Pumpkin Patch Grid Snack (Printable Version)

A colorful snack of cheese balls arranged in a pumpkin patch grid with pretzel stems and herb garnish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pumpkins

01 - 24 small orange cheese balls (such as cheddar cheese balls or baked cheese puffs)

→ Pumpkin Stems and Leaves

02 - 24 small pretzel sticks, broken into 1-inch pieces
03 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves or chives (optional)

→ Base and Garnish

04 - 1 large rectangular serving tray or platter
05 - Fresh baby spinach leaves or green lettuce (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Arrange a layer of baby spinach or lettuce over the serving tray to create the appearance of a pumpkin patch field, if desired.
02 - Place the cheese balls evenly in a neat grid pattern atop the greens to mimic rows of pumpkins.
03 - Insert a pretzel stick piece vertically into the top of each cheese ball to form pumpkin stems.
04 - Place a small parsley leaf or a chive next to each pretzel stem to resemble pumpkin leaves, if desired.
05 - Present immediately as a festive, hands-on snack for guests to enjoy.

# Tips for Success:

01 -
  • It takes just 15 minutes to assemble, leaving you time to focus on the rest of your gathering instead of being stuck in the kitchen
  • Kids and adults both go crazy for it because it's fun to eat with your hands and feels like you're picking pumpkins
  • It looks impressive enough for any party table, but simple enough that even the youngest cooks can help arrange it
02 -
  • Assemble this right before serving—if it sits too long, the cheese balls can start to get soft from the moisture of the greens, and your pretzel stems lose their crunch
  • Don't pack the cheese balls too tightly together; they need breathing room to maintain their shape and so each one stands out as its own little pumpkin
  • If your cheese balls feel a bit warm or soft from the package, pop them in the fridge for 10 minutes before assembling. Cold cheese holds shape infinitely better
03 -
  • Cut your pretzel sticks at an angle on one end—it makes them so much easier to insert into the cheese balls without crumbling
  • If you're assembling ahead of time, store the components separately and assemble just 30 minutes before serving for maximum freshness and visual appeal
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