Thanksgiving is all about being together (and eating all day), right? What better way than to start the feast off with this cute pumpkin shaped everything bagel cream cheese dip? Serve it with crackers, bagel crisps, or pretzel thins. Or if you really want to impress your guests, also make a large pumpkin-shaped bread. I got a recipe for that as well: mini soft whole wheat pumpkin buns, but just make one giant pumpkin bread instead!
You just need a few ingredients and some art/kitchen supplies to pull this off. Let’s get crafty and make this everything bagel cream cheese pumpkin!
How I make this pumpkin shaped everything bagel cream cheese dip?
This Thanksgiving appetizer comes together really easy and quick. Here is what I do:
Add seasoning to the cream cheese
I add a block of cream cheese to a medium size bowl together with some onion powder and smoked paprika and mix it all until all is well combined. I transfer the mixed cream cheese to a large piece of cling foil, fold it around the cream cheese and twist the ends together so the cream cheese is ‘locked inside the cling foil’. Now I can shape the cream cheese with my hands and keep them clean. I roll and shape it into a ball.
Shape the cream cheese into a pumpkin
Now that I have the cream cheese ball for this pumpkin shaped everything bagel cream cheese dip wrapped in cling foil, I use (kitchen) twine to shape it into a pumpkin. I start by cutting four pieces of kitchen twine (arm’s length) and lay them out on a flat surface, crossing each of them in the center creating eight equal sections (it will kind of look like a star). Placing the wrapped cream cheese ball in the center of the strings, I tie each opposite two strings in a knot on top of the cream cheese ball, pulling in tight to create pumpkin ridges. I continue with the remaining strings, until all 4 pieces of string are tied. My cream cheese ball now looks like a pumpkin.
Coating of the cream cheese pumpkin
I chill the cream cheese pumpkin that is still tied with string and wrapped in cling foil in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes to firm up. In the meantime I spread out a small amount of everything bagel season on a large plate. After that I take the cream cheese pumpkin out of refrigerator, I cut all four strings and gently remove the cling foil as well and place the cream cheese pumpkin on the plate of everything bagel seasoning. This will coat the bottom of the pumpkin. I sprinkle more seasoning on top of the pumpkin and with my hands I apply a coating of seasoning on the sides as well until the whole cream cheese pumpkin is covered in everything bagel seasoning.
I use the stem of a bell pepper (the stem of a small eggplant would work as well) to put on top of my cream cheese pumpkin. By slightly pressing the stem into my cream cheese pumpkin, I cause it to dent a little but, but that is exactly what I want; it will mimic the top of a real pumpkin.
Serving the pumpkin shaped everything bagel cream cheese dip
Now my pumpkin shaped everything bagel cream cheese dip is ready. I usually serve it with crackers, bagel crisps, or pretzel thins. And if I really want to impress my guests, I make a large pumpkin-shaped bread. I use the recipe of my mini soft whole wheat pumpkin buns for this, but I just make a giant one in stead of several minis.
The perfect fall inspired appetizer! We all love it here. I hope you do too. It is
whimsical – easy to make – perfect for Thanksgiving – a great addition to any cheese board – made with just a few ingredients – SO delicious!
Looking for more Thanksgiving appetizers and sides? How about this garlic herb bread wreath, this pumpkin roasted garlic hummus, or these mini soft whole wheat pumpkin buns?
Pumpkin shaped everything bagel cream cheese dip
Equipment
- kitchen twine (4x an arm's length, more or less)
- cling foil
- 1 stem of a bell pepper or eggplant
Ingredients
- 200 gr cream cheese (approx. 7 oz/ 1 container)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ⅓ cup everything bagel seasoning* (or make it yourself*)
Instructions
- Mix the cream cheese in a medium size bowl together with the smoked paprika, onion and garlic powder until all is well combined.
- Transfer the mixed cream cheese to a large piece of cling foil, fold it around the cream cheese and twist the ends together so the cream cheese is 'locked inside the cling foil'. Now shape the cream cheese with your hands into a ball.
- Use (kitchen) twine to shape the ball into a pumpkin.Start by cutting four pieces of kitchen twine (arm's length) and lay them out on a flat surface, crossing each of them in the center creating eight equal sections. Placing the wrapped cream cheese ball in the center of the strings. Tie each opposite two strings in a knot on top of the cream cheese ball, pulling in tight to create pumpkin ridges. Continue with the remaining strings, until all 4 pieces of string are tied.
- Chill the wrapped and tied cream cheese pumpkinin the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes to firm up. In the meantime spread out a small amount of everything bagel season on a large plate.
- Take the cream cheese pumpkin out of refrigerator, cut all four strings and gently remove the cling foil as well. Place the cream cheese pumpkin on the plate of everything bagel seasoning. This will coat the bottom of the pumpkin. Sprinkle more seasoning on top of the pumpkin and with your hands apply a coating of seasoning on the sides as well until the whole cream cheese pumpkin is covered in everything bagel seasoning.
- Use the stem of a bell pepper or a small eggplant to put on top of the cream cheese pumpkin. By slightly pressing the stem into the cream cheese pumpkin, it dents the top a little; that will mimic the top of a real pumpkin.
- Your pumpkin shaped everything bagel cream cheese dip is now ready. Serve it with crackers, bagel crisps, or pretzel thins. Or a freshly baked baguette…
Notes
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