Bat Cheese Ball For Halloween
This adorable bat cheese ball is the perfect addition to the menu for your next Halloween party. It’s a fun, festive appetizer that only requires 4 easy ingredients to come together, and tastes absolutely delicious. Pair it with an assortment of crackers and enjoy watching family and friends savor each and every spooky bite!
My kids have always gotten excited about the spookiest day of the year, and I’ve tried to incorporate all things easy and fun to add to their enjoyment over the years, whatever the holiday.
From homemade costumes that we planned together, to finger foods they’re equally excited and shocked by- there’s no way I won’t try to add a little extra magic to a holiday for my kids.
Who knew that a bat themed cheese ball for Halloween would’ve been such a huge hit? I made it one time on a whim, and now it’s a must have at every year’s dinner.
I love it because it adds a little extra to the holiday meal, but I love it even more because it’s super simple to whip up. That’s a win for me any night, but especially when it’s a holiday.
Kids are going to fall in love because this easy holiday cheese ball does look just like an adorable little bat.
You’re going to love it because it actually tastes delicious, and it’s also super simple to whip up making it ideal for easy entertaining!
Ingredients Needed
Like all our best recipes, this Halloween cheese ball only requires a handful of easy ingredients to come together.
To make it you’ll need:
- Cream Cheese – Two 8 ounce blocks of cream cheese, softened. I do recommend using real cream cheese for the best flavor and for holding it’s shape at room temperature while still being spreadable; however, you can substitute Neufchatel if trying to shave off some calories.
- Italian Dressing Mix – The dry Italian dressing mix sold in packets
- Tortilla Chips – Specifically blue corn tortilla chips to give this edible bat it’s ‘black’ coating and wings.
- Olives – Pimento stuffed green olives to make the ‘eyes’.
Once you’ve gathered all the necessary ingredients, you’re ready to begin!
How To Make
Homemade cheese balls are perfect for holiday entertaining because they’re easy to make, and even easier to customize for any themed occasion. This bat cheeseball for Halloween is no exception!
Start by adding the softened cream cheese and the Italian dressing mix to a large mixing bowl. Using a hand mixer, blend them together until evenly combined. The mixture should be smooth & very creamy.
Scrape all of the cream cheese mixture down the sides of the bowl, using a spatula, and pull it all into a lumpy ball shape in the center of the bowl. Transfer the ‘ball’ to the center of a large sheet of plastic wrap.
Wrap the plastic tightly around the cheese ball until it’s completely sealed, then use your hands to gently shape it into a more rounded ball. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to overnight, so that it firms up.
Add the chip crumbs to a large, shallow plate in an even layer then set them aside.
Carefully unwrap the chilled cheese ball from the plastic wrap, then sit it in the middle of the chip crumbs. Discard the plastic wrap.
Gently roll the cheese ball around in the crumbs, pressing in as needed, until the entire thing’s coated in an even layer. Transfer it to a serving plate of your choice.
Carefully insert a whole tortilla chip into each side of the cheese ball to make the ‘wings’. Stick two olives on the front for the ‘eyes’. You can secure them with toothpicks, if needed, just remember to remove them before eating or to warn guests they’re there.
Serve with an assortment of crackers, and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
I always recommend serving a cheese ball with a variety of dipping options for guests. This allows them mix and match their favorites and helps each bite feel fresh.
Some of our favorite options include:
- Crackers – This is the most obvious choice, and I’d suggest a minimum of two different kinds.
- Pretzels
- Veggies – Celery sticks, baby carrots, radish chips, ect
- Sliced Baguette Bread
- Melba Toasts
Feel free to use any of my suggestions, or whatever other ideas appeal to you. You really can’t go wrong!
Storing
Leftover cheese ball, if desired, can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Unfortunately any longer than that and the tortilla chip coating will become soggy.
Tips & Tricks
- For best results whip the cream cheese with the dressing mix using an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer. You can do it the old fashioned way, but the amount of elbow grease and upper arm strength needed to get the cream cheese properly smooth is painful.
- You can use a food processor, or a large ziplocking bag and a rolling pin, to crush the tortilla chips; however, keep in mind you only want to lightly crush them and not pulverize them.
- For more tips on how to make a cheese ball, check out this post on making a basic cheese ball. It will answer any question you may have.
- If you want to make it ahead of time, prepared the cheeseball as instructed and keep in in the plastic wrap until 30 minutes before you’re ready to serve. Then proceed with the instructions for coating, and let it sit on the serving platter until the 30 minutes have elapsed so that it softens and becomes spreadable.
Other Halloween Cheese Ball Recipes
Whether you’re planning a party or just trying to serve a little something special for your own family- this bat cheese ball is the perfect finger food for Halloween.
It’s fun, festive, and tastes delicious. Pair it with assorted crackers for an easy option that’s adorably spooky to celebrate with family and friends!
Looking for other Halloween themed cheese ball recipes to enjoy?
Try these:
If you’ve tried this BAT CHEESE BALL FOR HALLOWEEN, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Bat Cheese Ball For Halloween
Ingredients
- 2 8 oz blocks cream cheese softened
- 2 .7 oz pkts dry Italian dressing mix
- 1/2 - 3/4 cup crushed blue corn tortilla chips + 2 whole chips
- 2 pimento stuffed green olives
Instructions
- Add the cream cheese and dressing mix to a large mixing bowl. Using a hand mixer, blend together until smooth and creamy.2 8 oz blocks cream cheese, 2 .7 oz pkts dry Italian dressing mix
- Scrape the mixture into a ball shape in the bottom of the bowl, then transfer it to the center of a large sheet of plastic wrap. Wrap it up tightly, and gently reshape it into a proper ball inside the plastic wrap shell.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Add the chip crumbs to a large, shallow plate then set aside.1/2 - 3/4 cup crushed blue corn tortilla chips
- Unwrap the chilled cheese ball and roll it in the chip crumbs, pressing in as needed, to ensure an even coating all around. Transfer the prepared cheese ball to a serving plate.
- Insert a whole tortilla chip on each side of the cheese ball to make the 'wings', then stick two olives on the front for eyes- you can use toothpicks if necessary.2 pimento stuffed green olives
- Serve with assorted crackers, and enjoy!
Notes
- For best results whip the cream cheese with the dressing mix using an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer. You can do it the old fashioned way, but the amount of elbow grease and upper arm strength needed to get the cream cheese properly smooth is painful.
- You can use a food processor, or a large ziplocking bag and a rolling pin, to crush the tortilla chips; however, keep in mind you only want to lightly crush them and not pulverize them.
- For more tips on how to make a cheese ball, check out this post on making a basic cheese ball. It will answer any question you may have.
- If you want to make it ahead of time, prepared the cheeseball as instructed and keep in in the plastic wrap until 30 minutes before you're ready to serve. Then proceed with the instructions for coating, and let it sit on the serving platter until the 30 minutes have elapsed so that it softens and becomes spreadable.
Nutrition
