Holiday Candles Cheese Ball

Name: Holiday Candles Cheese Ball
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 90 min
Yield: 20
Ingredients: 2 pkg. brick cream cheese, softened; 2 tsp. garlic and herb salad dressing mix; 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese; 3 sweet piquanté pepper drops; ½ cup Italian parsley sprigs; 6 grape tomatoes; WHEAT THINS Original Snacks

Wow your guests with a fun, edible centerpiece that looks like a candle arrangement but is actually a tasty cheese spread to serve with WHEAT THINS Crackers.

Prep time:

0 min

Total time:

0 h 0 min

Makes 20 servings, 2 Tbsp. cheese spread and 16 WHEAT THINS each

Ingredient list

2 pkg. (8 oz. each) brick cream cheese, softened
2 tsp. (about 1/4 of 1-oz. env.) garlic and herb salad dressing mix
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
3 sweet piquanté pepper drops
½ cup small Italian parsley sprigs
6 grape tomatoes
WHEAT THINS Original Snacks

Directions

Mix cream cheese and salad dressing mix until well blended.

Reserve 1/4 cup of the cream cheese mixture for later use. Add mozzarella cheese to remaining cream cheese mixture; mix well.

Shape cream cheese mixture into 12-inch log; wrap in plastic wrap.

Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.

Cut log crosswise into one EACH 3-inch, 4-inch and 5-inch lengths. Stand in circle in center of serving plate to resemble candies as shown in photo.

Spoon reserved cream cheese mixture into pastry bag fitted with 1/4-inch round decorating tip. Use to pipe cream cheese mixture around top edge of each candle, then use to add vertical lines down sides of candles to resemble dripping wax.

Insert 1 pepper drop into center of each candle for the flame.

Garnish candles with parsley and tomatoes.

Refrigerate until ready to serve with the WHEAT THINS.

Recipe Tips

Where to Find Pepper Drops
The piquante pepper drops can be found in the condiment aisle or in the specialty cheese area of your supermarket.
How to Use Remaining Dressing Mix
The leftover garlic and herb salad dressing mix can be used to season potato wedges lightly coated in olive oil before roasting, You can also stir it in to softened butter to make a spread for garlic bread or stir it into sour cream for a tasty dip.
Variation
Prepare recipe using ranch or Italian salad dressing mix and/or shredded Monterey Jack or Italian cheese blend.
Note
Substitute fresh or small dried red chili peppers or jarred Calabrian chili peppers for the piquanté pepper drops. Look for them in the produce section of your grocery store. Or, you can instead substitute small red bell pepper triangles for the peppers.

Nutrition factsNutrition information

Ratings & Reviews

Fresh new ways to connect with Wheat Thins

Sweepstakes. Promotions. Offers and more. As if you needed more reasons to enjoy your favorite snack brands. Check back often for new ways to celebrate your favorite snacks in style.