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holiday cheddar spread

(2 ratings)
eck77 avatar
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Edith Kehoe
@eck77
Ottawa, ON

This recipe was improvised from a steakhouse that was famous for its huge crock of cheese spread, Ritz crackers, and peanut shells on the floor in the bar area. The Hayloft is long gone now. But thanks to this recipe, friends and family can still get a taste of it at my house during the holidays. I store the spread in several covered containers in the fridge so that I can serve it more than once during the holidays.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

The combination of cheese and alcohol makes this holiday cheddar spread feel like a fancy appetizer. We tried it with both wine and beer. It's super creamy and has a little tang from the aged cheddar cheese. There's a little bite from the onion, but it's not overpowering. This would be great to serve as an appetizer during the holidays or on New Year's Eve but also great at a tailgate or game night party. Yummy!

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(2 ratings)
yield 16 serving(s)
prep time 15 Min
method No-Cook or Other

Ingredients For holiday cheddar spread

  • 8 oz
    cream cheese, room temperature
  • 4 oz
    butter, room temperature
  • 1 pinch
    black pepper
  • 1/4 c
    liquid (beer, non-alcohol beer, white wine, or buttermilk)
  • 2 c
    old cheddar cheese, grated
  • 1 sm
    onion, minced finely
  • 1 sprig
    parsley or sprinkle paprika, to decorate

How To Make holiday cheddar spread

Test Kitchen Tips
Edith hails from Canada where old cheddar is another way to say sharp. We used English cheddar, sharp cheddar, and mild cheddar.
  • Combine cream cheese and butter.
    1
    In a large bowl or in a food processor, combine softened cream cheese and butter. Blend until thoroughly blended.
  • Add pepper and a liquid.
    2
    Add a pinch of pepper and enough liquid (beer, non-alcohol beer, white wine, or buttermilk) to make the cream cheese mixture fluffy.
  • Add shredded cheddar cheese.
    3
    Add grated old cheddar cheese and combine thoroughly. You may need to add just a bit more liquid so that it retains a nice texture. Do not worry if it's a bit thick and heavy. It still tastes great!
  • Add finely chopped onions.
    4
    Add finely diced onion and combine only until blended in. If using a food processor, pulse on/off a couple of times, but do not overwork or the onion taste can become overwhelming.
  • Spoon into a bowl and sprinkle with paprika.
    5
    Spoon into a bowl and sprinkle with a parsley sprig or paprika to look pretty.
  • Serve Holiday Cheddar Spread with crackers.
    6
    Remove spread from the fridge about 20 minutes before serving. Serve with crackers.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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