November 5, 2011: Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball Recipe

My lovely DDIL is a creature of habit. Once she tastes a food she loves, she’ll ask you to make it over and over again. Such is the case with this dessert cheese ball that her mother, Lori, makes. It’s Tracy’s favorite and she asks her mom to make it for every party (what does she ask me to make for parties? Tortilla rollups).

Honestly, I’m glad she does because I love it, too! Here’s the recipe, which would make a nice pre-dinner sweet on Thanksgiving Day.

Lori made this cheese ball not in the shape of a ball - but it still tasted just as good!

Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball

1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup (4 T.) butter, softened

1/4 t. Vanilla

3/4 cup Powdered sugar

2 T. Brown sugar

3/4 cup mini semi sweet chocolate chips

3/4 cup finely chopped pecans, optional (Tracy doesn’t like them so we eat our cheese ball without)

1 package honey graham cracker sticks

Beat together cream cheese, butter and vanilla until fluffy. Gradually add sugars until combined. Stir in chips and nuts. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours. Roll into a ball. To serve, place on a serving platter and surround with honey graham sticks for dipping.

Tip: For a festive presentation, add food coloring and shape the cheese into an appropriate holiday shape, such as an orange pumpkin for Halloween or Thanksgiving.