Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball
An ultra-creamy bite of tangy cream cheese meets buttery sweetness and gooey mini chocolate chips in this chocolate chip cheese ball with brown sugar, vanilla, and pecans. Dreamy with graham crackers or cookies! It’s a dessert pretending to be a dip—smooth, a little tangy, buttery sweet, studded with mini chips, and rolled in crushed pecans for perfect texture.
10
servings
Ingredients
For the Cheese Ball
- 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese softened; full-fat preferred
- 4 tbsp (60 g) unsalted butter softened
- 1/3 cup (67 g) brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup (60 g) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract pure
- 3/4 cup (120 g) mini chocolate chips
For Rolling
- 3/4 cup (90 g) pecans finely chopped, toasted if desired
For Serving
- graham crackers for dipping
- vanilla wafers or cookies for dipping
- pretzels or fruit slices optional, for dipping
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Hand mixer or stand mixer
- Plastic Wrap
- Spatula
Instructions
- Cream everything together: In a mixing bowl, use a hand mixer (or stand mixer) to beat the softened cream cheese, butter, and brown sugar until very smooth and creamy. Scrape down the sides as needed.
- Add sweetness and vanilla: Mix in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract slowly, blending until smooth and fluffy.
- Fold in chocolate chips: Gently stir in the mini chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
- Chill round one: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours, or until the mixture is firm enough to shape.
- Shape into a ball: Remove the chilled mixture and form into a ball with your hands (it doesn’t have to be perfect!). Rewrap in plastic and chill for another hour, until very firm.
- Roll in pecans: Spread the chopped pecans on a plate and gently roll the cheese ball to coat the exterior evenly.
- Serve: Place on a serving platter with graham crackers, cookies, pretzels, or fruit for dipping. Enjoy!
Notes
Make ahead: This cheese ball improves after chilling and can be made a day or two in advance. For best crunch, roll in pecans just before serving. Storage: Wrap tightly and store in the fridge for 4–5 days, or freeze before rolling in pecans for up to 1 month (thaw in fridge before coating and serving). Customizations: Try different nuts, crushed toffee, chocolate varieties, or graham cracker crumbs for rolling. Gluten free: Serve with gluten-free cookies, crackers or fruit.
Nutrition
Calories: 290kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 97mg | Potassium: 99mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 530IU | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 0.6mg