Pumpkin snacks

We were in charge of taking snacks to our Life Group meeting this week so of course I made something with pumpkin or shaped like a pumpkin.

Pumpkin Cheese Ball

This was so good. Everyone was asking me for the recipe. And that is just a broccoli stem on top. Yields: 16 servings

Ingredients
2 (8-ounce) blocks extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (8-ounce) container chive-and-onion cream cheese
2 teaspoons paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 broccoli stalk
Red and green apple wedges or crackers

Preparation
1) Combine Cheddar cheese and next 4 ingredients in a bowl until blended. Cover and chill 4 hours or until mixture is firm enough to be shaped.
2) Shape mixture into a ball to resemble a pumpkin. Smooth entire outer surface with a frosting spatula or table knife. Make vertical grooves in ball, if desired, using fingertips.
3) Cut florets from broccoli stalk, and reserve for another use. Cut stalk to resemble a pumpkin stem, and press into top of cheese ball. Serve cheese ball with apple wedges.
Note: To make ahead, wrap cheese ball in plastic wrap without stalk, and store in refrigerator up to 2 days. Attach stalk before serving.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cream Cheese Brownies
These are not called cake-like brownies, but there is nothing brownie about them. It's a cake.
Ingredients:
6 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 large eggs
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 cup chocolate chips
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1/3 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons flour

Preparation:
1) Butter and flour an 11x7-inch baking pan. Heat oven to 350°.
2) In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with brown sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 2 eggs until light and creamy. 3) Beat in pumpkin puree. In another bowl, combine 1 cup of flour with baking powder, soda, salt, and spices.
4) Slowly beat into the first mixture until well blended. Spread in prepared baking pan.
5) In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, 1 egg, confectioners' sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and 2 tablespoons flour. Beat for 1 to 2 minutes, until smooth and creamy.
6) Spoon onto the pumpkin batter. Using a small narrow spatula or butter knife, swirl the cream cheese batter into the pumpkin batter.
7) Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Pumpkin Pie Yogurt
I made this as a treat for my kids back in October, but so many people asked me for the recipe I thought it was time I shared. Kellyn added the festive sprinkles.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon honey
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

Just mix it all together and top with wipe cream and any topping you like: Cereal, Granola, Chocolate chips, Trail mix, Nuts, Raisins, Chopped fruit