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Turkey Cheese Ball Recipe

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While the real bird is roasting, you can present your guests with this tasty Thanksgiving turkey. Our flock of clever Test Kitchen cooks dreamed up the recipe for this festive cheese ball centerpiece.

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12 Servings
Prep: 45 min. + chilling

Ingredients

2 packages (8 ounces each) reduced-fat cream cheese
6 ounces deli smoked turkey, finely chopped
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
DECORATIONS:
3 packages (3 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons milk
Brown, orange and yellow paste food coloring
6 large oval crackers
1 large sweet red pepper
1 small yellow summer squash
1 cup pecan halves
Assorted crackers

Directions

In a small bowl, beat the first six ingredients until combined. Shape into a ball; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.
In another small bowl, beat cream cheese and milk until smooth. Divide among four small bowls. With food coloring, tint one bowl brown, one dark orange and one light orange (using yellow and orange); leave one bowl plain.
Transfer each mixture to a heavy-duty resealable plastic bag; cut a small hole in a corner of each bag.
For turkey tail feathers, decorate the top halves of large oval crackers with tinted cream cheese.
Using the red pepper, form the turkey head, neck and snood. For beak, cut a small triangle from summer squash; attach with cream cheese. Add eyes, using brown and plain cream cheese. Insert pecan halves and decorated crackers into cheese ball. Serve with assorted crackers. Yield: 1 cheese ball (3 cups).

Editor’s Note: This recipe was tested with Townhouse Oval Bistro crackers.

Turkey Cheese Ball published in Country Woman October/November 2007, p18

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Reviews for Turkey Cheese Ball (8)

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Turkey Cheese Ball

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Reviewed on Nov. 02, 2009 by stephjamie2008

This was so easy to make as so delicious

Reviewed on Oct. 15, 2009 by Apple26

This was a huge hit! It is fun and easy to make and tastes wonderful! It has become a family tradition.

Reviewed on Mar. 30, 2009 by mgreenmier

I replaced the cheese ball with butter and used the same decorating tips to create a butter turkey for my Thanksgiving meal. He was adorable and the highlight of my Thanksgiving table.

Reviewed on Dec. 26, 2008 by CherryTree3

Lovin' this cheeseball. Forgot to get a bell pepper and squash for the turkey's face, so I just got another cracker and made a face on it. It's REALLY good...

Reviewed on Nov. 30, 2008 by twooftwo

I made this turkey cheese ball for an Thanksgiving appetizer with assorted crackers. You can refrigerate the cheese ball mixture overnight and assemble the next day. I think the flavor is better this way. And it is adorable!

Reviewed on Nov. 23, 2008 by mbandboys

Maybe use a tooth pick?

Reviewed on Nov. 22, 2008 by xiomis

Hi, we put a toothpick inside of the red pepper to make it stand up and also to conect the nose.

Good luck! Happy Thanksgiving!!! Smile

Reviewed on Nov. 10, 2008 by egb333

How do you get the red pepper to stand up for a neck, and also, how does the cream cheese adhere to the pepper for eyes and nose?

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Turkey Cheese Ball Recipe

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Ingredients