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Get ready to tailgate with an easy take-along dessert! Perfect for making ahead and pulling out for dessert time, you can customize it to your team’s colors!
Tailgating is a super fun activity regardless of whether you are AT a game, watching a game at home with friends, or not watching anything at all.
Truth be told, I’m all about sports entirely for the food. I’m not even ashamed.
I stopped by the produce section at Safeway for fresh-made guacamole (essential) and then scooted along to the deli for FRESH made tortilla chips (they’re kind of dreamy). I picked up my pre-ordered sandwich tray, and Wing Fling Tray, then on to grab cream cheese, chocolate chips and dippers for my Football Shaped Cheese Ball.
I love a good “feast” as my kids call it, and it’s really not complete without dessert. This dessert cheese ball is heavenly. Perfect for making ahead and pulling out for dessert time! You don’t HAVE to make it in a football shape or decorate as I did, but you COULD mix it up and use M&Ms to support your favorite team’s colors!
If you’re into easy dessert recipes, try this delicious No-Bake Blueberry Cheesecake or these adorable Oreo Dirt Pudding Parfaits
Why this recipe works:
- Easy – just mix, shape, chill and decorate. Devour.
- Fun– it’s super cute and fits the tailgating theme, regardless of where you are!
- Common ingredients – everything to make this recipe can be found at Safeway!
I shopped at Safeway here in Phoenix, but you can also find a wide assortment of party trays, hand-breaded in-store fried chicken, a variety of chicken wings, along with fresh-made guacamole and chips at the Albertsons Companies family of stores, including Albertsons, ACME Markets, Jewel-Osco, Vons, Randalls, Shaw’s Supermarket, Star Market, and Tom Thumb.
Safeway also offers Grocery Delivery and DriveUp & Go™ for convenient ways to shop – this has been a lifesaver for me!
Discover savings and more great items like this at a store near you!
Huge selection! Easy ordering process FRESH Tortilla Chips!! Ready to Tailgate!
Kylee’s Notes
- Soften the butter and cream cheese – but don’t melt. If you push your thumb into it, it should leave a dent – but not fall apart.
- If the ball is too soft to shape when you first make it, wrap it and freeze for 30 minutes. Shape gently then set in the refrigerator until ready to decorate.
- Have a platter ready!
- Serve chocolate chip cheese ball with nilla wafers, graham crackers, pretzels, and fruit if you’re feeling healthy.
Ingredients
Full, printable recipe below – just scroll down to the recipe card!
How to make this recipe:
Full, printable recipe below – just scroll down to the recipe card!
Making the Cheese Ball
Blend together the cream cheese and butter until well combined.
Add the powdered sugar, cocoa, and vanilla and mix well, then fold in 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips.
Wrap and Chill
Lay out some plastic wrap and dump the mixture on the wrap.
Enclose in the wrap, and begin to shape into a football shape.
Chill for an hour.
Decorate
Remove the cheese ball from the refrigerator and unwrap.
Begin with the white chocolate chips, and arrange them like laces on a football.
Scoop chocolate chips onto the rest of the ball and cover the outside of the ball.
Set on a serving platter and add cookies, pretzels and other dippers.
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Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball (Football shaped!)
Suggested Equipment
Ingredients
For the Cheese Ball
- 1 lb cream cheese softened
- ½ cup butter 1 stick
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
For decorating
- ¼ cup white chocolate chips
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Blend together the cream cheese and butter until well combined.
- Add the powdered sugar, cocoa, and vanilla and mix well, then fold in 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips.
- Lay out some plastic wrap and dump the mixture on the wrap.
- Enclose in the wrap, and begin to shape into a football shape.
- Chill for an hour.
- Remove the cheese ball from the refrigerator and unwrap.
- Begin with the white chocolate chips and arrange them like laces on a football.
- Scoop chocolate chips onto the rest of the ball and cover the outside of the ball.
- Set on a serving platter and add cookies, pretzels and other dippers.
Tips & Notes:
- Soften the butter and cream cheese – but don’t melt. If you push your thumb into it, it should leave a dent – but not fall apart.
- If the ball is too soft to shape when you first make it, wrap it and freeze for 30 minutes. Shape gently then set in the refrigerator until ready to decorate.
- Have a platter ready!
- Serve chocolate chip cheese ball with nilla wafers, graham crackers, pretzels, and fruit if you’re feeling healthy.
nutrition facts
Nutritional Disclaimer
Recipes written and produced on Kylee Cooks are for informational purposes only. Kylee is not a certified nutritionist. Nutritional data provided on Kylee Cooks has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration.
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