Circus Animal Cheesecake Ball 🎪🍪🍰 — Fun, Colorful & Party-Perfect Dessert Dip
Circus Animal Cheesecake: A Fun and Festive Dessert for Any Occasion
If you're looking for a fun and festive dessert that will impress your guests, look no further than circus animal cheesecake! This colorful and whimsical dessert combines the classic flavors of cheesecake with the sweet and nostalgic taste of circus animal cookies. It's perfect for a birthday party, a circus-themed event, or any time you want to add some fun to your dessert table.
Ingredients:
For the crust:
1 1/2 cups crushed circus animal cookies
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
For the filling:
24 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup crushed circus animal cookies
For the topping:
1/2 cup crushed circus animal cookies
Whipped cream and extra circus animal cookies for garnish
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, mix together the crushed circus animal cookies and melted butter until well combined.
Press the cookie mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
Gradually add the sugar and vanilla extract, beating until well combined.
Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
Mix in the sour cream and heavy cream until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
Fold in the crushed circus animal cookies.
Pour the filling over the crust and smooth the top with a spatula.
Bake the cheesecake for 45-50 minutes or until the center is almost set.
Remove the cheesecake from the oven and cool it on a wire rack.
Once cooled, cover the cheesecake with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Before serving, top the cheesecake with whipped cream and sprinkle the crushed circus animal cookies on top.
Garnish with extra circus animal cookies, if desired.
Tips for Making Circus Animal Cheesecake:
Use a food processor to crush the cookies quickly and evenly.
Make sure the cream cheese is softened before mixing to avoid lumps in the filling.
Use a springform pan for easy removal and presentation.
Chill the cheesecake for at least 4 hours or overnight for the best texture and flavor.
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Get creative with the topping by adding extra circus animal cookies or even some colorful sprinkles.
In conclusion, circus animal cheesecake is a fun and festive dessert that's perfect for any occasion. With its colorful and whimsical appearance, it's sure to impress your guests and put a smile on their faces. Plus, the combination of cheesecake and circus animal cookies is a delicious and nostalgic treat that everyone will love. So why not give this recipe a try and add some fun to your dessert table?
Circus Animal Cheesecake Ball 🎪🍪🍰
A fun, no-bake cheesecake dip rolled in crushed frosted animal cookies. Perfect for birthdays, game night, or any party platter—serve with cookies, fruit, or pretzels!
Prep: 10 mins
Chill: 1–2 hrs
Yield: ~12 servings
Ingredients
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional, bakery vibe)
- 1/2 cup finely crushed frosted circus animal cookies (fold-in)
- 1–1½ cups roughly crushed frosted circus animal cookies (for coating)
- 1–2 Tbsp rainbow nonpareils (optional, for coating)
Dippers
- Frosted animal cookies, vanilla wafers, graham crackers
- Strawberries, apple slices, pretzels
Instructions
- Cream: In a bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until ultra smooth (1–2 mins). Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and almond extract; beat until fluffy.
- Fold: Fold in the finely crushed cookies.
- Chill to shape: Scrape mixture onto plastic wrap, wrap tightly, and form a ball. Chill 60–120 minutes until firm.
- Coat: Mix the roughly crushed cookies (and sprinkles, if using) on a plate. Unwrap ball and roll to coat completely, pressing crumbs to adhere.
- Serve: Transfer to a platter. Keep chilled until serving. Add dippers around the ball.
Tips
- Smooth texture: Room-temp cream cheese prevents lumps.
- Make mini bites: Scoop and roll into 1–2 Tbsp balls; chill and coat.
- Color pop: Reserve a few whole cookies to garnish the platter.
Nutrition (est., per serving)
~240 kcal • Carbs 23g • Fat 15g • Protein 3g (varies with dippers/coating).
Circus Animal Cheesecake Ball FAQ
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. Make the ball and chill (uncoated) up to 48 hours. Roll in crushed cookies just before serving so the coating stays crisp.
Too soft to shape—what now?
Chill longer, or beat in 1–2 Tbsp additional powdered sugar. Keep the coating crumbs dry and fairly coarse for best crunch.
No almond extract on hand?
Skip it or swap 1/2 tsp butter vanilla emulsion. Plain vanilla still tastes great.
How do I serve it outdoors?
Freeze 20–30 minutes before taking outside and set the platter over a tray of ice packs. Return leftovers to the fridge promptly.
Storage?
Refrigerate airtight up to 4 days. The coating will soften; re-roll in fresh crumbs before serving to refresh.