Whipped Goat Cheese Dip with Pecan Date Topping
If you're looking for a last minute appetizer, let me introduce you to my new favorite Whipped Goat Cheese Dip with a pecan date topping! It's easy enough for when you're short on time but fancy enough that people will be asking for the recipe! The creamy texture of the goat cheese is enough on it's own but adding a sweet & savory topping makes it perfect for your next holiday party!
Equipment
- 1 food processor (or blender)
Ingredients
For Whipped Goat Cheese Layer
- 4 oz goat cheese
- ¼ cup cottage cheese
- 2 tablespoon fresh orange juice (be sure to zest it first for the pecan date topping!)
- kosher salt, to taste (I use ~¼ tsp)
For Pecan Date Topping
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- ½ cup chopped dates
- 1-2 teaspoon orange zest
- 1-2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- ½ tablespoon honey
Instructions
- Make the whipped goat cheese by adding the goat cheese, cottage cheese, orange juice, and kosher salt to a food processor, hand mixer, or blender. Blend until it has a smooth texture, about 2-3 minutes, pushing down the sides as needed. Add more salt to taste.
- Make the pecan topping by mixing chopped dates, chopped pecans, honey, orange zest and fresh thyme in a small bowl. Heat a skillet on medium heat and add a drizzle of olive oil. Add the pecan & date mixture. Heat the mixture, stirring frequently until warmed, about 2-3 minutes.
- Layer the goat cheese spread on the bottom of a serving dish or serving bowl. Top with an even layer of the date pecan topping. Optional: add a drizzle of honey on top.
- Serve with some crusty bread like crostini, pita chips, or sturdy crackers
Notes
Expert Tips
- It will take a few minutes for the goat cheese to get creamy in the blender or food processor so be patient!
- When zesting the orange, just go over the surface once. You just want the top layer of the skin to be zested so stop when you get to the white part of the fruit. The white part is much more bitter, but the orange outer skin is sweet!
- Dates can be sticky to chop. To make them less sticky, freeze them for 10-15 minutes.
- Serve with sturdy crackers! I love the Rosemary Simple Mills Almond Flour crackers or some thick sourdough crackers with this. You could also serve it with crusty bread like crostini and people can spread it onto the bread.
- Prep - you can prep each component of this recipe in advance! Store the whipped goat cheese and pecan date topping in separate airtight containers in the fridge until you're ready to serve. Assemble right before serving. The components will stay good in the fridge for 1-3 days.
- Storage - Leftovers will keep relatively well. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
For more nutrition information and tips, visit mallorythedietitian.com. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! 😊
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!