Cream Cheese Pistachio Hot Honey Dip (High-Protein)
This Cream Cheese, Pistachio & Hot Honey Dip is an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer made with whipped cream cheese, crunchy pistachios, and sweet-spicy hot honey. A simple protein boost from cottage cheese or Greek yogurt makes it perfect for holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's, and Diwali.
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Whipped Cheese Base
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- ½ cup full-fat cottage cheese or Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small garlic clove grated or roasted
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika or mild chili flakes
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh herbs chives, parsley, or thyme
For Topping
- ⅓ cup pistachios toasted and roughly chopped
- 2-3 tablespoons hot honey adjust to taste
- Extra olive oil for drizzling
- Flaky salt to finish
Instructions
- Add cream cheese, cottage cheese (or Greek yogurt), olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and herbs to a food processor or blender.
- Blend until completely smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, lemon juice, or olive oil if needed.
- Spread the whipped cheese onto a shallow serving plate or bowl, creating swirls with the back of a spoon.
- Top with toasted pistachios, drizzle generously with hot honey, add a light olive oil drizzle, and finish with flaky salt.
- Serve immediately or chill until ready to serve.
Notes
- For the creamiest texture, always blend cottage cheese until completely smooth.
- The whipped cheese base can be made 1-2 days ahead; add toppings just before serving.
- Adjust hot honey based on how sweet or spicy you prefer.
- Don't have hot honey? Just mix raw honey with a little chili oil or a pinch of crushed red pepper or black pepper to create an easy homemade hot honey.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Cream Cheese Pistachio Hot Honey Dip (High-Protein)
Amount per Serving
Calories
185
% Daily Value*
Fat
15
g
23
%
Saturated Fat
5
g
31
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
7
g
Cholesterol
22
mg
7
%
Sodium
212
mg
9
%
Potassium
120
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
10
g
3
%
Fiber
1
g
4
%
Sugar
7
g
8
%
Protein
5
g
10
%
Vitamin A
307
IU
6
%
Vitamin C
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
42
mg
4
%
Iron
0.4
mg
2
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Disclaimer
Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.
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