Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip

After I make something new, it usually shows up here within a week or two (assuming it’s blogworthy, of course). But I have to confess I’ve been sitting on this one for a while. To be clear, the delay had everything to do with how little I liked the photos, and nothing to do with how ridiculously delicious and addictive this dip was. I actually made it for the Super Bowl, along with a batch of brownies that I absolutely loved but neglected to photograph. Super Bowl weekend wound up being a busy one for me, and I was short on time. I’d volunteered to make desserts for the party though and wanted to bring more than just brownies. Enter this chocolate chip cookie dough dip – it takes all of about 5 or 10 minutes to throw together, I had the ingredients on hand, and hello, brownies and cookie dough are just meant to be together (Ben & Jerry’s Half-Baked, anyone?).

As soon as I’d finished mixing this up, Shane was by my side offering to sample it – for quality control purposes of course 🙂 I was kind of surprised since he doesn’t like cream cheese and he’d seen me throw an entire block in, but I think he’s slowly coming around on the idea of cream cheese IN things (though never alone, say spread on a bagel). He loved the dip, and so did I. It was a good thing I only finished it 15 minutes before we left the house, or I’m not sure how much would have made it to the party. Pretzels were the dipping item of choice for me, in keeping with my love of the salty/sweet combo. I also did this, which was as good and insanely rich as you might imagine.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip
barely adapted from How Sweet It Is

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 8 oz block cream cheese, softened
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips, plus extra for sprinkling

Melt the butter in a small saucepan set over medium heat. Add the brown sugar and whisk until dissolved. Once the mixture starts to bubble, stir in the vanilla extract then remove from the heat and let cool.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and confectioner’s sugar on medium speed for 1 minute, or until well combined and smooth. With the mixer on low, slowly pour in the brown sugar/butter mixture, beating until combined. Add the salt. Use a rubber spatula to mix in the mini chocolate chips.

Transfer the dip to your serving bowl and garnish with additional mini chocolate chips. Serve with pretzels and graham crackers (or whatever you like!).