Scarecrow Cheese Ball

I created this scarecrow cheese ball for FamilyCorner.com. As their kids' recipe creator, I've had so much fun cooking up fun, whimsy foods for kids...and adults!

This guy is all dressed up and ready to appear on your Thanksgiving table. This is one time that you won't have to worry about a scarecrow shooing away the birds!

Scarecrow Cheese Ball

What You Need

1 - 8 oz pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 small can of deviled ham
1/2 C. shredded cheddar cheese
1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder (not salt!)
1 1/2 tsp onion powder (not salt!)
1 lg carrot
black olives
thin wheat crackers
1/2 C. pecans or walnuts, finely chopped
1 celery stalk


Getting Ready

Gather ingredients for the cookies according list above.

Make sure that children use pot holders and have some handy wipes or a sink nearby to wash hands.

Now you are ready to start making a scarecrow cheese ball...


Now that your supplies are at the ready and your work surface has been prepared, let's begin!

What You Do

In a large bowl, beat together cream cheese, deviled ham, cheddar cheese, Garlic and onion powder until well combined. Remove approximately 1/4 of the mixture for the "shirt collar" and set aside. Using the remainder of the cheese mixture, shape it into a ball and place it on the platter that you will be using to serve it on. Using your fingers or the back of a spoon, gently flatten the circle to 3/4 inch thickness and smooth out the top top of the cheese ball. With the extra cheese mixture that you set aside, form it into a rectangle and lay it underneath the circle. Shape to form the collar of a shirt.

For the face:

1. Clean and peel carrot. Slice 2 round circles from the carrot for eyes. Grate the remaining carrot to use for "straw" on the scarecrow.
2. Slice off the ends of 2 black olives to use as pupils on the carrots. Chop up 1-2 olives to use for a mouth.
3. Clean and trim the stalk of celery. Slice of one piece for the nose

Assemble the face.

Cover the "shirt collar" part of cheese ball with chopped nuts. I've found it easiest to use a butter knife or small spatula to gently press the nuts into the cheese ball. Easily wipe up any nuts that may have fallen with a wet paper towel - the nuts will stick to the wet paper.

Sprinkle some shredded carrots around the top of the collar and around the hairline on the scarecrow.

Use the thin wheat crackers to form his hat. **Refer to the picture for a pattern.

This is a kid-friendly recipe. For a spicier version, you can add Tabasco sauce or cayenne pepper to the cheese ball mix.

If you will not be eating this right away, you should refrigerate the scarecrow without the crackers until you are ready to eat it. Allow to come to room temperature before eating for easier spreading.

Serve with extra celery and carrots, if desired.