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    Home » Recipes » Halloween

    Cheese Ball Cauldron

    Modified: Oct 26, '23 · Published: Sep 26, '20 · By: Beth Klosterboer · Commission earned on paid or sponsored links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Conjure up some magic by serving a cheddar bacon cheese ball that looks like a witch's cauldron. This poppy seed-coated Cheese Ball Cauldron with orange, yellow, and red pepper flames sitting atop pretzel rod logs will enchant your Halloween party guests.

    cheese ball cauldron decorated with pepper logs, guacamole potion, and pretzel logs.

    A version of this Cheese Ball Cauldron is on the back cover of my book, Hungry Halloween featuring Movie Monster Munchies, Bewitched Buffet, and Dead Man's Diner. It was one of the first recipes I developed for my book way back in 2010 and I was so excited about it.

    It's such a simple appetizer to make for a witch-themed Halloween party yet it really is impressive looking.

    I've served these cheesy cauldrons at several Halloween parties over the years and they are always a hit with my Halloween party guests.

    Hungry Halloween Recipe Book featuring fun Halloween food.

    Hungry Halloween Cookbook

    There is nothing more exciting to me than creating fun food for our Halloween parties which we've been hosting since 2007. My friends and family encouraged me to put my ideas into a cookbook and I'm so glad they did.

    Writing that book led me to blogging and I couldn't be happier sharing fun holiday and party recipes here at Hungry Happenings with all of you.

    We still host Halloween parties and each year I try to come up with a clever way to serve cheese. My party guests always gobble up any cheese I serve and they always appreciate a good cheese ball recipe.

    Cheddar Bacon Cheese Ball Cauldron is a magical Halloween appetizer.

     Ingredients

    • cream cheese
    • cheddar cheese
    • bacon
    • poppy seeds
    • orange, yellow, and red peppers
    • pretzel rods
    • guacamole

    Cheese Ball Recipe Variations

    This cheese ball cauldron is simply made using a blend of cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and bacon. The beauty of this food craft though, is that you can use your favorite cheese ball recipe.

    I have several other cheese ball recipes you can choose from.

    My favorite is the Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cheese Ball, but the Camembert Cheese Ball, Roasted Red Pepper Cheese Ball, and White Cheddar Cheese Ball are wonderful too.

    Supplies

    • shallow bowl
    • disposable pastry bag
    • kitchen scissors or knife

    Instructions

    Roll the cheese ball in poppy seeds then pipe a rim around the top of the cheese ball and coat it in poppy seeds to create a cauldron.

    Shape the cheese ball and coat it in poppy seeds.

    • Stir together 8 ounces of cream cheese, 6 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese, and ½ cup of finely chopped bacon until well combined.
    • Roll into a ball.
    • Pour poppy seeds into a shallow bowl.
    • Roll the cheese ball in the poppy seeds leaving about ⅓ of the ball on one end uncovered.
    • Stir the remaining 3 ounces of cream cheese until soft and creamy.
    • Spoon into a disposable pastry bag.
    • Snip off the tip of the bag and pipe a thick tube of cream cheese around the edge of the uncovered area creating the rim of the cauldron.
    • Sprinkle poppy seeds over the rim and top of the cauldron.

    Alternatives to poppy seeds

    If you'd prefer not to coat your cheese ball in poppy seeds you can use...

    • Black Sesame Seeds
    • Crushed Blue or Black Tortilla Chips
    Arrange pretzel sticks around a spoonful of cream cheese then place the cauldron over top. Cut orange, yellow, and red peppers into flames and attach them around the base of the cauldron using cream cheese. Pipe guacamole in the top of the cauldron..

    Decorate the cauldron.

    • Pipe a 1 ½-inch round of cream cheese in the center of a plate.
    • Break off 2 ½ - 3-inch pieces from the ends of the pretzel rods.
    • Arrange 10 pretzel rod pieces around the cream cheese on the plate so they look like logs on a fire.
    • Enjoy the inner pretzel pieces as a snack.
    • Set the cheese ball cauldron on top of the logs.
    • Cut thin slices from the peppers then cut them into teardrop-shaped flames.
    • Attach them to the base of the cauldron using the remaining cream cheese.
    • Spoon guacamole into a pastry bag.
    • Cut off the tip and pipe guacamole into the top of the cauldron.
    • Allow a bit to drip over the rim.
    Serve the cheese ball cauldron with crackers for Halloween.

    Storage

    • Serve with your favorite crackers.
    • Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

    Variations

    OREO cheese ball pot of gold

    You can even make a sweet version of this Cheese Ball Cauldron using OREOs and cream cheese. Check out my Oreo Cheesecake Pot of Gold Cheese Ball post for details.

    If you want to turn that sweet cheese ball pot into a witch's cauldron, you could pipe some green decorating gel or green pudding into the cauldron then add some spider and eyeball sprinkles.

    Related Recipes

    If you are looking for more festive food for your Halloween party,
    be sure to check out these other witch-themed Halloween recipes here on Hungry Happenings.

    crescent roll witch hats Halloween appetizers.

    Crescent Roll Witch Hat

    chocolate peanut butter cauldron pops topped with green slime gel and candy bones, eyes, and skulls.

    Peanut Butter Cauldron Pops

    Halloween cheese ball witch hat and a breadstick broom served on a purple, black, and white polka dot platter.

    Cheese Ball Witch Hat

    chocolate caramel apple cauldron decorated with modeling chocolate flames and magical potion.

    Caramel Apple Cauldron

    witch cookies filled with candy.

    Candy Filled Witch Cookies

    chocolate Nutella fudge witch hats with orange and black nonpareils hat band.

    Nutella Fudge Witch Hats

    chocolate cauldrons filled with green pudding and magical mix-ins including candy eyes, bone sprinkles, and green sugar pearls.

    Chocolate Cauldron

    Halloween spinach and artichoke dip decorated with a witch

    Spinach Dip Witch

    Video and Recipe

    Watch the video to see how easy it is to create your own Cheese Ball Cauldron for Halloween.

     

    This recipe was originally published in Hungry Happenings on September 23, 2017, but it first appeared in my Hungry Halloween cookbook in 2010.

    cheese ball cauldron decorated with pepper logs, guacamole potion, and pretzel logs.
    Print
    Cheese Ball Cauldron
    Prep Time
    20 mins
    Total Time
    20 mins
     
    Cheddar cheese ball rolled in poppy seeds decorated to look like a witch's cauldron makes a fun appetizer for Halloween.
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Halloween
    Keyword: cheese ball cauldron, halloween appetizer
    Servings: 18
    Calories: 170 kcal
    Author: Beth Klosterboer
    Ingredients
    • 8 ounces cream cheese plus 3 more ounces, softened
    • 6 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
    • ½ cup crumbled bacon or real bacon bits
    • ⅓ cup poppy seeds
    • 5 pretzel rods
    • 2 small red peppers
    • 2 small orange peppers
    • 2 small yellow peppers
    • 2-4 tablespoons prepared guacamole
    Instructions
    1. Stir together 8 ounces cream cheese, cheddar cheese and bacon until well combined.
    2. Roll into a ball.
    3. Pour poppy seeds into a shallow bowl.
    4. Roll the cheese ball in the poppy seeds leaving about ⅓ of the ball on one end uncovered.
    5. Stir the remaining 3 ounces cream cheese until soft and creamy.
    6. Spoon into a disposable pastry bag.
    7. Snip off the tip of the bag and pipe a thick tube of cream cheese around edge of the uncovered area creating the rim of the cauldron.
    8. Sprinkle poppy seeds over the rim and top of the cauldron.
    9. Pipe a 1 ½ inch round of cream cheese in the center of a plate.
    10. Break off 2 ½ - 3 inch pieces from the ends of the pretzel rods.
    11. Arrange 10 pretzel rod pieces around the cream cheese on the plate so they look like logs on a fire.
    12. Enjoy the inner pretzel pieces as a snack.
    13. Set the cheese ball cauldron on top of the logs.
    14. Cut thin slices from the peppers then cut them into tear drop shaped flames.
    15. Attach them to the base of the cauldron using the remaining cream cheese.
    16. Spoon guacamole into a pastry bag.
    17. Cut off the tip and pipe guacamole into the top of the cauldron.
    18. Allow a bit to drip over the rim.
    19. Serve with your favorite crackers.
    Recipe Notes

    Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

    Guacamole can turn brown so it's best to add the guacamole just before serving the cheese ball cauldron so that your witch's brew looks green. 

    • Author
    • Recent Posts
    Beth Klosterboer
    Beth Klosterboer
    Hi, I'm Beth Klosterboer, a professional chocolatier & baker, cookbook author, and event planner. I love sharing recipes for happy occasions here on Hungry Happenings. I also create easy fudge recipes to share at HowToMakeEasyFudge.com, rice krispie treat recipes at HowToMakeCerealTreats.com, and easy cookie recipes at HowToMakeEasyCookies.com
    Beth Klosterboer
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    1. Sherry says

      September 27, 2021 at 7:06 am

      Love the cauldron cheese ball idea ❤❤

      Reply
    2. Leeanna Fowler says

      October 12, 2018 at 10:16 pm

      Omgosh you are so talented and creative. It's beautiful!! I will be making a this and bragging on you the whole time lol. You are amazing! I will definitely be subscribe to your page!!

      Reply
      • Beth says

        October 14, 2018 at 4:05 pm

        Thanks you so much Leeanna. That's so nice of you. I do hope you have a wonderful time make your cheese ball. Thanks for subscribing.

        Reply
    3. Cecilia says

      September 30, 2018 at 1:44 pm

      love a ll the receipes!!!??

      Reply
    4. The Partiologist says

      October 01, 2017 at 7:56 pm

      You really are the queen of Halloween!!

      Reply
      • Beth says

        October 03, 2017 at 10:15 am

        Thanks, I'll take that title!!!

        Reply
    5. Karen @ Sugartown Sweets says

      September 30, 2017 at 11:45 pm

      Your cheesy cauldron is sooo cute! Love it..and love the idea of making it with your oreo recipe! 🙂

      Reply
      • Beth says

        October 01, 2017 at 7:38 am

        Thanks. I love the Oreo Cheese Ball idea too!

        Reply
    6. Beth says

      September 29, 2017 at 6:05 pm

      Thanks so much! That's so nice of you to say. I'm glad you like the cauldron.

      Reply
    Beth Jackson Klosterboer

    Welcome to Hungry Happenings!

    I'm Beth. I've been a professional chocolatier & baker for over 30 years, have written 5 cookbooks, and love creating fun food for holidays and special occasions.

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