Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip Recipe
This Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip combines tangy whipped feta cheese with a sweet and tart homemade cranberry sauce, topped with crunchy pistachios and a touch of heat from crushed red pepper flakes. It’s a festive and flavorful appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings or any occasion that calls for a unique dip to serve with crackers, pita chips, or fresh vegetables.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: About 8 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Cranberry Sauce
- ½ cup orange juice
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 12 ounces cranberries (1 bag), fresh or frozen
Whipped Feta Dip
- 8 ounces feta cheese (1 block)
- ½ cup cream cheese (or Greek yogurt)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Toppings
- 2 tablespoons pistachios, chopped
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon honey (optional)
Instructions
- Make the cranberry sauce: In a medium saucepan, combine orange juice, granulated sugar, and fresh or frozen cranberries. Stir the ingredients well and bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Simmer the cranberries: Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes, allowing most of the cranberries to burst and soften.
- Thicken the sauce: Stir the cranberry mixture constantly and mash the cranberries with the back of a spoon until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency.
- Cool the sauce: Remove the saucepan from heat and let the cranberry sauce cool to room temperature, which should take about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Prepare the whipped feta: In a food processor or blender, combine the feta cheese, cream cheese (or Greek yogurt), and olive oil. Blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy. If the texture is too thick, add water one teaspoon at a time until you reach your preferred consistency.
- Assemble the dip: Transfer the whipped feta mixture to a serving bowl. Use the back of a spoon to create a decorative swirl pattern on the surface.
- Add cranberry topping: Spoon the cooled cranberry sauce evenly over the whipped feta.
- Garnish: Sprinkle chopped pistachios and crushed red pepper flakes evenly on top. Drizzle with honey if desired for added sweetness.
- Serve: Present the dip with crackers, pita chips, crostini, or fresh vegetables for dipping.
Notes
- The cranberry sauce can be made a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator.
- For a lighter option, substitute cream cheese with Greek yogurt.
- If fresh cranberries are unavailable, frozen cranberries work equally well.
- Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes according to your desired spice level.
- The honey drizzle is optional but adds a lovely balance to the tartness of the cranberries.
Keywords: cranberry dip, whipped feta, holiday appetizer, cranberry sauce, feta cheese dip, easy party dip, festive appetizer
Find it online: https://cookwithruby.com/cranberry-whipped-feta-dip-recipe/
