Skittles Cheesecake Ball

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Chances are, you probably are thinking more along the lines of Jingle Bells than March Madness right now. But the truth of the matter is that time flies, and before we all know it, family holiday parties will turn into fun sports watching events. I always want to include an unique themed recipe for March Madness events, but thinking of recipes beyond traditional wings and dip can be difficult. It’s time to sweeten these gatherings with a recipe that can work as an appetizer, dessert, or even a tablescape centerpiece. With a side of sliced apples, this Skittles Cheesecake Ball will be a hit at your March Madness festivities! After seeing this sweet basketball treat, I think even my daughter may become a March Madness fan.

While this recipe is easy to make, please allot time for refrigeration. The hands-on prep work is very minimal, but a least three hours should be allowed for chilling before the Skittles Cheesecake Ball can be decorated into a basketball. I want to specifically point that out so you can add that additional time into your schedule.

The 54 oz. bag of Skittles sold at Sam’s Club is ideal for this recipe. The Cheesecake Ball is decorated with specific colors, therefore purchasing the large bag from Sam’s Club allows for plenty of orange and purple Skittles with additional left over for sneaking snacks.

Ingredients:

• Orange and purple Skittles from the 54 ounce bag
• (2) 8 ounce blocks of cream cheese, softened
• 1 stick of unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
• 1 cup of assorted Skittles, crushed (To crush these, I placed 1 cup of Skittles in a thick plastic bag. I then placed the bag on a cutting board and crushed them with the smooth end of a meat mallet.)

Beat the butter and cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer. Add powdered sugar and brown sugar. Cream together. Stir in vanilla extract. Stir in crushed Skittles until they are thoroughly mixed in with the batter. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator for a minimum of three hours.

Remove the bowl from the refrigerator. Shape the batter into a ball. Note that the dye colors may have discolored the batter. This is normal.

Arrange the orange and purple Skittles on the Cheesecake Ball in the fashion of a basketball. To make this easy, start with the purple Skittles and fill in with the orange.

Serve the Skittles Cheesecake Ball with a side of apple slices or it can be enjoyed as is. I’m keeping this recipe on hand for birthday parties, too! With three boys running around here, I’m sure that I have a basketball theme party in my future. It’s only Madness, if you don’t have Skittles!

Did you know that Sam’s Club sells candy in bulk like this that is not individually packaged? I’ve been a Sam’s Club member for years, and I am embarrassed to admit that I have never paid attention to that. These 54 ounce Skittle bags can be found on the candy aisle.

What are your creative ways to use Skittles?