Creamy Goat Cheese Spread

Renae Wilson
Renae Wilson
Originally from South Carolina with family roots in East Texas, Renae has been based in Brooklyn for 13 years. A U.S. Navy vet, Renae used her Montgomery GI Bill to fund her culinary & pastry education at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York. Graduating in 2015, she has since worked as a private chef, freelanced in test kitchens developing in recipes, testing cookbooks for prominent authors, and catering. More recently, she made her debut in the pop-up world serving Southern comfort food under the name “Dear Henry”. A color and glitter enthusiast, her hobbies include budget traveling the world so that she can eat more, dancing, crocheting, engaging in various tomfoolery, baking, and frying the hell out of some chicken cutlets.
published Nov 20, 2021
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Cheese Spread Recipe

This quick and easy spread gets a big boost of flavor from pickled jalapeños (and the juice from the jar!).

Serves6 to 8

Makesabout 3 cups

Prep10 minutes

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Cheese spread in a bowl
Credit: Meghan Glass

What do you call a party without cheese? A sad party. This subtly spicy, extra-creamy cheese dip is a must-have for any gathering. With three kinds of cheese and some peppers for zip and spice, it’s an appetizer that’ll disappear in no time. 

Often, you’ll find recipes similar to this called “pub cheese.” It’s a common item to show up on bar menus. While this recipe omits alcohol, it’s perfect paired with a pint of ale. (Beer and cheese go together like a hand in glove, after all.) As for the dippers, pretzels, veggies, breadsticks, or tortilla chips are excellent choices.

What Kind of Cheese Is Best for Cheese Spread?

Using a combination of semi-soft and soft cheeses is the way to go for this recipe. It makes things easier to come together and whips up nicely for the best texture. While pre-shredded cheddar cheese does work, grating your cheese from a block makes for a more creamy dip.

Cheese Spread Variations

Feel free to switch things up — cheese dip is very versatile!

  • For a Southwestern-inspired dip: Substitute the sharp cheddar for pepper Jack and use chili powder, ground cumin, or even taco seasoning!
  • For something more Italian-leaning: Omit the jalapeños and replace them with roasted red peppers. Instead of cheddar and goat cheese, swap in shredded mozzarella and finely grated Parmesan and add Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes for some kick.
Comments

Cheese Spread Recipe

This quick and easy spread gets a big boost of flavor from pickled jalapeños (and the juice from the jar!).

Prep time 10 minutes

Makes about 3 cups

Serves 6 to 8

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces

    cream cheese

  • 4 ounces

    fresh goat cheese

  • 8 ounces

    sharp cheddar cheese

  • 3 tablespoons

    sliced pickled jalapeños

  • 2 tablespoons

    jarred peppadew peppers or roasted red peppers

  • 1 tablespoon

    pickled jalapeño juice (from the jar)

  • 1 teaspoon

    mustard powder

  • 1 teaspoon

    onion powder

  • 1 teaspoon

    garlic powder

  • 1 teaspoon

    smoked paprika

Serving options:

  • Crudités

  • Chips

  • Pretzels

Instructions

  1. Place 8 ounces cream cheese and 4 ounces fresh goat cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer (or large bowl if using an electric hand mixer). Let sit at room temperature until softened, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, grate 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese on the large holes of a box grater (about 2 cups). Finely chop 3 tablespoons pickled jalapeños and 2 tablespoons peppadew or red peppers.

  2. Add the cheddar, pickled jalapeños, peppadew or red peppers, 1 tablespoon pickled jalapeño juice (from the jar), 1 teaspoon mustard powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon smoked paprika to the bowl of cream cheese. Beat with the paddle attachment on medium speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl, until fluffy and the ingredients are fully incorporated, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve with vegetables, chips, and/or pretzels for dipping.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Refrigerate cheese spread in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Let sit at room temperature until softened before serving.

Filed in:
appetizer
Cheese
vegetarian
Gluten-Free
dairy
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