This pumpkin herb cheese ball is perfect for fall appetizer spreads. Throw an adult Halloween party and make sure this is on the menu!

It probably all started with the handmade pumpkin costume my mother made me when I was 3 that was about 10 sizes too big and incredibly cumbersome to walk around trick-or-treating in, but Halloween has never been one of my favorite holidays.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Casillero del Diablo Wines. All opinions are 100% mine.

Pumpkin Herb Cheese Ball
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Weirdly, for someone who doesn’t get into any other holiday (and fights me every year on why we have to actually put a Christmas tree up), Ulysses loves Halloween.

To the point which he made me save these horrendously cheesy plush M&M figurines dressed up in Star Wars costumes he brought home from work like 8 years ago when I was cleaning out our holiday decorations last year.

They’re really the gaudiest decoration in existence for the holiday and they’re in my house.

Pumpkin Cheese Ball

Last year, we left for vacation on Halloween afternoon so Ulys made me fill up the biggest bowl we had in the house with candy and leave it on the front steps for the neighborhood kids.

A week later, we came home from North Carolina to find candy wrappers strewn about the front yard and a nice big “THANKS” spray painted on our driveway (which we had just paid $800 to have sealed).

Almost a year later, “THANKS” (although a bit faded) still greets me every time I pull up the driveway.

Pumpkin and Herb Cheese Ball

So, going forward I’ve basically decided to ignore the obnoxious doorbell ringing/driveway vandalizing kid part of the holiday and focus on the fun part that comes with being an adult, Halloween parties!

When “diablo” is in your brand’s name, you pretty much have the market-share cornered for best Halloween wine, am I right? 

Casillero del Diablo Wines (translating to “wine cellar of the devil”) was one of the first Chilean wines to be sold in the U.S. and it’s Cabernet Sauvignon is the #1 imported wine in it’s price category ($8.99-$10.99).

I can’t be the only one out there who would happily forego the cheesy spider web/scary monster/ghost inspired foods and rather kick back with the adults, a big glass of red in hand and some delicious appetizers that don’t resemble witches fingers, like this pumpkin herb cheese ball.

Herbed Pumpkin Cheese Ball

If fall could be defined in appetizer form, it would be this pumpkin cheese ball.

ps- use any leftover pepitas from making this to make pumpkin seed butter. Slather it on all the things and thank me later.

Filled with creamy mascarpone, cream cheese, cheddar, pumpkin and lots of fresh fall-like herbs before it’s rolled in pumpkin seeds and more herbs, this pumpkin herb cheese ball is the plate everyone will be hovering around.

It’s incredibly simple to make and the perfect pairing with the cabernet.

Deep reds, no matter the season, are always my favorite when it comes to wine but there’s something so perfect about crisp fall days, savory appetizers and a big pour of a chewy red wine.

This cabernet is one that totally fits the bill on that description.

Wine + cheese, that’s how you do Halloween.

Let the kids have the Snickers, this one’s for the adults.

More fall appetizers great for an “adult” Halloween:
Pumpkin goat cheese dip with caramelized onions
Baked maple sweet potato tots
Butternut squash goat cheese dip

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Pumpkin Herb Cheese Ball

Servings: 12 servings
Prep: 45 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
This pumpkin herb cheese ball is perfect for fall appetizer spreads. Throw an adult Halloween party and make sure this is on the menu!

Ingredients 

  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 4 ounces grated white cheddar cheese
  • 2 ounces marscapone
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped sage, plus more for rolling
  • 1 tablespoon chopped rosemary, plus more for rolling
  • salt and pepper
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds, pepitas

Instructions 

  • Combine the cheeses and pumpkin in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
  • Mix on medium speed until well combined.
  • Add the herbs, salt and pepper and mix again until combined.
  • Transfer the cheese mixture onto a large piece of plastic wrap and shape into a ball as best you can. Wrap up the cheese and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
  • Remove from refrigerator and reshape into a ball again. Now that the cheeses are hardened a bit it should be easier to shape.
  • Place the pumpkin seeds and extra herbs on a plate. Roll the ball of cheese in the mixture and gently press down so that the seeds and herbs stick to the outside of the cheese ball.
  • Keep wrapped in plastic and refrigerated until serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1SERVINGCalories: 142kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 4gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 167mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Appetizers
Cuisine: American
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Founder and Writer at Running to the Kitchen | About

Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.

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17 Comments

    1. If you like goat cheese, you could prob sub that. I would probably do 4-6 ounces of goat cheese and 2-4 ounces more mascarpone though since goat cheese has a much stronger flavor than cream cheese.

  1. I would love to serve this cheese ball for Friendsgiving…what type of crackers did you serve with it? Almost looks like gingersnaps?

    1. Oh gosh, forgot the brand these crackers were but they weren’t gingersnaps, they were savory (just looked like a cookie!). Honestly, any cracker will do! Veggie sticks would be good too :)

  2. we have a lot of renters in our neighborhood so I am with you about not giving out candy! I got sick of the mean kids who demanded candy even though they were too old. Not cool about the driveway!! UGH! I like to celebrate with friends and family, wathcing football and enjoying good food! Like this cheeseball!! FUN! I love the pepitas on the outside! I save the candy for my kid’s classes and thier lunchboxes! Or a midnight snack for me when I remove all the milky ways from their bags first.