The Best Basic Dessert Cheese Ball

The best basic dessert cheese ball is a winner anytime you need to whip something up to entertain with or you are asked to bring a sweet to a party or potluck. Endlessly customizable and so delicious, you’ll love mastering and enjoying these easy spread.

If you’ve hung around this site for awhile, then you know I have a thing for cheese balls.

I mean, really, name one occasion where a cheese ball is inappropriate.

Christmas? Cheeseball.

Easter? Cheeseball.

Halloween? Cheeseball.

Just want some cookie dough? Yep, you guessed it.

Once you learn the basics of making a dessert cheese ball, your life will be forever changed and you will have a new go to dessert and endless possibilities.

What is a dessert cheese ball?

A dessert cheeseball is a sweetened cream cheese and butter based spread shaped into a ball and coated in your choice of nut and/or sweets.

Unlike a savory cheese ball, this is generally served after the meal with dessert.

You serve this spreadable confection with assorted dippers.

What does a dessert cheese ball taste like?

Rich and dense from the combination of cream cheese and butter, the flavor will vary based on what mix ins you add.

That said, the base flavor tastes sort of like a cross between New York style cheesecake and thick cream cheese frosting.

Ingredients

To make this, you’ll need:

• Cream cheese– Let it soften on your counter prior to using.
• Butter– Softened, salted butter.
• Vanilla extract– Use the real stuff for best flavor.
• Sugars– Both powdered sugar and brown sugar.
• Mini chocolate chips– Use milk or semi sweet.
• Pecans– Finely chopped but not pulverized. 

How to Make

To make this, whip the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla extract with a hand mixer a medium mixing bowl.

Turn the mixer off and add both of the sugars to the bowl.

Then mix again until evenly combined.

Fold in the chocolate chips with a spatula.

Once the chocolate chips are incorporated, use the spatula to pull the mixture together into a ball shape.

Transfer the cream cheese ‘ball’ to a sheet of cling wrap.

Wrap it up tightly, and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Remove the cheese ball from the refrigerator.

Keep the ball wrapped as you gently press it into a uniform ball shape.

Once the ball is in  your desired shape, add the crushed pecans to a plate.

Unwrap the cheese ball, and roll it in the crushed nuts.

Use your hands to press nuts in to cover any bare spots, as needed.

Transfer the dessert cheese ball to a serving plate, and serve with your favorite dipping options.

Enjoy!

How to Customize

You have a lot of options to customize this.

To make it your own, you can play with the mix ins and substitute so many things for the chocolate chips. Other mix in ideas include:

• soft caramel nibs
• candies like M&Ms, chopped Snickers, or chopped peanut butter cups
• edible cookie dough
• dried fruit
• white chocolate chips
• any combination of the above

Plus, you can substitute the crushed pecans for any other variety of nut or totally skip the nuts altogether. If you skip the nuts, you could coat the ball in:

• shredded coconut
• chocolate chips
• crushed Oreos
• crushed graham crackers
• dried fruit
• candy

And, don’t think cheeseballs have to be round! You can shape them however you please and have fun turning them into witch’s hats or Christmas trees or whatever your little heart desires.

Dipping Options

Some of my favorite dippers for sweet cheese balls include:

• graham crackers
• cookies
• Oreos
• strawberries
• pineapple chunks
• apple slices
• pretzel sticks
• Nilla wafers

Storing leftovers

Store leftovers wrapped up in plastic wrap and placed in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes, you can absolutely make this a day or so ahead of time. Just skip putting the nuts on the ball until just before serving.

Tips and Tricks

• Be sure to let the cream cheese and butter soften on your counter prior to using them. It will be much easier to mix them together.
• Make sure to keep the cheese ball wrapped while shaping it to keep it sanitary and to prevent a mess.
• You can chop the pecans by adding them to a thick ziplocking bag and beating with the flat side of a meat mallet, OR you can add them to a food processor fitted with blade attachment and give them a couple pulses. You want them chopped, NOT pulverized.

Other Dessert Cheese ball Recipes

Once you learn how to make a basic cheese ball, you will be on your way to making any variety you can imagine! Make this one today and start mastering them.

Looking for other dessert cheese ball recipes? Try these:

• Triple Chocolate Dessert Cheeseball (Halloween Themed)
• Monster Cookie Dough Dip Cheeseball
• Coconut Crusted Dessert Cheeseball (Snowman Themed)
• S’mores Cheese Ball
• Cookies & Cream Cheeseball (Easter Themed)
• Red Velvet Cheesecake Cheese Ball (Valentine Themed)
• Chocolate Cheesecake Cheese Ball (Easter Themed)

If you’ve tried this BASIC DESSERT CHEESE BALL, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!