Chocolate Cherry Cheese Ball

This sweet cream cheese ball flips the savory party staple into dessert territory. Cream cheese gets folded with cherries, crushed pineapple, and mini chocolate chips into a fruity, chocolate-studded spread you shape into a ball and chill, then scoop up with graham crackers.

The make-or-break step is draining. Both the cherries and the crushed pineapple carry a lot of liquid, and if you do not drain them well, the cheese ball turns soupy and refuses to hold its shape. Press out the excess and you are rewarded with a firm, scoopable ball.

Soften the cream cheese first so everything blends smooth, then chill the formed ball until firm, at least a couple of hours. For a party-ready finish, roll it in extra mini chips or graham crumbs. It is a five-ingredient, no-bake crowd-pleaser that comes together in minutes.

Kitchen Tips

• Drain the cherries and crushed pineapple thoroughly, or the cheese ball turns runny and will not hold its shape.
• Soften the cream cheese first so the mixture blends smooth.
• Chill the formed ball until firm, at least a couple of hours, before serving.

Variations

• Roll the finished ball in extra mini chips, graham crumbs, or chopped nuts.
• Use dried cherries instead of jarred to keep it firmer.
• Serve with vanilla wafers, pretzels, or apple slices for dipping.