Cheese balls don't have to be retro and silly; they can be sleek and sophisticated (we love this blue cheese and rosemary verson, for instance) and a great treat for holiday parties. We couldn't help but be impressed by this cute pumpkin-shaped version, too!

Cathy of lolfoodie created this cheese ball out of goat cheese, chives, cheddar, and a few other things. She shaped it into a pumpkin, using a skewer to create the characteristic grooves in the sides. She used a pretzel and a sprig of parsley for the stem and leaf. Very cute!

But we can see taking this a step farther, too, and incorporating some real pumpkin. What about making a goat cheese ball with fresh garlic and sage, and mixing in some roasted squash, diced fine?

• Get the recipe: Pumpkin-Shaped Cheese Ball at lolfoodie

Related: Recipe: Havarti, Parsley and Garlic Cheese Ball

(Image: Cathy of lolfoodie)