Let’s start with with dreamy cream cheese layer and top it with a smoky, brown sugar praline sauce with toasted pecans. Now you’ve got the ridiculously addictive and deliciously unique French Quarter Cheese Spread. Perfect for all kinds of parties, get togethers, showers, holiday gatherings, even Mardi Gras. This is your new fancy dip!
Y’all. This is the recipe you didn’t know you needed. Warm, sugared pecans, luscious cream cheese… It’s not a sweet dip, but it’s not completely savory either. It’s uniquely French Quarter, but at the same time, southern Junior League, retro goodness kind of experience. Break out the magnolias and your best southern accent. It’s the complete package- creamy, a bit of toasted pecan crunch, sweet and salty.
Put it on a cheese board surrounded by crackers and fruit and you have a signature party appetizer that will be gone in minutes! Can you share the recipe? Can you bring it to the next get together? Do you have more of that amazing dip? Why, yes, friends. You’re ready with this star of a recipe.
Serve this by itself with crisp sturdy crackers or make your next charcuterie board extraordinary. For a complete party show piece, add these around your French Quarter Cheese Spread:
- All kinds of berries- we like strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and cherries
- Slices of green apple
- Crackers, pretzel crisps, melba toast or toast points
- Prosciutto
- Thinly slice salmon
- Selection of hard cheeses
- Jams or honey
- Extra pecans
- Dark chocolate squares
Recipe Ingredients & Overview
I’ll walk through an overview of ingredients & steps in these next sections along with helpful tips!
Look for specifics at the end of the post in the recipe card.
- cream cheese
- pecans
- brown sugar
- butter (I use salted butter.)
- Worcestershire sauce
- spicy (or Creole) mustard
- garlic
- sweet onion
- red pepper flakes
How to Make French Quarter Cream Cheese Spread
Make the Savory Cream Cheese Base. Mix softened cream cheese, onion and garlic together. Spread in the bottom of a shallow dish, onto a cheese board or serving platter. Cover and refrigerate for 30-45 minutes.
Toast the Pecans. Place the pecans on a baking sheet in a 350℉ oven until they become lightly browned and fragrant, about 5-8 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.
Make the Smoky Brown Sugar/ Praline Sauce. In a small sauce pan over medium to medium-low heat, melt the butter, add the brown sugar, water, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and red pepper flakes. Stir until the sugar dissolves and mixture comes to a low boil (about 5 minutes in all). Remove from heat and stir in pecans.
Assemble & Serve. Remove cheese from the refrigerator, uncover and pour warm pecan mixture over the top. Serve with a cheese spreader while the topping is warm.
More Special Party Dips
- Whipped Feta with Honey Dip
- Whipped Feta Dip with Apples, Honey & Walnuts
- Whipped Ricotta Dip with Hot Honey Drizzle
- Classic Wasabi Mayo Dip
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 tablespoon grated onion (heaping)
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- 4 tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¾ teaspoon spicy mustard (or Creole mustard)
- pinch red pepper flakes
- ¾ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Mix cream cheese, onion and garlic together. Spread in the bottom of a shallow dish, onto a cheese board or serving platter. Cover and refrigerate for 30-45 minutes.
- Toast the pecans in a 350℉ oven until they become lightly browned and fragrant, about 5-8 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
- In a small sauce pan over medium to medium-low heat, melt the butter, add the brown sugar, water, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and red pepper flakes. Stir until the sugar dissolves and mixture comes to a low boil (about 5 minutes in all). Remove from heat and stir in pecans.
- Remove cheese from the refrigerator, uncover and pour warm pecan mixture over the top. Serve while the topping is warm with sturdy crackers and a cheese spreader.
Nutrition
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