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Cream Cheese Ball goes sweet in this easy dessert version that tastes exactly like a cinnamon roll, and it is the no bake treat I throw together whenever we need a party showstopper fast. A creamy cinnamon brown sugar center gets rolled in crunchy praline pecans, then served with cookies and graham crackers for dipping. It comes together in minutes and always vanishes. If you love easy party desserts, our mini cheesecakes are another favorite.
A scoop of vanilla pudding mix is the secret that makes the center taste like cinnamon roll frosting.
Cream Cheese Ball Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 30 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 0 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 8 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 308kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Sweet, creamy, and cozy with cinnamon, brown sugar, and crunchy pecans
- ✋ Difficulty: Beginner easy, no baking required, like our candied grapes
Quick Answer
Beat softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth, then mix in powdered sugar, brown sugar, vanilla pudding mix, and cinnamon until creamy. Scrape the mixture into a ball, lightly grease your hands, and shape it. Roll the ball in crushed praline pecans until fully coated, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 1 hour. Serve with cookies, graham crackers, and apple slices.
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Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Tastes like a cinnamon roll. Brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla pudding mix give the creamy center that cozy cinnamon roll frosting flavor.
- Completely no bake. Everything is beaten together, shaped, and chilled, so there is no oven and almost no cleanup.
- The pudding mix is the secret. Instant vanilla pudding mix sweetens the dip and helps it firm up into a sliceable, scoopable ball.
- Praline pecans add crunch. Rolling the ball in crushed praline or candied pecans gives a sweet, crunchy shell that contrasts the creamy center.
- Make ahead friendly. It needs to chill at least an hour anyway, so it is a perfect prep ahead treat for parties and holidays.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It tastes like a cinnamon roll in dippable, shareable form.
- It is a no bake dessert appetizer that comes together in about 30 minutes plus chilling.
- It is a guaranteed party hit, right next to our chocolate covered peanut butter pretzels.
- It delivers that same everyone asks for seconds energy as our mini goat cheese balls.
- It delivers that same everyone asks for seconds energy as our cream cheese cookies recipe.
- It earns a spot in the rotation right next to our cream cheese crumb cake.
- It delivers that same everyone asks for seconds energy as our banana pudding cheese ball recipe.
Key Ingredients
A handful of simple ingredients give this sweet cream cheese ball its cinnamon roll flavor.
- Cream cheese: Use a full fat block, softened to room temperature so it beats up smooth and creamy.
- Butter: Softened salted butter adds richness and helps the mixture hold its shape.
- Brown sugar and powdered sugar: The sweet duo that gives the center its cinnamon roll flavor and smooth texture.
- Vanilla pudding mix: Instant pudding mix is the secret that sweetens the dip and helps it firm up.
- Praline pecans and cinnamon: Crushed candied pecans coat the outside while cinnamon flavors the creamy center.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
This cream cheese ball is easy to customize.
- Roll it in crushed graham crackers, mini chocolate chips, or toffee bits instead of pecans.
- Add a teaspoon of maple syrup or a pinch of nutmeg for a deeper fall flavor.
- Make it savory instead with herbs and shredded cheese for a totally different cheese ball.
- Drizzle the finished ball with a little cream cheese glaze for an extra cinnamon roll touch.
- If you want to switch things up, our cinnamon cream cheese frosting plays on similar flavors in a whole new way.
- If you want to switch things up, our everything bagel cheese ball appetizer plays on similar flavors in a whole new way.
- In the mood for something different? Our pumpkin cheese ball scratches a similar itch.
- If you want to switch things up, our cream cheese frosting plays on similar flavors in a whole new way.
How to Make Cream Cheese Ball
- Place the crushed praline pecans in a shallow dish and set aside. In a large bowl, add the softened cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, brown sugar, vanilla pudding mix, and cinnamon.
- Beat the mixture together until completely smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Scrape the mixture into a ball, lightly grease your hands, and shape it. Roll the ball in the crushed praline pecans, packing them on to cover every bit.
- Wrap the ball in plastic and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour, or the freezer for 30 minutes. Place on a plate with dippers and serve.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Soften the cream cheese and butter fully so they beat up smooth with no lumps.
- Lightly grease your hands before shaping so the sticky mixture forms a ball without a mess.
- Pack the pecans on firmly so the whole ball is coated and they stick as it chills.
- Chill at least an hour so the ball firms up enough to hold its shape on the plate.
- Use instant pudding mix, not cook and serve, so it firms up properly without cooking.
- Make it ahead up to 2 days, keeping it wrapped and chilled until you are ready to serve.
- Plan the whole menu. This pairs effortlessly with our cinnamon cream cheese palmiers when company is coming.
- Plan the whole menu. This pairs effortlessly with our fried cream cheese wontons when company is coming.
- Make it a full spread. Our apple cinnamon cream cheese roll ups rounds out the table.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
This sweet cream cheese ball is made for grazing, so set it in the center of a plate and surround it with graham crackers, vanilla wafers, cinnamon graham sticks, pretzels, and apple slices for dipping. It is a guaranteed conversation starter at any party.
Still filling out the menu? Readers love pairing this one with our creamy tiramisu pie and our whipped cream cheese frosting.
Leftovers keep well wrapped in the fridge, and any extra is delicious spread on toast, bagels, or graham crackers the next day.
Cream Cheese Ball FAQs
This is a sweet dessert cream cheese ball that tastes like a cinnamon roll. It is made with brown sugar, cinnamon, and pudding mix, and served with cookies and graham crackers rather than savory crackers.
Serve it with graham crackers, vanilla wafers, cinnamon graham sticks, pretzels, apple slices, and pear slices. The sweet and crunchy dippers are perfect against the creamy cinnamon center.
Yes. It actually needs to chill at least an hour, so it is ideal to make ahead. Shape and coat it up to 2 days in advance, wrap tightly, and keep it refrigerated until serving.
If the mixture is too soft, chill it in the bowl for 20 to 30 minutes before shaping. Make sure you used block cream cheese and instant pudding mix, which help it firm up properly.
You can chill it in the freezer for about 30 minutes to set it quickly, but freezing it solid for long term storage can change the texture. It is best made and enjoyed within a couple of days.
Crushed graham crackers, toasted regular pecans, walnuts, mini chocolate chips, or toffee bits all make a great coating. Use whatever crunchy, sweet topping you love best.
Made this sweet cream cheese ball? I would love to hear how it turned out, leave a comment and a star rating below and tell me what you served it with!
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Ball
Ingredients
- 1 cup praline pecans or glaze/candied pecans, crushed
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 7 tablespoons salted butter softened
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons vanilla instant pudding mix
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Place the crushed praline pecan bits into a shallow dish large enough to hold the cheese ball mixture. Set aside.1 cup praline pecans
- In a large bowl cream together the softened block of cream cheese and softened butter. Once smooth add the powdered sugar, brown sugar, vanilla pudding mix, and cinnamon until smooth and creamy.8 oz cream cheese, 7 tablespoons salted butter, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar, 2 tablespoons vanilla instant pudding mix, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- Use a rubber spatula to scrape all of the softened cream cheese mixture into a ball in the center of your bowl. Then lightly grease your hands and shape the cream cheese into a ball.
- Roll the cream cheese ball into the crushed praline pecan bits, making sure to pack as much on as possible, covering every bit of the cream cheese.
- Gently cover the ball with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to set for at least 1 hour or overnight. If you need the cheese ball to set quicker, you may set it in the freezer for approx 30 minutes.
- When it’s time to serve, assemble a serving plate by placing the chilled cheese ball in the center and arranging dippers along the edges of the cheese ball.
Notes
- Always use room temperature cream cheese and butter for a smoother mixture.
- Make sure to really pack on the praline pecans on the outside for a good crunch in every bite.
- Use a large piece of plastic wrap to help shape your cheese ball without making a mess.
- If your cheese ball isn’t firming up, try putting it in the freezer for a bit.
- Don’t skip the chilling step – it’s important for the flavors to meld together and for the whole cheese ball to hold its shape.
- Remember, you can prepare this the day before your party to save time on the day. When the time comes the next day, just pull it out and place it on your serving platter!
Nutrition
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There are serving suggestions in the post: graham crackers, vanilla wafers, apple slices, or even our mini cinnamon rolls.
Sounds yummy my type of cheese ball. My Question is what do serve it with to eat. And i already recieve emails from you . Thanks