Description
Spider Cheeseballs are a fun and festive Halloween appetizer. These no-bake treats are made with a creamy cheese mixture, rolled into spider shapes, coated in black sesame seeds, and finished with pretzel legs. They are perfect for parties and spooky gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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
- 1/2 cup black sesame seeds
- 2 cups pretzel sticks
- Additional pretzels and crackers for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the cheese mixture: In a bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese and olive oil until smooth. Next, beat in the goat cheese, chopped green onions, minced garlic, dried dill weed, dried oregano, kosher salt, and black pepper until well combined. Chill the mixture for 30 minutes to firm up and enhance flavors.
- Form the spider bodies: Using your hands, roll the chilled cheese mixture into balls—1 1/2 inches in diameter for small spiders and 3 inches for large spiders. Ensure the balls are smooth and compact for easy handling.
- Coat with sesame seeds: Roll each cheese ball in the black sesame seeds, pressing gently so that they become evenly coated, creating a textured black exterior resembling a spider’s body.
- Attach pretzel legs: For small spiders, break 4 pretzel sticks in half to make 8 legs and carefully insert them on each side of the ball to mimic spider legs. For large spiders, use 8 whole pretzel sticks similarly for the legs, ensuring firmness so the legs stay in place.
- Chill before serving: Wrap the finished Spider Cheeseballs in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld and the structure to set. Serve chilled alongside crackers and extra pretzel sticks as desired for an inviting party platter.
Notes
- Use room temperature cream cheese for easier mixing and a smoother texture.
- Chilling the cheese mixture before forming balls makes rolling easier and prevents stickiness.
- Adjust herb quantities to your preference.
- Black sesame seeds provide the spider’s spooky look; poppy seeds can be used for variation.
- Handle pretzel legs gently to avoid breaking them when inserting.
- These cheeseballs keep well covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 spider cheeseball (approx. 100g)
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 35mg