A rich, dark, fudgy, chocolatey brownie cheese ball – the perfect party dessert!
My obsession with World Cup soccer began in 1994.
As a young child, I fell in love with the Italian World Cup team… more specifically, I fell in love with their star player, Roberto Baggio, and decided I was going to marry him someday.
(My Italian grandmother was immensely happy to hear this.)
For my birthday that year, I received a soccer jersey and tickets to the Italy-Bulgaria semifinals game, where my favorite player scored both goals in an Italy victory.
It’s probably safe to say I’m not quite as invested in the World Cup this year.
For one thing, my dream husband is retired… and married to someone else.
Sigh.
I’m pretty sure the jersey would no longer fit me, and nowadays I am more apt to root for the underdog than for powerhouses like Italy. But I still enjoy watching.
This giant chocolate brownie dessert cheese ball was brought to a World-Cup-watching party for Saturday’s Italy-England game.
It was adapted from the original version above: Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cheese Ball.
The recipe is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: a giant ball of chocolate brownie cheesecake.
Easy to make, easy to transport, gluten-free, no-bake, and—unlike desserts that are frozen or made with coconut oil—it can be set out at a party without immediately melting.
Don’t be surprised if everyone congregates around the brownie cheese ball and completely forgets there’s even a game going on.
Who needs sports when you have chocolate and cheesecake?
Chocolate Brownie Cheese Ball
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup peanut butter, or allergy friendly sub
- 8 oz cream cheese or coconut butter
- 2 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar (or Sugar-Free Powdered Sugar)
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips, or more if needed
Instructions
- Dessert Cheese Ball Recipe: Bring the cream cheese and the peanut butter to room temperature (to a stir-able consistency). Mix together with a spoon in a deep bowl, then add the cocoa powder and vanilla and stir. Gradually add the powdered sugar: It will seem dry at first, but just keep stirring and it will eventually become creamy. Cover the bowl and freeze 6 hours or overnight (depending on the type of peanut butter used), until the mixture is no longer too sticky to spoon onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Bring up the sides of the plastic wrap and twist very tightly to form a ball shape. Freeze in the coldest part of your freezer for 2-3 hours or until firm enough that the plastic wrap can be removed without the ball sticking to the wrap. Place chocolate chips in a large bowl or ziploc bag, then roll the cheese ball until evenly coated with chocolate chips. Freeze until ready to serve (or refrigerate if not serving until the next day). Serve with graham crackers, sliced fruit, or anything else you desire.View Nutrition Facts
Notes
Have you made this recipe?
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Recipe Of The Day:
Erica { EricaDHouse.com } says
I think this + animal crackers may be my next post-race treat!
Jules @ WolfItDown says
Ahhh! I’d been meaning to make the original recipe of yours for this, it looks so delicious! Ah…crushes eh? At least it was better than some of today’s boybands (although I am not ashamed to say I was a massive fan of Backstreet Boys and A1 before discovering real music – rock’n’roll *cough* and Indie *cough cough*).
I hope you’ve been enjoying the World Cup in good company, and had a cracking start to the week 😀 x
Leah says
Thanks for veganizing up a classic! I think generally sifting the cocoa powder and powdered sugar makes a big difference and is so much easier to stir in too. What recipe did you base it on?
Maria G. says
She says she based it on the peanut butter cheesecake ball: https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2014/02/04/chocolate-chip-peanut-butter-cheesecake-ball/
🙂
CMoore says
Whenever the World Cup plays, I cheer for the following teams: the host country (Brazil in this case) because it requires a lot of work to put the event together, USA because I’m a citizen, and Germany because I used to live there and the team has great soccer players. Germany trumps the other teams when they face off.
Sarah @ Feeeding the Brain and Body says
This recipe really appeals to me, especially for its transportation factor. It looks like the perfect texture and I love anything considered a cheesecake.
Mia (Mia in Germany) says
Ohh, I can see this with carrot sticks! I’m obsessed with carrot sticks and sweet dips or sweet cheesecake balls! Right up my alley 🙂
I’m of course watching – and of course is the German team my team – they are going to play in half an hour. Too late for the cheesecake ball today, but for the next match this could be the winner.
Linsey says
I had to google Roberto Baggio just to see what he looked like in 1994 and he definitely had the most impressive mullet I have ever seen! He was attractive though, despite said mullet. I love the adolescent/childhood crushes. I’m older than you but I crushed on Simon Lebon…but if you’re going to google him, you must type in Simon Lebon 1982…because even though I was 3 at the time, THAT’S the Simon Lebon I wanted to marry. To be fair, when I saw Duran Duran in 2004, he still looked pretty good…not quite sure what I think of him now, the first picture that came up was an old man with a mustache. I’m not into the mustache…or the old man. And I married someone else anyway. 🙂
Red Deception says
Looks yum!!
Heather says
i made this right away and it tastes good. I mixed the chocolate chips in to use as a spread or eat off the spoon. I used carob powder. I happened to have most of a tub of Daiya cream cheese in the fridge. I bought some to use on bagels and found it to be disgusting, but it does work for this recipe. Thanks.
Chocolate Covered Katie says
Thank you so much for trying the recipe!
I’m glad you found a good use for the Daiya as well, so it didn’t go to waste 🙂
Also, thanks for reporting back to let others know that carob powder can be used. I definitely need to look into that!
Be says
Oh my goodness! This looks soooo delicious! I so have to make it when my family comes over to watch the world cup!!
xx, Be || lovefrombe
Librarian Lavender says
This is perfect world cup food! It looks amazing! I can’t believe your husband to be married someone else, if he’d have seen your creations before he married the other woman he would have chosen you for sure ;).
I’m also not that interested, I rather read. Or look at great recipes!
maria says
I’m also Italian so my favourite football team is Azzurri! Forza Italia!!
I love watching the world cup it gets me really excited and passionate about culture and football.
This cheesecake balls look amazing! I’m a huge fan of your recipes. Thanks for sharing! I’m going to make some with almond butter and vegan protein powder instead….yum!
alloyjane says
Ok, now I have to go get tofutti just so I can make this.
I just cannot get excited for this Cup. There’s too much civil unrest around it for me to lose myself in the usual excitement. It bums me out because I normally live for this ultimate nationalist rallying. I guess I’ll just make good girl fudge to make myself feel better now :-/
Lucia says
What a jolly ball of scrumptiousity! When it comes to sports, I tend to avoid balls due to my hand-eye coordination deficits, but balls of chocolate I do not avoid.
http://scribblerinthescullery.wordpress.com
Tay says
Wow Katie! You really outdid yourself, this looks AMAZING!
Also, I am running for PETAs Cutest Vegan Alive, and would love your guys support to help me out in this chocolate covered community!This would be a great opportunity for me, and I would love if you could check out my quick bio and check out what I do for animals, other people, and the environment! I would be so grateful to anyone and everyone who could help me out and allow me to win this contest so that I could portray vegans in the media and show how delicious vegan food is (I am a huge baker, and love to make yummy treats) and how one can affect the world!
Thanks!!!
http://features.peta2.com/cutest-vegan-alive-2014/Contestant.aspx?cid=11450&r=2
Medeja says
I stared watching football (that’s how we call it in Europe :D) also in 1994 🙂
Nice ball! While watching I probably wouldn’t even notice that I finished all of it 😀
Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy says
GO USA!!! 😀
and that cheesecake ball looks amaze balls
Elizabeth says
Oh my goodness…my mouth is watering just looking at that picture!! Maybe I will make this next time a group of friends comes over. Thanks so much for the recipe and have a wonderful day!!
Susan says
I try so hard to stay away from desserts like this and you make it so difficult… 🙂
I have to watch the World Cup because my husband is a soccer referee and big fan (his younger son is also a huge fan). Of course I’d like to see the US do well, but I think my favorite team is Uruguay. Uruguay is a tiny country with tremendous soccer talent and great style. Right now we’re on the road, but we watch every game we can, and we are recording games at home. I love seeing the artistry of some of the goals. The players do some amazing things.
Kelly says
This looks and sounds AMAZING! I have pinned it to make for a party later this summer!
Mira says
I am definitely trying the apple pie! I love apple crumble pie! 🙂
About the World Cup, I think it is a negative event. It promotes nationalism and patriotism where we should be cheering and working towards uniting the world and abolishing barriers and borders. It would be a much more positive thing to get representatives from all the different countries to go and help communities who need it and not waste so much money and resources on entertainment. But that’s just one person’s opinion 🙂
Natalie Jones says
I was looking for something to make for a tea-party me and my friends are having soon and I think I’ve now found it! This looks amazing!
MLR says
My hubby is watching! and I watch with him sometimes…there is a whole family betting game going on about the scores (its tradition!)
Autumn says
This looks incredible:) Wish I had it last night to make me feel better about my favorite team losing:( But I know they will do great in the next game! Ghana all the way!!!! I’ve been living there for the past year and a half so they will always be my boys:)
Janet says
Now, this has my attention!!! Wow, if this only tastes 10% of how it looks, I’m hooked.
Lisa @bitesforbabies says
What an awesome idea to replace sweets (and even savoury dips!). I make this raw date and walnut caramel that my kids love (which adults have raved over too, lol!). I think I need to kick it up a notch and make it like this rather then all mushy in a bowl! So much more appealing to the eye!!!
EVA says
I have NEVER heard of cheesecake balls before. I’m so shocked to see that they’re even a thing and people use them as a party staple!
I actually hate soccer….the only sports I like to watch on TV are football, tennis, gymnastics, and any extreme sports. I’m a man at heart!
Helen says
This looks delicious! I wish I could just grab it right out of the screen! I love chocolate cheesecake.
Sharlynn Ng says
Sooo damn delicious! OMG I’d love to jump in and help you eat that up! I’m sure it didn’t last very long!
Gemma says
That looks so tempting! So very chocolatey and scrumptious! <3
Steph says
Oh my goodness! How does one come up with this fabulous idea!Whoever though of putting a dip into a sweet cheesecake ball should be given a medal!
Alex @ Kenzie Life says
Oh my gosh. This can’t be real life. This looks heavenly!
Athletic Avocado says
Wow! I can’t believe this is made with tofu! yum!
Kitte says
Anyone tried substituting Nutella or and almond spread instead of peanut butter? I’m not a peanut person.
Unofficial CCK Helper says
You can do almond butter for sure. If you try nutella, please report back!
Maria G. says
Looks delicious – just wish there was something I could use instead of cream cheese – tofu, perhaps?
Samantha McKenzie says
Question on the powdered sugar- 2 cups seems like an awfully lot and would make it super sweet. Any ideas to reduce the sweetness?
Tiffany says
I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, but when I blended the xylitol in my blender (and it’s a good one) it came out almost exactly the same as when I put it in. I tried again… same thing. It is really fine sugar in the first place. Suggestions?
Chocolate Covered Katie says
How much xylitol are you using?
Tiffany says
About a cup, if I remember correctly. Haha! Is that the problem?
Tiffany says
Okay, I had been using Xyli Pure Xylitol, which is already a powder (I hadn’t used xylitol before, so I didn’t know). I now have received Xylo Sweet, which is pure xylitol and appears like sugar crystals. I blended 3 cups of that and it worked just great! 😉
Irene says
You are a very clever young lady 🙂
Sandy says
On the 21 Day Fix, cream cheese is not on the proteins list, but cottage cheese and ricotta both are. Would blended cottage cheese or ricotta work, or would they not be firm enough? Thanks!!
Matt says
So…silly me in my excitement of breaking a detox decided to make this today but did not have the time to chill it… NEVER FEAR it makes a killer dip as well! Thank you for giving me the best tummy ache ever!
Chelsea says
Just made this for a small dinner party last night. Amazing! Everyone loved it, and it was very easy to throw together. We didn’t taste the peanut butter, if that is a concern for some people. I found it was firm enough to shape into a ball right away for freezing – just lined a container with plastic wrap and pulled up the sides to form a ball, secured with a clip and froze until the next morning when it was ready to roll in chocolate chips. Served with strawberries and graham crackers. I’m happy there was a tiny bit leftover, which I will now justify as part of a balanced breakfast. 🙂