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This DIY New Orleans Cheese Spread blends smooth cream cheese with a sweet, crunchy sugared pecan layer on top for a perfect mix of flavors that'll wow any party crowd. It's super easy to throw together but looks fancy enough for special occasions. This French Quarter-inspired snack tastes amazing with crunchy crackers and will have your friends begging to know how you made it.
What Makes This Spread Special
This tasty treat lives up to its fancy name. The base is silky and lightly flavored with onion and garlic notes, while the sugary, butter-coated pecans create an irresistible texture contrast on top. You'll love how the savory and sweet elements play together, making it perfect to spread on crackers or crusty bread. Serve it warm or cool - either way, it's always the first thing to disappear at parties or casual hangouts.
What You'll Need
- Cheese Mixture:
- 16 oz softened cream cheese
- 1 small grated onion
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- Sweet Pecan Mix:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard
- 1 1/2 cups chopped toasted pecans
- To Serve With:
- Sturdy crackers of your choice
- Baguette slices
- Fresh herbs to decorate
How To Make It
- Mix Your Cheese Base
- Grab a bowl and mix the soft cream cheese with grated onion, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until everything's smooth. Shape it into a round disk about 6 inches wide on your serving dish.
- Get Your Pecans Ready
- Put pecans on a baking sheet and toast them at 350°F for 8-10 minutes. Give them a stir halfway through. Let them cool, then chop them up.
- Cook The Sweet Topping
- In a pan over medium heat, mix butter, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard. Keep stirring until sugar melts and everything gets a bit thick, around 3-4 minutes.
- Mix In The Nuts
- Take the pan off the heat. Add your toasted pecans and stir so they're all coated in the sweet mixture.
- Put It All Together
- Pour your warm pecan mixture over the cream cheese. Add some fresh herbs on top if you want. Serve it right away with plenty of crackers.
Tricks For The Best Results
Make sure your cream cheese isn't cold at all for easy mixing. Keep an eye on those pecans while they're in the oven so they don't burn. Let the topping cool off a little before you pour it on the cheese or it'll just melt everywhere. Your butter should be room temp for a smoother sauce. Use the smallest holes on your grater for the onion so it blends in better.
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Ways To Present It
Set it out on a pretty plate with different crackers and bread pieces around it. Sprinkle extra chopped nuts or fresh herbs on top to make it look nice. If you want to keep it warm, put the dish on a warming tray. It's great as part of a bigger cheese spread with other options. This works perfectly for holiday parties or anytime you're having friends over for drinks.
How To Store It
You can make the cream cheese part up to 2 days early and keep it in the fridge. Wait to make the nut topping until you're ready to serve for the best taste. Any leftovers can go in the fridge for about 4 days in a sealed container. You can warm up the topping in the microwave if you want it hot again. Don't try freezing it though - it'll get all weird and grainy.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Why should cream cheese sit out first?
- Softened cream cheese blends easily with other stuff, so you won't get any annoying lumps.
- → Can I prep it in advance?
- Sure! Just make the cheese base ahead and add the pecans right before you serve, so it stays crunchy and fresh.
- → What’s the best type of crackers?
- Go for sturdy crackers since the spread is thick. Try wheat or water crackers—or any strong ones you like.
- → Can I skip chopping the pecans?
- Sure, but chopping fresh pecans yourself gives a better crunch and taste compared to store-bought chopped ones.
- → Why use grated onion?
- Grating brings out more onion flavor and avoids big chunks messing up the texture of each bite.