Crafted with simple ingredients, this Cranberry and Walnut Whipped Feta Appetizer is a crave-worthy combination of sweet and savory that will have your guests raving. Pair it with crostini, crackers, and more for an irresistibly tasty treat!
Table of Contents
- What Is a Whipped Feta Appetizer?
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- How to Make a Cranberry and Walnut Whipped Feta Appetizer
- Serving Suggestions
- Can I Make This Feta Appetizer in Advance?
- Common Questions about Whipped Feta with Cranberries and Walnuts
- More Feta Snacks and Appetizer Recipes
- Cranberry and Walnut Whipped Feta Appetizer Recipe
What Is a Whipped Feta Appetizer?
A whipped feta appetizer is exactly what it sounds like! To make it, we combine a block of briny feta cheese with creamy yogurt and a few extra ingredients and whip them all up in a food processor until has a smooth, almost fluffy consistency. Then, we add a sprinkle of toppings for extra flavor and a bit of crunch, and it’s ready to eat!
Why You’ll Love This Cranberry and Walnut Whipped Feta Appetizer
If you haven’t tried our whipped feta yet, you’re seriously missing out. It’s been a favorite recipe in our family and is equally loved by readers! So, with the holidays in full swing, we decided to give this simple appetizer a bit of a revamp, adding in some traditional holiday flavors. It’s:
- Ready in minutes and requires no baking.
- The best balance of savory and sweet flavors.
- Picture-worthy and full of festive colors.
- Great for dipping, dunking, spreading, and more.
Ingredients You’ll Need
If your local grocery store is anything like ours, it’s a complete madhouse during the holiday season. So, we kept the ingredient list for this feta appetizer super short and sweet so you can get in and out in no time. Here’s everything you’ll need to whip up this mouth-watering masterpiece:
For the Feta Appetizer
- Feta Cheese – We use a block of full-fat feta and crumble it up for easy blending.
- Yogurt – Full-fat yogurt helps blend up the feta and creates a smooth, creamy texture ideal for dipping.
- Orange – You’ll want to use both the orange juice and orange zest for a bold, vibrant flavor.
For the Topping
- Walnuts – We like to include walnuts for a bit of crunch and a boost of healthy fats, but any nuts such as almonds or pecans would work, too. If you’re concerned about allergies to nuts, you can also opt for seeds like pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds to still give the topping crunchy texture.
- Dried Cranberries – Not only do these add a boost of color, but they also provide extra sweetness with just a touch of tart flavor that makes this dish delicious.
- Honey – Used to enhance the flavor of the cranberries.
- Red Pepper Flakes – Technically optional, we love to add a dash of red pepper flakes on top for just a hint of heat.
How to Make a Cranberry and Walnut Whipped Feta Appetizer
With no baking, roasting, sautéeing, or simmering required, this feta appetizer will be your new go-to recipe for holiday parties, family gatherings, and everything in between!
- Add the feta, yogurt, orange juice, and orange zest to a food processor, and pulse until smooth.
- Spread the dip on a serving platter.
- Sprinkle the walnuts and cranberries on top, followed by a drizzle of honey, and a dash of red pepper flakes.
- Serve immediately, and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
This feta appetizer can be served with almost anything, and you can even elevate your favorite sandwiches with it! However, here are some of our top pairings to tantalize your taste buds:
- Celery Sticks
- Pita Bread
- Crostini
- Pretzels
Can I Make This Feta Appetizer in Advance?
Yes! If you plan on making this feta appetizer in advance, we recommend leaving off the toppings until just before serving to prevent them from becoming soggy. However, this recipe can easily be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days.
Common Questions about Whipped Feta with Cranberries and Walnuts
Absolutely! Whipped feta with cranberries and walnuts actually improves after sitting in the refrigerator for a few hours. The flavors come together beautifully, and the cranberries plump up slightly as they absorb moisture.
Feta has the perfect texture and flavor profile for whipping! Its crumbly nature breaks down easily in a food processor, and its salty, tangy flavor stands up well to the sweet-tartness of cranberries and the richness of walnuts. The addition of Greek yogurt gives it that smooth, spreadable consistency. Feta’s distinctive briny character creates a sophisticated base that’s much more interesting than plain cream cheese dips, making it the perfect canvas for sweet and savory add-ins!
Fresh cranberries wouldn’t work well in this recipe without some preparation! Their extreme tartness and firm texture would overwhelm the delicate whipped feta. If you want to use fresh cranberries, cook them down first with some sugar or honey to create a cranberry compote, then cool completely before swirling into the whipped feta.
Several nuts can successfully replace walnuts in this recipe! Pecans offer a similar texture with a slightly sweeter flavor profile. Pistachios add a bright green color contrast and mild taste. Candied or spiced almonds bring extra dimension with their sweetness or heat. Even pine nuts work wonderfully with their buttery flavor.
More Feta Snacks and Appetizer Recipes
If your love for feta is as strong as ours, don’t miss out on more of our favorite appetizers below to satisfy your feta cravings!
- Roasted Red Pepper Feta Dip with Crispy Chickpeas
- Feta Board with Marinated Olives
- Air Fryer Sesame Crusted Feta
- Whipped Feta Recipe with Roasted Peppers
Cranberry and Walnut Whipped Feta Appetizer
Ingredients
- 8 ounces block feta
- 1/4 cup greek yogurt
- 1 Tablespoons fresh squeezed orange
- 1 Tablespoon Orange zest to taste
For Topping:
- 1 cup toasted walnuts
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup honey
- Optional: red pepper flakes to garnish
Instructions
- In the bowl of a food processor, add the feta, yogurt, orange juice, and orange zest. Pulse until smooth.8 ounces block feta, 1/4 cup greek yogurt, 1 Tablespoons fresh squeezed orange, 1 Tablespoon Orange zest to taste
- Spread the dip on a serving platter, and sprinkle the walnuts and cranberries on top. Add a drizzle of honey followed by the red pepper flakes, if using, and serve right away!1 cup toasted walnuts, 1/2 cup dried cranberries, Optional: red pepper flakes to garnish, 1/4 cup honey
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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