Begin by placing 8 ounces of softened cream cheese and 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese into a mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer or spatula to blend the ingredients together until the mixture is smooth and creamy, which should take about 2-3 minutes.

Next, stir in ¼ cup of minced onion, ½ cup of salsa, and 1 teaspoon of ground cumin into the cheese mixture. Combine these ingredients until they are evenly dispersed.

Use your hands to form the mixture into a ball shape, about the size of a medium grapefruit. Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes if the mixture is too soft to handle.

Take about 1 cup of crushed nacho-flavored tortilla chips and spread them on a plate. Roll the shaped cheese ball in the crushed chips, pressing gently to help them adhere evenly.

Gently shape the ball into a pumpkin form by creating ridges with your fingers to mimic the segments of a pumpkin.

Insert a small bell pepper stem into the top center of the cheese ball for decoration.

Wrap the Pumpkin Cheese Ball in plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

When ready to serve, unwrap your Pumpkin Cheese Ball and present it on a festive platter with an assortment of crackers and fresh vegetables for dipping.