Holiday Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip with Fresh Rosemary Recipe
This Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip is the perfect shortcut to a merry and bright holiday spread. Sweet-tart cranberry sauce with a hint of orange liqueur and maple syrup meets dreamy whipped feta, cream cheese, and garlic, all crowned with fresh rosemary sprigs. It's a quick, indulgent appetizer with a fabulous blend of flavors and textures, tailor-made for your festive celebrations!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 14 ounces whole cranberry sauce
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 handful fresh rosemary sprigs (1 sprig for the sauce plus more for garnish)
- 2 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur (Grand Marnier, Cointreau, Triple Sec, etc.)
- 8 ounces feta cheese (drained if packaged in brine)
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened at room temperature
- 1 clove garlic
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Add the cranberries to a sauce pan over medium heat. Stir in the maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, and 1 sprig of rosemary. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low and simmer for about 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Off heat; remove the rosemary sprig and stir in the orange liqueur. Set aside and let fully cool to room temperature.
- Crumble the feta into the bowl of a food processor. Add the cream cheese, garlic, and olive oil. Process until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Spread the whipped feta onto a serving plate then spread the cooled cranberry sauce over the top (you might not need all of it). Arrange additional fresh rosemary sprigs around the plate if desired. Serve immediately with toasted bread, crostini or crackers.
Video
Recipe Notes
*Scroll up through the post to see step-by-step instructional photos, helpful tips, and serving suggestion ideas.
Variations
- This recipe is great for using up any leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving.
- Of course if you have some fresh cranberries, all the better! Make your own homemade sauce by substituting 12 oz. (about 3 cups) fresh cranberries for the canned sauce and adjust the amount of maple syrup to a 1/2 cup total. And then just add a bit more to the cooking time to cook the fresh cranberries down, about 10-15 minutes total.
- Leftover dip can be refrigerated for 3-4 days in an airtight container.
- It will be a bit stiff from the refrigeration so bring it to room temperature before serving.
- Make your presentation more festive by displaying some holiday decorations like ornaments, tinsel, bows, pine greens, holly, and mistletoe around your dip spread. There are so many possibilities to get creative so go for it!
Nutrition
Calories: 252kcal | Carbohydrates: 6.9g | Protein: 3.1g | Fat: 20.2g | Saturated Fat: 9.9g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 134mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 5.7g
*Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Maplevine Kitchen makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
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