Mini Reindeer Cheese Balls are the perfect Christmas appetizer. These look so cute on a platter and are very easy to make! Kids will enjoy getting into the kitchen and helping make these fun reindeer treats for Christmas!
WHAT ARE CHEESE BALLS?
There are cheese balls and then there are cheese balls, LOL. I am talking about a homemade appetizer that is full of all kinds of delicious ingredients.
These aren't the puffed orange snacks you find in the chip aisle!
Cheese balls are typically a mixture of cream cheese and other cheeses. Add in some other ingredients like spices, meats, veggies and nuts and you can make all kinds of cheese balls to meet anyone's taste buds!
You can make a large cheese ball or miniature cheese balls. I love mini cheese balls because it is easy to just pop one in my mouth!
Cheese balls are usually eaten with chips, crackers, pretzels, veggies, etc.
INGREDIENTS FOR MINI REINDEER CHEESE BALLS
This is a simple cheese ball recipe. You can add other ingredients to the mixture if you desire! I like to keep it simple especially for parties.
- Cream Cheese
- Dry Ranch Seasoning Mix
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Bacon Bits
- Tomato
- Pretzels
HOW TO MAKE MINI REINDEER CHEESE BALLS
My kids love helping out in the kitchen and these reindeer cheese balls are a no-cook appetizer that is easy for kids to help with.
STEP ONE: MAKE CHEESE MIXTURE
Start off with a medium-sized mixing bowl. Add the softened cream cheese, dry ranch dressing, and the shredded cheddar cheese. Mix these ingredients until they are well-combined.
Put the mixing bowl with the cheese mixture into the refrigerator so it can set up for about 30 minutes.
STEP TWO: ROLL BALLS
You can fry up some bacon and chop it into very small bits or you can use prepackaged real bacon bits. Yes…I use the store-bought bacon bits! 🙂
Take the cheese mixture and form it into small balls. I use about one tablespoon of the mixture for each ball.
Roll each ball in the bacon bits.
Place the coated cheese balls on a platter or baking sheet and place back in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill.
STEP THREE: ADD THE NOSE AND ANTLERS
While the mini reindeer cheese balls are chilling in the refrigerator you can work on making the noses and antlers.
Cut the tomato into small pieces so that you have 20 small cubes to use as noses.
To make the antlers, cut the pretzels in half, then cut the loop off the top of each pretzel half.
When the cheese balls are done chilling go ahead and add the nose and antlers.
MINI REINDEER CHEESE BALLS RECIPE
I bet you are ready to get started making these adorable reindeer cheese balls. You can print off the complete ingredients and instructions via the recipe card below.
These Mini Reindeer Cheese Balls are the perfect Christmas appetizer. Quick to make, this reindeer snack is fun to make with kids! 10
- 16 ounces cream cheese softened, 2 packages
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 6 strips bacon finely chopped or 1 package real bacon bits
- 1 medium tomato cut into 20 small cubes
- 40 pretzels
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Combine cream cheese, ranch dressing mix, and shredded cheddar cheese in a medium bowl. Mix until well combined.
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Place cheese mixture in the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes.
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Using a tablespoon, scoop cheese mixture and form into a ball. Roll each ball in chopped bacon. Place cheese balls back in the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes.
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Place a piece of cubed tomato in the center of the ball as a nose.
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Cut each pretzel in half, the cut the loop off the top of each pretzel half. Place one half on each side of the ball as antlers.
This makes 20 mini cheese balls.
If you loved this fun Christmas recipe be sure to check these other great ideas out:
- Reindeer Gingersnap Cookies
- Jalapeno Popper Mini Cheeseballs
- Reindeer Poop Cookies
- Crunchy Strawberry Cheesecake Balls
Please PIN this recipe so you can come back and make these again and again!
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