This cranberry whipped feta dip layers creamy, salty feta with sweet-tart cranberry sauce, crunchy pistachios, hot honey, and thyme. It takes just 20 minutes and looks festive enough for Thanksgiving or Christmas without adding more work to your holiday prep!
The best part is that you don’t have to make a cranberry topping from scratch. Use whole-berry cranberry sauce for the shortcut version, or use homemade cranberry sauce if you already have it. A little orange zest and juice brightens up store-bough sauce and make the whole thing taste fresh!
Love dips? Try baked brie with fig jam, whipped goat cheese, or cottage cheese ranch dip next.
Thanksgiving appetizers are a staple on our holiday table. We live for the snacks and Thanksgiving drinks leading up to the main meal.
This one is especially good for entertaining because you can whip the feta ahead of time, then add the cranberry sauce, pistachios, hot honey, and thyme when you’re ready to serve. You get creamy, crunchy, sweet, salty, and a little heat in every bite.
Love cranberry? Try cranberry meatballs or a cranberry moscow mule next!
Ingredients You’ll Need
You only need a handful of ingredients for this dip, but the type of feta and cranberry sauce make a difference. Skip to the recipe card for exact measurements.
- Feta cheese: Use a block of feta packed in brine rather than pre-crumbled feta. It has more moisture, so it blends into a much smoother, creamier dip. I like Whole Foods 365 feta in brine.
- Heavy cream: This loosens the feta enough to whip it until smooth and creamy.
- Cranberry sauce: Whole-berry cranberry sauce is the easiest shortcut here. Use canned sauce or homemade cranberry sauce if you already have it.
- Pistachios: Roasted pistachios add crunch, saltiness, and festive color. Chopped pecans or walnuts work too.
- Orange juice and zest: it balances the cranberry. Omit this if you make homemade cranberry sauce that already includes orange.
- Hot honey: The sweet heat balances the salty feta and tart cranberries. Regular honey works if you don’t want the heat.
- Fresh thyme: Adds a savory, herby finish that balances the sweeter toppings. Rosemary is another good holiday option.
Need another holiday appetizer? Try sweet potato puffs or bacon wrapped dates with goat cheese.
How to Make Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip
This comes together in two easy steps. The biggest key is giving the feta enough time in the food processor to become completely smooth.
Step 1. Whip the Feta. Add the feta and olive oil to a food processor or high-speed blender and blend until crumbly. Pour in the heavy cream and keep blending, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed.
Don’t stop when the feta looks thick. It will go from crumbly to thick and difficult to blend before eventually loosening into a smooth, creamy consistency. Add 1 Tablespoon of water at a time only if needed to help it along.
Step 2. Assemble and Chill. Spread the whipped feta into a shallow serving bowl and chill for 15 minutes. Chilling helps it firm back up slightly so it can hold the cranberry topping. Spoon the cranberry sauce over the feta, then finish with crushed pistachios, hot honey, and fresh thyme.
After testing this one a few times, and making it for Thanksgiving
Make Ahead and Storage
Store leftover cranberry whipped feta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To make it ahead, whip the feta and prep the cranberry sauce up to 3 days in advance and store them separately in the refrigerator. You can also assemble the feta and cranberry layers ahead of time. Wait to add the pistachios, hot honey, and fresh thyme until just before serving so the pistachios stay crunchy.
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Watch How to Make It
Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip
Save this Recipe!
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole cranberry sauce store bought (1 can) or homemade cranberry sauce (chilled)
- 1 teaspoon orange zest plus more to garnish
- 1 Tablespoon orange juice
- 8 ounces feta cheese (I use the kind in the brine)
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons heavy cream
- 1/4 cup roasted salted pistachios chopped
- Hot honey to taste
- Fresh chopped thyme to taste
- Toasted bread crostini, pita, or crackers for serving
Instructions
- Add the cranberry sauce, orange zest, and orange juice to a bowl and stir to combine. Skip this step if you are using homemade cranberry sauce with orange in it already.2 cups whole cranberry sauce, 1 teaspoon orange zest, 1 Tablespoon orange juice
- Add the feta and olive oil to a food processor or high-spend blender and blend until crumbly. Pour in the heavy cream and blend until creamy and smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. It will become thick and hard to blend then smooth out. Add 1 Tablespoon of water at a time as needed to reach your desired consistency. Transfer the feta to a serving bowl and refrigerate for 15 minutes or up to 3 days.8 ounces feta cheese, 2 Tablespoons olive oil, 3 Tablespoons heavy cream
- Top with cranberry sauce and crushed pistachios. Drizzle with hot honey and sprinkle with fresh thyme. Serve cold or room temperature with crusty bread for dipping.1/4 cup roasted salted pistachios, Hot honey to taste, Fresh chopped thyme to taste
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I made this for a Christmas appetizer. It was such a unique dish – everyone was so impressed! It tasted delicious as well. #WhatWEMade
Yay! Thanks Nicole!
Simple and festive!
#WhatWEMade
Thanks Emiley!!
Loved this recipe. It was easy to make and has very unique flavors #whatwemade
Thank you so much!
This recipe didn’t do it for me. Even though the feta looks smooth, it still has a gritty texture to it. And the olive oil tastes very strong. Didn’t seem to compliment the cranberries well. I had to ditch it and come up with something else for Thanksgiving.
Thanks for sharing your experience — I’m sorry this one wasn’t a hit for you, especially for Thanksgiving. The texture can vary depending on the brand of feta and olive oil used; feta in brine blended very thoroughly and a mild olive oil tend to give the smoothest, most balanced result.
Does the orange juice and orange zest go in the food processor with the feta or do you mix it with the cranberry sauce?
Hi Casey! The orange zest and orange juice get mixed into the cranberry sauce, not the feta.
Steps in order:
Stir the cranberry sauce + orange zest + orange juice together in a bowl.
Separately, blend the feta with olive oil and cream until smooth.
Spoon the orange-cranberry mixture on top of the whipped feta when serving.
Hope that helps — and enjoy!
Do you think this would be good with another kind of cheese? Ricotta, cream cheese? I love Feta but not the rest of the group. Thanks!
Hi there! I haven’t tried other types of cheese, but it should still work. Ricotta or cream cheese will both work — the dip will just be milder and creamier than the tangy whipped feta version.
If you try:
Cream cheese: Easiest swap. Just blend it with a splash of cream or milk until smooth.
Ricotta: Use whole-milk ricotta and blend well so it becomes creamy (you may need an extra tablespoon or two of cream).
Let me know how it goes!
Does hot honey mean spicy honey, or just warmed honey?
Hey Rob! It means spicy honey:)
Hi! What type/size serving bowl would you recommend for this? Looking for nice presentation!
Molly – I made this following the recipe, and it was a hit. I’d like to try it again with goat cheese. Do you still add the cream and olive oil to the goat cheese as it says to do with feta?
Thanks,
Bonnie
Hello! I would add a little bit less and adjust as needed:) Thanks!
Would this work with feta crumbls?
Hello! I haven’t tested this but it should work with crumbles! You may need a bit more milk or cream to get it smooth. Just add it to reach your desired consistency!
Hi,
I assume this is supposed to be served cold or room temp. and not warm?
Hey there! Yes. The recipe says it should be served cold or room temperature. Thanks!
Wondering if you incorporated the brine into this or simply use feta that comes in brine??
Hey there! Just the feta. You’re just supposed to purchase the feta with the brine at the store.
Do you think it would work to use whole milk instead of heavy cream?
Yes you can swap whole milk for heavy cream!
Can you substitute milk if you don’t have heavy cream?
Yes!