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
InstructionsÂ
- 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
Recipe Of The Day:
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!
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!
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 :-/
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
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
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 😀
GO USA!!! 😀
and that cheesecake ball looks amaze balls
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!!
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.
This looks and sounds AMAZING! I have pinned it to make for a party later this summer!