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Pencil cheese ball with red pimiento eraser and black olive tip on a cracker platter

Pencil Cheese Ball

A ranch and bacon cheese ball shaped like a giant pencil, with a shredded cheddar shaft, diced pimiento eraser, and chopped black olive tip. A fun back-to-school appetizer.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 10 servings
Calories 183 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 2 blocks cream cheese 8 ounces each, softened
  • 3 c finely shredded cheddar cheese separated into 2 cups and 1 cup
  • 2.5 T sour cream
  • 1/2 t garlic powder
  • 1/4 c real bacon bits or pieces
  • 1 packet ranch seasoning 1 ounce
  • 4 oz diced pimientos or tomatoes drained
  • 4 oz chopped black olives drained

Instructions
 

  • Combine the softened cream cheese, 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, bacon bits, and ranch seasoning in a large mixing bowl.
  • Tear off a piece of plastic wrap long enough to fold over the cheese ball with room to lengthen it into a pencil shape.
  • Mold the cheese ball into a pencil shape.
  • Chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour to set.
  • Remove the cheese ball from the refrigerator, remove the plastic wrap, and carefully transfer it to a serving platter.
  • Press the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese onto the shaft of the pencil, leaving room at the top for the eraser and room at the bottom for the sharpened tip.
  • Press the diced pimientos onto the top for the eraser.
  • Press the chopped black olives onto the bottom for the sharpened tip.
  • Serve with wheat thins, crackers, or veggies.

Notes

Use chopped (the finer the better), not sliced, black olives. You want fine bits for the pencil lead tip.
The finer the shredded cheese, the easier it sticks.
Bacon bits are optional, depending on your preferred flavor and salt level.
Finely chopped green onions can be added if preferred.
Any savory flavor combination works here as long as it goes with black olives and pimientos.

Nutrition

Calories: 183kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 9gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 697mgPotassium: 59mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 707IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 250mgIron: 0.4mg
Keyword back to school appetizer, bacon cheese ball, cheese ball recipe, cream cheese appetizer, fun party appetizer, pencil cheese ball, ranch cheese ball, school party snack, teacher appreciation food
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