Leprechaun Cheese Ball
A Festive Little Fella To Celebrate The Holiday
You either love this little festive Leprechaun Cheese Ball, or you fear him. Either way this delicious mix of fairly simple ingredients like cream cheese, cheddar, and just a few vegetables for decor will be the talk of your Saint Patrickés Day celebration.
I spent a Saint Patrick’s Day a few years back with my Grandmother. With no option to celebrate at a bar, I decided to make this cheeseball for us to be able to snack on something special while we watched our Hallmark movies.
My grandmother got such a kick out of this little guy that it made our two person party even more fun.
Very Easy & Cheesy
You will find that the cheese in this cheeseball is quite tasty, but the mixture also serves a purpose for keeping the Leprechaun’s head in tact. This is the perfect balance of cheese and additions that will keep this guy from melting away.
That being said he should be kept in a cool spot, out of the sun for serving.
You can use any cheese you please. I prefer a sharp cheddar that is orange to add to the festive colors of the holiday.
If you want a more pale Leprechaun, feel free to use a white cheese. Any cheese will do.
Building Your Leprechaun
You will see in the recipe card below that this is a very easy recipe and method to follow. I provided a picture above, to show how the shredded carrot beard and hair should be added.
Do not strive for perfection with this recipe, you will not find it. But it will be cute no matter how neatly or messily you place his orange hair.
The best thing to use to eat this cheeseball are either pretzel crisps or club crackers. Both go really well with this cheeseball.
You can also use vegetables or even baby pickles.
Fun For Kids?
This may be a really fun activity for kids in the house to help make. Kids can mix the cheese, form the cheese ball, and shred the carrots.
They will have a blast making him into the little Leprechaun man. Have your kids help press his carrot hair into his Leprechaun head.
Add the eyes and the hat and your kids will be delighted.
More Saint Patrick’s Day Deliciousness
If you are looking for other Saint Patrick’s Day ideas for food, I have lots to share. My oven baked corned beef is a wonderful recipe.
I also have some great potato choices and a couple of fun salads and vegetables. See my list below!
- Oven Baked Corned Beef
- Saint Patricks Day Mashed Potatoes
- Wasabi Mashed Potatoes
- Seven Layer Salad
- Poupon Potatoes
- Best Brussels Sprouts
The recipes above are some Saint Pat’s tried and true favorites. The oven baked corned beef recipe is one of the most popular recipes on my site every March.
Leprechaun Cheese Ball Recipe
This Leprechaun Cheese Ball with bring Saint Patrick's Day cheer to your celebration. A delicious cheeseball with flavors of mustard, garlic ,and cheddar, decorated to look like a cheerful holiday friend.
Ingredients
- 8 ounce brick of cream cheese
- 2 cups of finely shredded, sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon of garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon of onion powder
- 1 teaspoon of dried mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon of paprika
- 1 to 2 medium to large sized carrot (s), grated
- 2 black olives
- 1 large green bell pepper
- 1 small orange bell pepper
Instructions
- In a bowl, add the cream cheese, mayonnaise, Worcestershire, Dijon mustard, garlic salt, onion powder, black pepper, dry mustard, and paprika and combine well. You can use a hand mixer or stand mixer to combine.
- Slowly add in your shredded cheese until well combined.
- Scoop the cheese mixture into a ball on a piece of plastic wrap but reserve at least a tablespoon to use as "glue" to decorate the little Leprechaun. Wet your hands and shape the cheese into a round ball. I use my hands and the plastic wrap to form the ball. Wrap the ball in the plastic and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least an hour, but it can be left overnight.
- Shred your carrot for the beard and hair. Slice the olives to make two circles for eyes. Remove the stem of the green bell pepper and then cut the top off in a circle to make the brim of the hat. Try to keep it in one piece, but if it breaks, you can use the cheese to glue it together. Trim down the bottom of the pepper to make the top of the hat.
- Trim bits of the orange pepper to make the nose and the hat decor.
- Remove the cheese ball from the fridge and let it sit out of the fridge for a bit so that the cheese is softened enough to press the carrot into it and it will stick.
- Form the shredded carrot into a beard on one side of the cheese ball and press the carrots into the cheese so that they stick. Add carrots to the top and back for hair.
- Use some of the extra cheese to attach the eyes and nose. Use the extra cheese to glue the orange pepper onto the hat. Use some of the cheese to glue the brim on his head and then use the cheese to press the top of the hat into the brim and the top of his head. See the pictures if any of this is unclear.
- You can serve immediately or carefully cover and refrigerate up to 4 hours before serving.
- Serve with crackers or veggies!