Ingredients:

  • 8 oz Full-Fat Cream Cheese, softened
  • 1 cup Sharp White Cheddar, shredded, plus 1/2 cup for coating
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 tsp Onion Powder
  • 1/2 tsp White Pepper

Instructions:

  1. Combine softened cream cheese and 1 cup of shredded white cheddar in a large mixing bowl. Add Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and white pepper. Mix well until completely smooth and uniformly blended. Ensure there are no streaks of unmixed cream cheese.
  2. Scrape the mixture onto a sheet of plastic wrap. Gather the plastic wrap around the mixture and twist the ends to form a tight, smooth ball shape. Place in the refrigerator to chill and solidify the fat structure for structural integrity. Chill for a minimum of 30 minutes, or ideally 2 hours.
  3. Remove the cheese ball from the plastic wrap. Roll the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded white cheddar (or finely chopped, toasted nuts) onto the surface of the ball, pressing gently to ensure a heavy, protective coating.
  4. Using the blunt edge of a butter knife or a piece of kitchen twine, gently press vertical lines into the coated ball to create the characteristic 'ribs' of a pumpkin shape. Do not cut through the entire ball, just create deep grooves.
  5. Garnish with a small piece of pretzel stick or celery stalk at the top to simulate the pumpkin stem. Serve immediately with sturdy crackers or vegetable sticks.