Holiday Treat Board with Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake Ball
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During this time of the year, my baking needs go through the roof. But, the last thing I want to worry about is prepping a fancy dessert. A holiday cookie and treats board and its showpiece, a Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake Ball take the worrying out of holiday entertaining.
Grazing boards…treat boards…charcuterie boards…whatever type of board you crave, are the current, reigning food trend. Loading up a tray or platter with different foods lets guests enjoy themselves and keeps me out of the kitchen, especially, when it comes to holidays.
Not only is it a no-bake dessert, the Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake Ball only takes a few ingredients, and, in about the same number of hours, you will have a lovely dessert that works for every type of holiday party! Made with Duncan Hines® Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix, you know anything you make will be simple, satisfying and foolproof.
This dessert isn’t for the faint of heart or for those of you on a diet…it has ‘real’ ingredients like full-fat cream cheese, unsalted butter, and brownie mix. Yes, brownie mix. In fact, one box of Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix has enough mix to make two cheesecake balls…one for you and one for your party. The rich and fudge-like chocolate flavor is the real star of our dessert.
Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake Ball Recipe
To begin shopping for everything you need to start your holiday treats board by heading to your local Walmart or hovering over the photo in order to click through and purchase.
Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake Ball
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups dry Duncan Hines® Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix
- 8 oz cream cheese full fat, not low or reduced fat; room temperature
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
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In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and unsalted butter together until smooth
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Add the vanilla extract to the mixture, beat until smooth
-
Add the powdered sugar to the mixture and beat until smooth
-
Add the dry brownie mix to the mixture and beat until smooth
-
Stir in 1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips
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Spoon onto a large piece of plastic wrap and wrap tightly, pressing the mixture into a ball shape, and place in the fridge to chill for at least 4 hours (overnight is event better) or until completely firm.
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Place ball in freezer for a 1/2 hour before rolling in miniature chocolate chips.
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Spread the remaining 1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips on a large plate. Unwrap the cheesecake ball and put on top of the chocolate chips, carefully rolling it to coat the cheesecake ball.
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Serve with crackers or cookies of your choice.
Building Your Treat Board
Once the cheesecake ball is ready, it’s time to put our dessert board together. First, you will need some sturdy treats as ‘dippers’….here are a few suggestions:
- sliced fruit like apples and pears
- strawberries
- madelines
- shortbread cookies
- palmiers
- waffle cookies
- graham crackers
- animal crackers
- ginger snaps
- pretzels
- biscotti cookies
- meringues
Another favorite, pie! I love pie for holiday entertaining, but making one from scratch is not on my to-do list. Marie Callender’s® Dutch Apple Pie Frozen Dessert is one of my favorites to serve. Made with 100% fresh Fuji apples and baked in their signature extra-flaky, made-from-scratch crust, and sprinkled with streusel, you can pass it off as your own. But don’t let your guest struggle with cutting their own slices; slice it up yourself and serve in small glasses or bowls. Right before serving, add a dollop of Reddi-wip® Original Whipped Topping! Made with real cream, it is the perfect finish for a perfect piece of pie.
No holiday dessert spread is complete without a mug of rich and creamy hot cocoa! Swiss Miss® Milk Chocolate Flavor Hot Cocoa Mix comes in a convenient 30 count box so you have plenty for enjoying a mug or two of Me-Time and entertaining a crowd. Guests can adorn their mugs with candy cane stirrers, another dollop of Reddi-Wip or dip their cookies in.
Because you don’t end up with a whole board to yourself after the party, have a stack of to-go cookie boxes or parchment bags so guests can take extra cookies and candies home for themselves.
Finally, you are ready to run out and build your own board! If you are on Ibotta, you can earn cash back when you purchase:
- Marie Callender’s Pie: Buy 2 and earn $2.00 cash back
- Duncan Hines Cake or Brownie Mix: Buy 4 and earn $0.75 cash back
- Reddi-wip: Buy 2 and earn $1.50 cash back
- Swiss Miss: Buy 1 and earn $0.50 cash back
I hope you have been inspired to celebrate the holidays and take my tips to making it less work and more enjoyable for you! Need more inspiration? Click here and check out my fellow bloggers for even more sweet ideas!
Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake Ball
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups dry Duncan Hines® Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix
- 8 oz cream cheese full fat, not low or reduced fat; room temperature
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
-
In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and unsalted butter together until smooth
-
Add the vanilla extract to the mixture, beat until smooth
-
Add the powdered sugar to the mixture and beat until smooth
-
Add the dry brownie mix to the mixture and beat until smooth
-
Stir in 1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips
-
Spoon onto a large piece of plastic wrap and wrap tightly, pressing the mixture into a ball shape, and place in the fridge to chill for at least 4 hours (overnight is event better) or until completely firm.
-
Place ball in freezer for a 1/2 hour before rolling in miniature chocolate chips.
-
Spread the remaining 1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips on a large plate. Unwrap the cheesecake ball and put on top of the chocolate chips, carefully rolling it to coat the cheesecake ball.
-
Serve with crackers or cookies of your choice.
