Whipped Goat Cheese Dip

As a resident of the state of Wisconsin, I’m pretty sure I’m legally obligated to say that I love cheese. Whether we’re talking fresh cheese curds (so squeaky!) or a funky aged blue cheese, I basically love them all. But goat cheese is among my favorites. I love its strong, tangy flavor, and the fact that it works in recipes ranging from sweet grilled nectarine and goat cheese crostini to savory pasta with sausage and peas. The soft texture also makes it a great choice as a flavorful base for dips and spreads.

This whipped goat cheese dip starts with a delectable combo of goat cheese and cream cheese, which is mixed with savory hot honey and fresh herbs. Serve it with sturdy dippers like crostini, crackers and pita chips, or fresh vegetables such as carrots, celery sticks, broccoli florets and strips of bell pepper.

Whipped Goat Cheese Dip Ingredients

• Goat cheese: This recipe calls for 8 ounces of plain goat cheese. Let it soften for 10 to 20 minutes on the countertop before incorporating it with the cream cheese.
• Cream cheese: The milder flavor of tangy cream cheese complements the stronger flavor of the goat cheese. For this recipe, you will need 4 ounces of softened cream cheese. Use one of these hacks to quickly soften cream cheese if you forget to set it out in advance.
• Hot honey: Hot honey is a sweet and spicy combination of honey, red pepper flakes and vinegar. It’s used both in the dip and as a drizzle on top. Use one of our Test Kitchen’s favorite hot honey brands, or whip up a batch of homemade hot honey if you already have the ingresients at home. Use leftover hot honey in one of these sweet and spicy hot honey recipes.
• Garlic: You will need one clove of garlic to make 1 teaspoon of minced garlic.
• Fresh herbs: The whipped goat cheese dip is flavored with fresh herbs including rosemary, oregano and thyme.
• Seasonings: Crushed red pepper flakes add a bit of heat, and salt enhances the overall flavor of the dip.
• Garnish: In addition to a drizzle of hot honey and red pepper flakes, the dip is also topped with chopped roasted pistachios.
• Dippers: Serve this savory dip alongside crostini, pita chips, crackers and raw vegetables.

Directions

Step 1: Combine the cheeses

Add the softened goat cheese and cream cheese to the bowl of a food processor, and process them until they’re well combined.

Step 2: Add the remaining ingredients

Add the hot honey, rosemary, oregano, thyme, garlic, salt and red pepper flakes. Process the mixture until it’s smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula as needed.

Step 3: Garnish the dip

Spoon the dip into a serving dish. Top it with a drizzle of hot honey, a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes and chopped pistachios. Serve it with pita chips, raw vegetables and/or crackers for dipping.

Whipped Goat Cheese Dip Variations

• Make it mild: For a milder take, use regular honey in place of the hot honey.
• Add bacon: Amp up the crunch factor and savory flavor by topping the dip with crumbled bacon. If that’s the direction you’d like to go, you could also try our recipe for sweet and savory goat cheese, bacon and date dip.
• Try other toppings: Add savory topping like chopped Kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes or a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

How to Store Whipped Goat Cheese Dip

Store leftover whipped goat cheese dip in a covered airtight container in the refrigerator.

How long does whipped goat cheese dip last?

This creamy dip will last up to four days when stored properly in the refrigerator.

Whipped Goat Cheese Dip Tips

How else can you use whipped goat cheese dip?

This savory dip also makes a great sandwich condiment. Slather it on buns for grilled burgers, pulled pork sandwiches or BLTs. Leftover whipped goat cheese dip can be used to quickly add a ton of tangy, spicy, herbal flavor to a morning omelet or batch of scrambled eggs. Add about 2 tablespoons of dip per serving.