Chocolate Chip Cheeseball

I knew that I was going to be hosting a small New Year's bash so I went on the hunt for a sweet treat to compliment all the savoury dips and finger foods I was planning to serve. I also wanted it kid friendly since we'd have 5 little humans running amongst us.

I was surfing the net on one of my favourite blogs, Melskitchencafe.com, when what should I see? But a little piece of heaven that combined two delicious flavours in one gooey treat! I'm talking about cream cheese and chocolate!! Bliss, I tell ya! This treat went over really well with children and adults alike (honestly, how can you go wrong with something that tastes like chocolate chip cheesecake?!).

I made a few tweaks and changes to the recipe (because that's what I do). One of the biggest changes I made was to make two smaller cheeseballs. Instead of making two cheeseballs the same I decided to use mint extract in one ball (instead of vanilla) and thus the Mint Chocolate Cheeseball was born! I also used Oreo Cookie crumbs instead of crushing Teddy Grams. I did this partly because I'm lazy and .... well, that's really the only reason. Oreo crumbs taste the same as crushed chocolate Teddy Grams to me.

Sadly, I didn't get a picture of either cheeseball intact because we wanted to dig in right away! The regular chocolate chip cheeseball, when served on a graham cracker, really reminds me of an extra creamy salute to s'mores. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

12 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1/2 cup icing sugar
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup mini or regular chocolate chips, divided
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp mint extract
1 cup Oreo cookie crumbs, for rolling
Serve with: graham crackers


In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, icing sugar and brown sugar. Divide mixture in half and put half into another medium-sized bowl. Add vanilla extract to one bowl and combine well. Add mint extract to the other bowl and mix well. Add 1/2 cup of chocolate chips to each bowl and combine. Cover each bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1-2 hours to help the mixtures firm up enough to roll into a ball. When firm enough roll into balls (it'll still be a fairly messy endeavor -- you may need to slightly grease your hands but I didn't) and wrap in plastic wrap and place back in fridge.

Just before you're ready to serve the cheeseball, place Oreo cookie crumbs on a dinner plate or shallow dish. Place one ball in the Oreo crumbs and roll it around, patting the crumbs lightly into the ball as you go. Repeat with the second ball.

Note: I rolled the cheeseballs in the Oreo cookie crumbs then placed the balls back in the fridge for a few hours until they were needed. Unfortunately, if you roll them too early the crumbs get damp looking and not as appetizing as a drier crumb topping.

Place cheeseballs on a platter and cover with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated until ready to serve. Serve with graham crackers.

Tip: If you only need one cheeseball in the near future, freeze the other ball for later when you take a flying leap off of your New Year's Resolution to stop eating chocolate. You know you'll cave! Why some people pick that resolution I just don't know! Anyway, take the plastic wrapped ball and place it in a freezer bag. Suck out the extra air in the bag with a straw and seal well. Hide it in the back of your freezer behind your mom's Christmas Cake so your family will be none the wiser and you can hoard it all for yourself.

Inspired by: Chocolate Chip Cheeseball at Mel's Kitchen Cafe