Hedgehog Cheese Ball

Cheese balls are one of my favorite appetizers! This recipe has a wonderful onion flavor, a very creamy texture, and is so incredibly cute. It's fast and easy to make, and is perfect to bring for parties! Stays fresh for up to a week in the fridge, and leftovers can be frozen for later.

Supplies

For the Home made onion soup mix:
onion powder
dried minced onion
garlic powder
dried parsley
teaspoon dried thyme leaves
black pepper
celery salt
paprika

For the Cheese ball:

cream cheese
extra sharp cheddar cheese, grated
sour cream
Worcestershire sauce
lemon juice
dried parsley
paprika
cayenne pepper
dried thyme leaves

For the decoration:
Three raisins for the eyes and nose
Walnuts for the spines
Rosemary sprigs for greenery

For serving:
Crackers of your choice

Step 1: Onion Soup Mix

• ¼ cup dried minced onion
• ¼ teaspoons onion powder
•1 ¼ teaspoons garlic powder
•1 teaspoon dried parsley
•½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
•¼ teaspoon black pepper
•¼ teaspoon salt
•¼ teaspoon paprika

Combine all ingredients on a small bowl and set aside. Makes 1/3 of a cup.

Step 2: Cheese Ball

•16 ounces cream cheese, softened
•2 cups extra sharp cheddar cheese, grated
•¼ cup sour cream
•2 ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
•1 teaspoon lemon juice
•1 teaspoon dried parsley
•½ teaspoon paprika
•¼ teaspoon dried thyme leaves

Combine all ingredients above with the onion soup mix. Refrigerate for 2 hours.

Step 3: Decorations

•1 cup pecan halves
•3 raisins for the eyes and nose
•Few sprigs of fresh rosemary

Roll cheese ball in plastic wrap and shape it to a oval. (See picture for reference.) Unwrap carefully and set it on a dish. Use raisins for the eyes and nose, and stick the pecans up all around the rest of the cheese ball to give it the quill - like appearance. Wrap the fresh rosemary around the base for greenery. Serve with crackers of your choice.