Italian Cream Cake Cheese Ball
The classic cake full of coconut, pecans, and cream cheese frosting is now a cheese ball! This Italian cream cake cheese ball is dessert and the perfect party food too!
I’m not sure if you have heard of an Italian cream cake before this or not, but I will say that it is not what you expect.
My family owned an Italian restaurant that they purchased from “Tony the Greek” when I was younger as you might have read in my post for Kathy’s World Famous garlic knots from pizza dough, but I had never heard of an Italian cream cake until I went away to college in Tennessee.
Imagine seeing an Italian Cream Cake in the bakery department in the local Kroger’s food store?!? In Tennessee!
Being that I love Italian food, I jumped at the chance to try it, bought the whole cake, and took it back to my dorm poised and ready with a disposable fork.
Nothing about the cake seemed “Italian” to me but it did remind me of a cannoli. But I also make other sweets like this pineapple cheese ball and this cannoli cheese ball.
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Italian Cream Cake
The Italian cream cake I purchase was basically a yellow cake with pecans and coconut added to it and covered with a cream cheese frosting that is studded with coconut and pecans. What about coconut and pecans sounds Italian?
When I think of Italian desserts I immediately think of cannoli, tiramisu, and zeppole. None of which contain coconut or pecans…
- Basic yellow cake
- Cream cheese frosting
- Toasted coconut
- Toasted pecans
Come to find out it’s really a Southern dessert and someone slapped the name Italian cream cake on it. What a disappointment to my Italian loving ears but was it really the original “click-bait” that everyone is using now to get you to buy it/taste it/make it?
I certainly bought the cake out of curiosity. Luckily for me, I love pecans and coconut. Oh, and cream cheese frosting!
See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and their quantities.
Ingredient Notes
- Cream cheese – Use regular, low fat, or fat free cream cheese. Bring to room temp before mixing.
- Powdered sugar – Be sure to sift the powdered sugar before measuring it and mixing it with the cream cheese to remove any small lumps.
- Coconut – Use toasted, shredded coconut for the best flavor!
- Pecans – Toast the pecans before chopping and adding them. It really brings out their flavor.
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How To Make Italian Cream Cake Cheese Ball
- Mix the cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, and half the pecans and coconut together in a bowl. Shape into a ball.
- Mix the remaining coconut and pecans together and place on a plate or shallow bowl.
- Wrap the cheese ball in plastic wrap and chill for 20-30 minutes. Remove the plastic wrap and roll in the coconut and pecans.
- Serve with cracker sticks, cookies, but my favorite is the thin biscotti!
For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Serve It With These
- Cookies or cookie sticks
- Biscotti
- Animal crackers
- Wafers
- Graham crackers
Storage
Wrap this tightly in plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 4 days. If you want to prep this ahead of time, you can make the cheese ball. But I recommend leaving off the coconut and pecans until you’re ready to serve it.
If you love this recipe as much as I do, please leave us a five-star review in the comment section below. Thanks!
Even though this Italian Cream Cake Cheese Ball is sweet, feel free to serve it at the beginning of your party and skip right to the fun parts!
Italian Cream Cake Cheese Ball
Ingredients
- 12 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup pecans toasted, divided
- 1/2 cup coconut toasted, divided
- biscotti and crackers for serving
Instructions
Italian Cream Cake Cheese Ball
- Mix the cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, and half the pecans and half the coconut together in a bowl.
- Shape into a ball.
- Mix the remaining coconut and pecans together and place on a plate or shallow bowl.
- Roll the Italian Cream Cake Cheese Ball in the mixed pecans and coconut to coat the ball evenly.
- Wrap in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
- Serve with cracker sticks, cookies, but my favorite is the thin biscotti!
Nutrition
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Can the powered sugar be substituted with Swerve brand powered sugar to make this reverie more low carb/diabetic friendly?
It sure can! Just add a slightly lower amount and test the sweetness and I have found that the swerve tastes a little sweeter to me. Thanks!
I made this for a 4th of July party and it was a hit! I’ve shared the recipe with 5 people already!!!
I’m really excited to try this!! All my favorites in one place!!
I keep seeing these sweet cheeseballs and have never attempted to serve on myself. This is going to change right now… this cheese ball has my name ALL over it! making my grocery list now!
Ingenious ides!! I love the cheeseball — serving it on those biscotti cookies? Over the top delicious!
Yes, I would definitely buy this/make this/try this! 😀 What a fabulous dessert, creative and so fun for a party!!
What a great idea! I’m going to try making it so I can do one when guests come over. So excited.
What a great idea! I’m going to try making it so I can do one when guests come over. So excited.
You could put any name on that baby and I’d love it! Making a ball means I can have it as an appetizer and a dessert!
This sounds like such an awesome idea! This sounds so up my alley!
This sounds like such an awesome idea! This sounds so up my alley!
Ingenious ides!! I love the cheeseball — serving it on those biscotti cookies? Over the top delicious!
I keep seeing these sweet cheeseballs and have never attempted to serve on myself. This is going to change right now… this cheese ball has my name ALL over it! making my grocery list now!
Yes, I would definitely buy this/make this/try this! 😀 What a fabulous dessert, creative and so fun for a party!!
I love cheese balls for appetizers or desserts. They’re so creamy and delicious. I have to be careful or I’ll eat the WHOLE THING!
I love cheese balls for appetizers or desserts. They’re so creamy and delicious. I have to be careful or I’ll eat the WHOLE THING!
You could put any name on that baby and I’d love it! Making a ball means I can have it as an appetizer and a dessert!