We Bring The Snowman Inside & Turn Him Into A Cheeseball

He’s a 20-year holiday tradition who brings my nieces and me together.

My 21-year-old niece called me and said, “Auntie — I can’t wait to see you! My plane lands in the afternoon, sis is picking me up and we can come to your house tomorrow. Can we make the snowman cheeseball?”

Of course, I said yes. First of all — I adore my nieces and would do anything for them. I would never say no to our lovely 20-year holiday tradition.

The snowman cheeseball is a welcome guest in our home during the holidays and New Years'. Plus — I’ve already bought all the ingredients and I’m raring to go!

I love to cook and I love my nieces. So once they were old enough to roll the cheese mixture — I started the snowman cheeseball tradition. They were always so excited to see him come to life each year with his peppercorn eyes, carrot nose, and celery arms.

And the snowman cheeseball was an easy way to encourage the love of cooking at an early age.

The snowman cheeseball saw us through all sorts of growing pains but we could always count on him. Even when my nieces were teenagers and in that special eye-rolling phase— I could convince them to put on an apron, have a big glass of eggnog and nutmeg closeby and crank the Christmas tunes while we made the snowman cheeseball.

Before you knew it — they were laughing and saying, “I just love making the snowman cheeseball, Auntie!”

Now my youngest niece goes to university and lives over 300 miles away and my oldest niece is a working professional. But the snowman keeps working his magic on us. I don’t think his days are numbered. Whew — I’m so lucky!

OK listen — I know you may be tempted to bring a boring old cheeseball to your holiday activities this year. But with a few tweaks, you can turn it into something that everyone looks forward to eating AND it gives laughs too.

Because let’s be honest.

Store-bought orange cheeseballs are horrid and how often do they bring a laugh? Unless laughs are from the people who feel forced to eat it? And making a homemade one doesn’t take long and it tastes 100x better.

So there.

My nieces and I have tried a variety of combinations over the years but this version is now our go-to guy.

We’re purists — snowmen are snow-white and so we don’t use bright cheddar or nuts or things that make him look like he has a bad case of measles.

Snowman Cheeseball

Warning: Not sure why — but everyone seems to eat his head first!

2 packages cream cheese

1 small package plain soft goat cheese

1 cup grated white cheddar

1 cup grated parmesan or other white cheese

1/4 dried parmesan for “snow dusting” — optional

Juice and zest from 1/2 lemon

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Slivered almonds

1 baby carrot

2 sticks celery with leafy bits

black peppercorns

1. Mix the first five ingredients in a mixer or with beaters until thoroughly combined.
2. Shape into 3 balls, one large, one medium and one small. Roll each in the dried parmesan cheese to coat.
3. Lay flat on a serving tray in a snowman shape. If you stand him up — he tends to fall over once your guests dive into him.
4. Use peppercorns as the snowman’s eyes, buttons, and smile, and cut a sliver of the baby carrot for the nose. Sprinkle dried parmesan around him like snow.
5. Serve with your favorite crackers or vegetables.

Author’s Note: You can also shape this into one big ball like a snowman head too.