Just in time for the holiday season! Easy cranberry whipped feta dip is a crowd favorite. Spread it onto crusty bread and sandwiches, or serve it with crostini, crackers, and fresh fruit for a festive holiday appetizer. Love dips? Try tahini yogurt sauce and cottage cheese ranch dip.
What is Whipped Feta Dip?
Whipped feta is a creamy dip created by blending tangy feta cheese with ingredients like Greek yogurt, cream cheese, or extra-virgin olive oil until it is irresistibly smooth. It’s perfect for dipping, spreading, and topping.
This whipped feta cranberry dip starts with a creamy feta base, but what sets this version apart from the other is the addition of cranberry compote, which you can swirl in or spoon over the top for even more flavor.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Feta’s saltiness and texture make it a go-to for dips and spreads—if only it was easy to scoop! Luckily, a quick whirl in a blender or food processor with cranberry compote and simple ingredients transforms the tangy cheese into a crowd-pleasing dip. Here’s everything you need to get started.
- Cranberry Compote: Use fresh cranberries or frozen ones, white sugar, lemon juice from one lemon, fresh ginger, vanilla extract, Aleppo pepper, ground sumac, and kosher salt to make a quick homemade cranberry compote. This easy recipe is a great way to use leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving or Christmas or substitute it for fig jam and pepper jelly.
- Feta Cheese: Opt for a high-quality block of fresh feta cheese stored in brine—it’s softer and creamier than the crumbled feta, which can be too salty and dry.
What is the best feta to buy?
The best feta cheese to use is authentic Greek feta made from sheep’s milk or a blend of sheep’s and goat’s milk. Look for a block of brine-packed feta cheese rather than dried or crumbled feta, which often includes caking agents that may interfere with the smoothness of the dip.
- Yogurt: Whole milk Greek yogurt adds flavor and helps to create a smooth, creamy base.
- Spices: Flavor the yogurt dip with Aleppo pepper (or red pepper flakes) and kosher salt.
- Lemon: Balance the creaminess of the dip with freshly squeezed lemon juice and bright lemon zest.
- Olive Oil: Include extra virgin olive oil for a velvety, smooth texture.
- Mint: Garnish the cranberry whipped feta dip with fresh mint leaves for a pop of color, or swap it for fresh thyme leaves, rosemary, parsley, or citrusy orange zest.
Additions and Substitutions
- Spice things up. Enhance the dip with dried herbs—sage, thyme, parsley, or try warm spices such as Pakistani garam masala, cinnamon, or nutmeg. Swap the cranberry compote with your favorite homemade cranberry sauce, or try my sweet and spicy cranberry jalapeño sauce—it is perfect for those who enjoy a little heat.
- Can I swap out the feta? Absolutely! Feta cheese adds a unique tangy flavor that is perfect for the dip, but substitute it with soft cheeses like goat cheese, cream cheese, or ricotta cheese. It won’t be the same, but it will get the job done.
- Can I use dried cranberries instead of fresh ones? Prepare the cranberry compote with dried cranberries like you would my cranberry sauce from dried cranberries. The key is rehydrating the dried cranberries in water before using them in the recipe.
Tools You’ll Need
You will need a small saucepan to make the cranberry compote, and combine the ingredients in a high-speed blender or food processor to make the smooth and creamy cranberry whipped feta dip.
If you don’t have a food processor, no worries! Use an immersion blender or hand mixer to combine the whipped feta ingredients.
How to Make Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
For the Cranberry Compote
Step 1: Combine the ingredients for the compote in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
Step 2: Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes or until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens. Remove from heat and set it aside.
For the Whipped Feta Dip
Step 1: Combine feta cheese, Greek yogurt, Aleppo pepper, kosher salt, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a food processor in short bursts, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed until the ingredients are smooth.
Step 2: Slowly add the olive oil, a little at a time, while processing the ingredients in short bursts until the feta cheese is whipped smooth.
Serving Tip
If you want the tart cranberries to be more prominent, add the reserved cranberry compote to the food processor and process until well combined. Doing so gives the dip a more festive look– perfect for the holiday table.
Step 3: Transfer the dip to a serving bowl and use the back of a spoon to make a well in the center of the dip.
Spoon the cranberry mixture over the top and garnish with fresh mint leaves to serve.
Expert Tips
- Process in bursts. You may be tempted to hold down the button on the blender or food processor. However, I recommend processing the ingredients in short bursts to create air pockets, giving the whipped feta dip its signature consistency.
If you enjoy cranberry whipped feta dip, try more appetizer recipes!
Toppings for Whipped Feta Dip
Once blended, transform the whipped feta dip with all your favorite toppings. Finish with savory spices like flaky sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper. You can sprinkle Aleppo pepper, red pepper flakes, or citrusy ground sumac if you want additional flavor.
Add a drizzle of honey, maple syrup, agave nectar, or balsamic glaze if you enjoy a sweeter dip, or keep it classic with extra-virgin olive oil.
Fresh herbs like mint and parsley add color and freshness, while pine nuts, crunchy pistachios, and chopped walnuts or pecans bring a tasty crunch.
Serving Suggestions
Spread the whipped feta dip onto a wooden board or festive platter, like a butter board or buttercream board. Spoon the homemade cranberry compote over the top for a delicious holiday appetizer. Pair it with crostini, pita bread, or buttery rolls.
Spread the sweet dip onto baguette slices, sliced Dutch oven sourdough bread, or sourdough discard naan. Top it with fresh berries, grilled eggplant, or caramelized onions and mushrooms, and polish it off with honey for an easy appetizer or snack.
One of my favorite ways to serve cranberry whipped feta dip is on a mezze (also called meze) or Mediterranean charcuterie board, perfect for any occasion. Serve it with warm pitas, crackers, air fryer pita chips, pretzels, and fresh fruit like apples or pears. Finish the board with other small plates and dips such as dolmas, beetroot dip, falafel, vegetable crudites, baba ganoush, and marinated olives.
What To Do With Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Store any leftover cranberry whipped feta dip in an airtight container for 2-3 days. When you’re ready to enjoy it again, let it come to room temperature, then use a rubber spatula or whisk to lighten it up and restore its texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
Prepare the dip 1-2 days before a big event or holiday gathering. Assemble the feta dip and cranberry sauce in a serving bowl or store them separately. The texture will change once refrigerated; let the dip come to room temperature and combine it with a rubber spatula or whisk before serving.
Why is my whipped feta dip runny?
Whipped feta dip can become runny if it’s over-blended. You can avoid this by blending the mixture in short bursts instead of holding down the button until everything combines. The brief bursts allow air pockets to form, giving the dip its fluffy, whipped texture without overworking the protein in the cheese.
Why is my whipped feta grainy?
The cause of grainy feta dip is likely the type of feta cheese you use to make the dip. Look for a block of feta cheese stored in brine rather than crumbled or dried feta for the best results.
More Dip Recipes:
Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip
- 2 cups fresh cranberries or frozen cranberries
- ⅔ cup granulated white sugar
- ¼ cup water
- fresh lemon juice, one lemon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½-inch knob of ginger, grated
- ½ teaspoon Aleppo pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground sumac
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- 1 block (8 ounces) feta cheese in brine, drained
- ¾ cup full-fat Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- fresh lemon juice, one lemon, plus 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- fresh mint leaves, for garnish
- Combine the ingredients for the compote in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
- Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes or until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens. Remove from heat and set it aside.
- Combine feta cheese, Greek yogurt, Aleppo pepper, kosher salt, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a food processor in short bursts, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed until the ingredients are smooth.
- Slowly add the olive oil, a little at a time, while processing the ingredients in short bursts until the feta cheese is whipped smooth.Serving Tip: If you want the tart cranberries to be more prominent, add the reserved cranberry compote to the food processor and process until well combined. Doing so gives the dip a more festive look– perfect for the holiday table.
- Transfer the dip to a serving bowl and use the back of a spoon to make a well in the center of the dip. Spoon the cranberry mixture over the top and garnish with fresh mint leaves to serve.
- Process in bursts. You may be tempted to hold down the button on the blender or food processor. However, I recommend processing the ingredients in short bursts to create air pockets, giving the whipped feta dip its signature consistency.