll it in toasted cashews, press on a bell pepper face and it becomes the jack-o'-lantern at the center of a fall snack board.

Ingredients

Directions

Step 1: Beat the softened cream cheese with the shredded cheddar, honey, cinnamon and smoked paprika until smooth and evenly orange.

Step 2: Fold in the diced apple, the chopped dried cranberries and the sage, reserving a little sage for the top.

Step 3: Scrape the mixture onto a large sheet of plastic wrap, gather the corners, and twist it into a tight ball.

Step 4: Cut four long pieces of kitchen twine. Lay them across each other like spokes, set the wrapped ball in the center, then bring the ends up and tie them at the top so the twine divides the ball into eight wedges.

Step 5: Chill at least 1 hour, until firm enough to hold the ridges.

Step 6: Snip away the twine and peel off the plastic wrap. The ball should be grooved like a small pumpkin.

Step 7: Roll the ball gently in the toasted cashews, pressing them into the ridges without flattening them.

Step 8: Cut two triangle eyes, a small triangle nose and a toothy grin from the bell pepper, then press them onto the front of the ball.

Step 9: Press a pretzel rod into the top for the stem, tuck a strip of bell pepper beside it as the leaf, and scatter the reserved sage over the top.

Step 10: Serve with crackers, pretzel sticks and apple wedges.

Chef's Tip: The twine is what makes the pumpkin ridges, so tie it snugly over the plastic wrap and let the ball chill a full hour before unwrapping. Chop the dried cranberries fine so they fold in evenly instead of clumping. Cut the face from a dark green or red pepper for the best contrast against the orange, and press the pieces on just before serving so they stay crisp. For a savory version, fold in a few slices of crisp crumbled bacon with the apple.

Save by using Cream cheese, shredded cheese, apples, honey and cashews are all on sale this week, so the whole board comes together from the circular and Serve with Crackers, pretzel sticks and apple wedges.