Melted Snowman Cheese Bites (Printable Page)

Creamy cheese balls styled as melted snowmen with olive, carrot, and pretzel details for winter celebrations.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheese Base

01 - 8.8 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - 3.5 oz grated mozzarella cheese
03 - 2 tbsp sour cream
04 - 1/4 tsp garlic powder
05 - 1/4 tsp onion powder
06 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Decoration

07 - 12 small mozzarella balls (bocconcini or ciliegine)
08 - 36 thin black olive slices
09 - 12 small carrot tips
10 - 24 pretzel sticks
11 - Fresh chives or parsley, finely chopped (optional)
12 - Crackers or sliced baguette, for serving

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Combine cream cheese, grated mozzarella, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl until smooth and well blended.
02 - Shape 12 large, slightly flattened cheese balls (approximately 2 tbsp each) with your hands and arrange them on a serving platter, allowing edges to drip slightly for a melted appearance.
03 - Place one small mozzarella ball atop each base, pressing gently to adhere.
04 - Use black olive slices as buttons and eyes, add a small carrot tip for the nose, insert pretzel sticks into each side of the base for arms, and optionally wrap chives or parsley around the neck as scarves.
05 - Present immediately with crackers or sliced baguette.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They look impossibly fancy but require zero baking skills—just your hands and about twenty minutes of your time
  • Kids will actually help you make these without being asked, and they'll eat them too, which is the real Christmas miracle
  • The creamy cheese mixture is so addictive that even the grown-ups sneaking them off the platter before guests arrive won't be able to resist
02 -
  • Cold cream cheese is your enemy—it will seize up and become grainy when you try to mix it. Always let it soften on the counter. This is not a suggestion; this is me telling you from experience.
  • The pretzel arms must go in at the last possible moment before serving. I learned this when I made these four hours early for a party and by the time guests arrived, the pretzels had turned into sad, bendy noodles. They looked like snowmen that had given up on life.
03 -
  • If your cream cheese is still a bit firm after sitting out, place the mixing bowl over a pot of warm water for two minutes—it's like a gentle cheese bath that makes blending effortless
  • Use a small melon baller or measuring spoon to form uniform snowman bases, and your platter will look picture-perfect and intentional
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