Dessert cheese balls are such a fun way to enjoy dessert with friends! Just like savory cheese balls, the dessert versions are made with softened cream cheese and other tasty add-ins, then shaped into a ball and rolled in nuts. But unlike a bacon ranch cheese ball, this dessert turkey cheese ball is filled with chocolate chips and brown sugar, rather than salt and spices. This fantastic blend of brown sugar, butter, cream cheese, and vanilla is like a mix between raw chocolate chip cookie dough and cheesecake, and it’s irresistible spread on a Nilla Wafer or graham cracker. While you could just make a chocolate chip cheese ball and call it a day, we’re taking it up a notch for Thanksgiving by decorating this sweet cheese ball with handmade edible tailfeathers and a candy turkey face. If you think this turkey dessert is cute, you will love my adorable Turkey Cupcakes too!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ingredients In Turkey Cheese Ball Dessert
Here’s what you need to make this dessert dip ball with chocolate chips: Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Cream Cheese and Butter: Soften the cream cheese and butter so that they’ll blend together seamlessly to create the cheese ball base. Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar sweetens the cream cheese, and thickens it so that it will hold together into a ball. Brown Sugar: Light brown sugar is mostly here for its flavor. It gives the cream cheese a cookie dough-like sweetness. Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract please, not the kind is labeled as “artificial”. Chocolate Chips: I am using regular semi-sweet chocolate chips. Miniature chocolate chips could also be used, or dark chocolate chips. Chopped Pecans: Chop the nuts coarsely so that there are variations in the sizes. Colored Candy Melts: Red, orange, and yellow candy melts are used to make colorful tail feathers for this turkey dessert. Candy: To make a turkey face I used a full-sized Reese’s peanut butter cup, two candy eyes, half of a red gummy worm, and half of a single Reese’s pieces of candy. You can get creative to make your turkey, but I found that these things worked best for me.
How To Make a Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball Turkey
Recipe Tips
Avoid overmixing the cream cheese dip. Too much air in the mixture will make it hard to form into a solid cheese ball. If you’ve already over-softened the cheese, mix in an additional ¼ cup of powdered sugar to firm it up. The handmade candy feathers are delicate! Use a small knife to make a space to insert them so that you don’t have to force them into the cream cheese.Make it Simple: Skip the decorations if you want to. This dessert cheese ball is a delicious treat served plain!To Make Ahead: I suggest making the cheese ball ahead, but adding the decorations just before serving. You can store this dessert well wrapped, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To make this dessert nut-free, use more chocolate chips in place of the pecans. For the turkey’s face, use a cookie or cracker in place of the peanut-butter cup, and an orange M&M for the beak. You can also swap out the pecans for your favorite nuts. Walnuts or cashews would be delicious. Add in some chopped toffee pieces if you like too! Serve this turkey cheeseball with Nilla Wafers, graham crackers, Ritz Crackers or Pretzels. It’s fun to have some sweet and some salty dippers for people to choose from.
Storing Tips
This dessert cheese ball will stay fresh for up to 5 days if wrapped well and kept in the fridge. If you’re making it ahead of time, I suggest making only the cheese ball, and adding the turkey decorations just before serving. Freeze this dessert cream cheese ball, wrapped well with plastic wrap, for up to 2 months. Allow it to thaw overnight in the fridge before decorating and serving.
More Thanksgiving Dessert Table Ideas
I have more recipes for dessert dips! If you like this one, check out Funfetti Cake Batter Dip or Canoli Dip next. For a Christmas treat, try this fluffy Christmas Tree Cake Dip. Other easy no-bake desserts you’ll find here include a decadent Pumpkin Lush, No Bake Pumpkin Pie, and Oreo Icebox Cake. If it’s thanksgiving, there must be pie! My favorites on Thanksgiving are old fashioned Custard Pie, and of course, Pumpkin Pie. This Turkey Cheese Ball Dessert is going to be a hit at your holiday party! Not only is it delicious, but it’s perfectly festive too. Pin this recipe so you don’t lose it! © Little Sunny Kitchen
