Buffalo Ranch Football Chesse Ball

You're guaranteed touchdown status at your next game day party with ths buffalo ranch football cheese ball! this crazy easy appetizer can be made in advance and is portable and delicious!

Below you'll find detailed instructions to take out any guesswork. This recipe comes together FAST and is super easy to prepare.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese
• 2 jalapeños (save 3 TBSP for outside)
• 1 bell pepper (added all but 3 TBSP to interior)
• 1/4 cup green onion inside 2-3 TBSP outside
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (1/4 cup removed)
• 1/4 cup "Red Hot" hot sauce or Buffalo sauce
• 1 packet ranch dip seasoning mix
• 1 (8 oz) package grated cheddar cheese

Extras

• Sour cream for the football laces
• choose your favorite dippers: crackers, pretzels, chips, carrot sticks, celery sticks

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add your cream cheese to a large bowl and set aside.
2. Remove seeds + stem from peppers and finely dice.
3. Chop green onion and walnuts.
4. Remove 3 TBSP of your jalapeño, 3 TBSP bell pepper, 2-3 TBSP of green onion, and about 1/4 cup of walnuts and set aside. This will coat the outside of your cheese ball.
5. Add the rest of the veggies/nuts to your cream cheese along with the hot sauce, ranch dip seasoning mix, and cheddar cheese. Mix well using a fork or spatula. You could also use an electric hand mixer if you prefer!
6. Making it spicy? Give the mixture a little taste test on a cracker and add more hot sauce and jalapeño if desired. Try not to eat it all right then and there!
7. Once ready, scoop out mixture with a rubber spatula and add to a sheet of plastic wrap or parchment paper and form into an oval shape. Flatten the top of the oval, pinching the ends and pressing the sides while shaping it into a football. You'll want to press down on the middle and sort of pinch the sides while you press it into an edible football. I promise it's super duper easy, relive those childhood play dough days and have fun with it!
8. Place in fridge for 10-15 minutes to set the football. If mixture appears super soft, allow longer chill time.
9. For the optional (but awesome!) laces: Place a few spoonfuls of sour cream in a quart-sized plastic baggie and press into one corner of the bag. Twist the excess bag to make a faux piping bag and snip the end. Pipe laces by making one long vertical line in along the center of the cheese ball and several short horizontal lines.  This takes only seconds to do and looks SO COOL!