Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheese Ball is the best dessert cheese ball recipe to serve with graham crackers and cookies. It’s like eating chocolate chip cookies in spreadable form for parties!
Here we are, one week before Thanksgiving.
Are you ready? Is your menu all planned out or do you usually scramble at the last minute?
My family practically has the same menu each year, so no scrambling for us.
If you are scrambling, check out my Thanksgiving For Two Dinner Menu for ideas.
I also like to think Thanksgiving kicks off the season for get togethers and holiday parties, which means you need some good party food (and almost always includes cheese).
Now I’ve made savory cheese balls before but haven’t shared a sweet dessert cheese ball.
Which is funny because this recipe actually comes from my childhood (with one slight change) – Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheese Ball.
That’s right – a chocolate chip cookie in a spreadable form for graham crackers and cookies.
Brown sugar, cream cheese, chocolate chips. Those three ingredients need to be at your party asap.
How do you make a homemade cheese ball?
Making a homemade cheese ball is easy! Beat together the cream cheese, butter, sugar, and vanilla then form a ball. After it has chilled, roll it in chocolate chips. That’s it!
My childhood best friend introduced me to chocolate chip cheese ball after she made it herself one day, probably for a family gathering of some sort.
She knew I would love it and could probably polish the whole thing off in one sitting (and several times we did while watching some nighttime tv).
I remember her saying I had to make it with butter and not margarine as she could tell the difference (growing up, my parents only used margarine. They still do while I transitioned to butter).
I changed the recipe slightly by adding more brown sugar to make it more on the cookie dough side.
What do you serve with a cheese ball?
Because a dessert cheese ball is much sweeter than a savory one, serve it with graham crackers and cookies.
Funny story about chocolate graham crackers. During the summer when I made my Peppermint Patty Cookie Dough Dip, I originally wanted to serve it with chocolate graham crackers.
Since it was before I moved back to Pittsburgh, I stopped at Walmart right before I jumped on the Turnpike after visiting my parents.
Except they didn’t have any. Not even chocolate teddy bear crackers.
I drove across the street to the other grocery store. Still no chocolate graham crackers. Did they stop making them?!
Fast forward a few months after I moved back to Pittsburgh, and guess what I found without even looking?
If you can’t find chocolate graham crackers, cinnamon works well too.
How do you make cheese ball bites?
Instead of rolling the chocolate chip cheese ball into one large ball, use a #60 cookie scoop (affiliate link) and roll them into 1 inch balls.
How long do cheese balls last?
Without the chocolate chips, this cookie dough cheese ball can be stored in the refrigerator up to 1 week ahead of time.
Once you roll it in chocolate chips, it’ll last probably about 24-48 hours, depending on how soggy the chips get.
Is it ok to freeze cheese ball?
I personally wouldn’t recommend freezing this chocolate chip cheese ball because freezing will drastically change the texture of the cream cheese and become too gritty.
You can refrigerate it up to 1 week ahead of time without ruining the texture. Tightly wrap your naked cheese ball in plastic wrap. Right before serving, roll it in chocolate chips.
Let it sit out at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving. This makes it easier to spread plus the flavors are more prominent when it’s not as cold.
More Cheese Ball Recipes
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheese Ball
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheese Ball is the best dessert cheese ball recipe to serve with graham crackers and cookies. It’s like eating chocolate chip cookies in spreadable form for parties!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces full-fat cream cheese, softened (do not use fat free)
- 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons or 4 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, brown sugar, salt, and vanilla. Stir in 1 cup chocolate chips.
- Transfer the mixture onto some plastic wrap and form the mixture into a ball. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to 1 week.
- In a small shallow bowl, add the remaining 1 cup chocolate chips. Unwrap the cheese ball and roll into the chocolate chips until completely covered. Serve with graham crackers or cookies.
Joanne says
Oh man. Having this around the house would be dangerous! But in the best way.
Linda | Brunch with Joy says
How cute! This might be the cutest and fun cheese ball and I’m sure the kids will appreciate this on Thanksgiving.
Carla (@charliesue) says
What an unexpected twist! I love it!
Laura says
I really want to make this for my work Christmas party. Just a question how in advance can I make this? I need it for Wednesday morning. Could I get away with making it Sunday night??
Carla says
I think you could. Believe it or not, I had this sitting in my fridge for about a week after I made it, and it was fine.
Amelia says
Yep
Rae The Tabletop Cook says
This is great! I’ve never seen a sweet cheese ball before (is that weird?), but I can totally see how this would work. I told my office mates I would bring something in to share, but I really don’t bake–this might be the perfect solution. I’ll just have to get a mixer from somebody, or pump up the biceps for stirring cream cheese with a fork. Thanks for the inspiration!
Carla says
Sweet cheese balls are not as common as savory cheese balls, but it’s almost like eating cookie dough dip ;) Hope you enjoy it at your office!
sarah says
you have such amazing collection of recipes my kids would love this idea
Carla says
Thank you!
Cassie says
I make this every year for our Christmas potluck at work. I’m not allowed to bring anything Else. I have found we like it best served with pretzel crisps.
Carla says
Oh I like the idea of pairing with pretzel chips! Glad the cheese ball is a huge hit.