Dips do not always need to be savory! This chocolate chip cheese ball is the perfect dessert appetizer that will require double dipping for sure! Who needs pico or taco dip, when every bite contains a cream cheese and mini chocolate chip wafer.
Tonight we are having a get together at our house and usually the adults do not care what we eat. I mean most adults eat a bit of everything….but oy the kids. 8 kids with totally different eating habits from snacks to meals and it always makes me scratch my head on what to serve that everyone will enjoy.
Cue the chocolate chip cheese ball. This cheese ball dip is made with delicious cream cheese and could almost be a dessert.
As if a cheese ball isn’t enough, this dessert appetizer (not so much a side dish!) is something the smallest to the tallest can enjoy.
Keep in mind that this one needs to be prepped ahead because it has to chill and firm up into a ball. That means no making this one minute before everyone arrives unless you do it in a flat pan- which could be fine too. However if you want a traditional ball shape on a platter, you will need to form up and firm up prior to sitting out.
Other than that, this cheese ball recipe is as easy as….cream cheese!
Scroll down below for a printable version of this chocolate chip cheeseball dip that you can bring to the store with you.
Holiday Dips
Looking for another amazing recipe to dip into?
Try Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip or TikTok cocoa bombs
Of course everyone that follows our blog loves the Marshmallow Fluff Dip, so I need to mention that too!
Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Ball
If you are wondering what this dessert dip tastes like, think cannoli! The softened cream cheese, rich butter and powdered sugar make for a creamy dense dip and once you cover in chocolate chips, is the ultimate dip for a tray. Now with only 8 oz of cream cheese, this isn’t a terribly huge cheese ball, but because of how dense and delicious it is, you could make just one for a party along side the rest of your dips.
Its also, like many cheese balls, difficult to straight up dip without a strong cookie to pull from the cheese ball. I strongly recommend serving with mini cheese knives to spread the dip right on your graham crackers or cookies.
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup, 1 stick, butter, softened
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 bag mini chocolate chips, divided
- graham crackers or mini vanilla wafers for serving (OR COOKIES!)
- optional: pecan bits
, divided
or mini vanilla wafers for serving (OR COOKIES!)TIP: Want your dip extra sweet? Add 2-3 tablespoons of brown sugar to your batch before mixing!
Chocolate chip cheese ball recipe
This recipe is for a traditional make ahead cheese ball. It requires time to set in the fridge, so if you need it for a party, try making your dip the day before for the best shape. That being said, if you need it in an hour, look for the tips below to serve this chocolate chip dip quickly.
To get started, in a mixing bowl, add cream cheese and butter and beat well until combined.
Add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat well.
Fold in 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips right into the cream cheese mixture.
Pile your dip onto a piece of large piece of plastic wrap and shape into a ball, wrapping the plastic wrap around the ball.
Tip for shaping the cheese ball
Lay one piece of plastic wrap one direction and one the other direction, so it makes sorta a cross. Place your dip in the middle and fold your wrapping around the ball, shaping with your hands. If you make the plastic too small, the dip will either be too tight to shape OR squeeze out. Be generous with the plastic wrap!
Refrigerate for 4-6 hours or overnight.
Once chilled and shaped, add remaining mini chocolate chips to a plate and place the chilled ball into chocolate chips to evenly coat.
Roll and gently use your fingers to press into the cheese ball.
Serve with mini vanilla wafers, graham crackers, or broken bits of waffle cone.
I also suggest serving (as listed above) with cheese knives .
1 Hour Instructions
There are times that you need a cheese ball a lot quicker than letting it set overnight. I tested this in the freezer and it did great.
Make your cheese ball dip and instead of putting in fridge to set, place in freezer for approximately 1 to 1 and a half hours. When you peel the plastic it will not be 100% clean, but as you shape your cheese ball with chocolate chips, it all comes together nicely.
Skip the Ball and serve in a Bowl
The other option is to skip the shaping of the cheese ball and instead place in a dipping bowl. Add the extra chocolate chips on top and serve with waffle cone pieces or vanilla wafers.
The dip tastes quite like cannoli dip and you really do not need a ball shape this way!
Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup 1 stick, butter, softened
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 bag mini chocolate chips divided
- graham crackers or mini vanilla wafers for serving
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, add cream cheese and butter and beat well until combined. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat well. Fold in 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips.
- Place onto a piece of plastic wrap and shape into a ball, wrapping the plastic wrap around the ball. Refrigerate for 4-6 hours or overnight.
- Add remaining mini chocolate chips to a plate and place the chilled ball into chocolate chips to evenly coat.
- Roll and gently use your fingers to press into the cheese ball.
- Serve with mini vanilla wafers or graham crackers.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Sharing of this recipe is encouraged and appreciated. Copying of full recipe to any social media is prohibited.
