Caramelized Garlic Cheese Spread

This pumpkin-shaped cheese spread adds a festive touch to your table.


Ingredients:

Spread
2 teaspoons Land O Lakes® Butter
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh garlic
1 teaspoon sugar
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup Land O Lakes® Butter, softened
1 (8-ounce) package (2 cups) Land O Lakes® Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded
1/4 cup sliced green onion
1/4 teaspoon salt

Coating
1/2 cup finely crushed cheese-flavored bite-sized crackers

Garnish
1 medium bell pepper with stem

Crackers/Dippers
Crackers
Fresh cut-up vegetables



Directions:
Melt 2 teaspoons butter in small skillet until sizzling; add garlic and sugar. Cook over medium–high heat, stirring constantly, until garlic just starts to brown (3 to 5 minutes). Immediately remove from heat.

Combine garlic mixture and all remaining spread ingredients in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Shape cheese mixture into pumpkin shape with hands. Cover; refrigerate 1 hour.

Place crushed crackers into large shallow bowl or pie pan. Roll cheese ball into crackers; press evenly to coat. Place onto serving plate.

Create stem for top of pumpkin from bell pepper slices.

Cover; refrigerate 2 hours or overnight to blend flavors. Just before serving; score vertical lines on pumpkin with knife. Serve with crackers and vegetables.



Recipe Tip:
- Cut remaining pepper into strips to serve with cheese spread.

- To crush crackers, place crackers into resealable plastic food bag. Use rolling pin to crush crackers.