"Ohh... What's that?" Cheesecake Ball

Last night I hosted a holiday soiree. Lots of people were invited but one uninvited guest spoiled the show: snow! We have been deluged by snow, more than I've ever seen in my nine years of living in Seattle. It's quite beautiful but the roads have been a mess. As such, several party goers played it safe and stayed home.

Those that braved the elements were rewarded with LOTS of goodies, including this little ditty I threw together. It's basically a cheesecake recipe without the eggs, but it's a lot fun to eat and easier to serve to a crowd. I made mine with peanut butter and chocolate chips, but the recipe is so forgiving, you can make it anyway you want. Add nuts, try fruit flavored cream cheese, chocolate chips, dried fruit, ground graham crackers, whatever! It's one of those things that everyone is sure to love. They may not know what it is just by looking at it, but when you tell them, their faces will light-up with delight!

"Ohhh..What's That?" Cheesecake Ball
Yield 20-40 servings? I've never really measured

1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened (not too soft)
1/2 cup butter, softened or 1/2 peanut butter (not all natural)
1 1/4 cup confectioner’s sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or other flavor of your choice
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruit, (whatever you want) for the outside of the ball

In a medium bowl, beat together cream cheese and butter/peanut butter until smooth. Mix in confectioner’s sugar, brown sugar and vanilla. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts, if you're using them. Cover, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or until firm.

Scoop cream cheese onto a big piece of plastic wrap and using the wrap, shape into a ball (if you are making this for Super Bowl, you can shape and decorate into a football.) Chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour or overnight. If it's really soft, pop it into the freezer for a half an hour. Right before you're ready to serve, cover (or roll) the ball with mini chocolate chips or chopped nuts (or whatever you want).

Serve with chocolate wafer cookies, graham crackers, broken waffle cones, or whatever you want. Note - this will soften a bit after you take it out of the fridge, but you want it soft. If it's too hard, it won't spread well on the cookies.