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Turkey Cheese Ball Recipe

Turkey Cheese Ball Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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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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Turkey Cheese Ball Recipe

Prep: 45 min. + chilling

Yield: 24 Servings

45 45

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 2% 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 wattle. 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.

Nutritional Facts 2 tablespoons (calculated without decorations and additional crackers) equals 72 calories, 5 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 21 mg cholesterol, 168 mg sodium, 1 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 5 g protein.

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

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Reviews for Turkey Cheese Ball

Turkey Cheese Ball

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Reviewed on Nov. 25, 2012 by shiny0torchic

I'm afraid I managed to fail the presentation of this dish. When I used the cream cheese decoration on the 'feather' crackers, I came out with some really terrible colors and a really big mess. BUT, the actual cheese ball was delicious. I'll make this recipe again, but I think next time I'll just decorate the rim with an assortment of crackers and leave the cheese ball as just a cheese ball. Tasty recipe, I'll be making this again.

Reviewed on Dec. 04, 2011 by barnsnip

This was a hit! I used pretzels rather than pecans and the squeeze-type of icing so it was easier for the kids to use...also used cheese for the orange. Decorated with green icing leaves around the tray.

Reviewed on Dec. 03, 2011 by kmauk

Couldn't find the townhouse bistro crackers, or any other large oval cracker so I "glued" two oval townhouse crackers together with the cream cheese mixture. It worked, but the larger oval crackers would have been much better.

Reviewed on Nov. 18, 2011 by chocorich

This has become a family favorite during the holidays. One friend comes over just for this cheese ball. Last year, a picture of this cheese ball made it into our family calendar!

Reviewed on Nov. 17, 2011 by schatzlein99

Like other reviews have stated..I was not able to find the oval shaped crackers used in this recipe. Plus, crackers get soggy if you assemble it too far in advance. I made and took to relatives house for Thanksgiving Dinner, although cute, it was falling apart pretty quick because of soggy crackers.

Reviewed on Nov. 10, 2011 by gossmarian

very fun to make with kids! We do a cheeseball every year anyway, so this was fun twist on an old tradition for us. You can really use any cheese ball recipe you have and decorate as shown. the only thing was it was hard to find those big oval crackers. I did eventually find them in our supermarket's gourmet section.

Reviewed on Oct. 26, 2011 by dianeivie

I would like to know what kind of crackers do you find that big?

Reviewed on Oct. 22, 2011 by ButterLovingGirl

My family loved it! It amazed even the harshest critic, making it worth the hassle. The crackers used are hard to find and if decorated and assembled too early the tail feathers get soggy and fall apart.

Reviewed on Jul. 31, 2011 by lorettasylvia

Geez. . . I can't wait to make this for Thanksgiving with our grand kids. They love crafts and will absolutely love to make this turkey to share with everyone.

I have to say 'Thanks so much' to all of you for the recipes you have tested and given to the rest of us.

You have made my life a heck of a lot easier. I receive nice compliments and tell everyone where I found my recipes "Taste of Home.' Thanks again for making my cooking fun and creative too. Love your magazine also.

Loretta

Reviewed on Dec. 20, 2010 by 02Leo1937

Looked great but was quick to make crackers soggy...as instructions said, mixed 9 ozs. cream cheese to decorate 6 crackers...way to much leftover. Nothing spectacular in taste...pretty mundane. Does not kept well past the inital half hour. NOT a keeper for me!

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