This Creamy Whipped Ricotta with Jalapeño Honey is an absolutely stunning appetizer that’s incredibly easy to make! Silky smooth whipped ricotta cheese is blended with garlic, onion, and oregano, then drizzled with a sweet and spicy jalapeño-infused honey. I love this dip because it delivers such incredible flavor and texture with minimal effort. It’s cool, creamy, spicy, and sweet all at the same time – a truly addictive combination! This Whipped Ricotta Dip is perfect for parties, holidays, or just a simple snack with crackers or bread.
Why You’ll Love This Whipped Ricotta Dip
- Silky Smooth Texture: Whipping the ricotta creates an unbelievably light and creamy texture.
- Sweet & Spicy Kick: The jalapeño honey provides a perfect balance of sweetness and gentle heat.
- Easy to Make: Comes together quickly using a blender or food processor.
- Elegant Appetizer: Looks beautiful in a serving bowl and is perfect for entertaining.
- Versatile: Delicious with crackers, bread, pita, or vegetables.
Ingredients for Whipped Ricotta with Jalapeño Honey
Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious dip. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Whipped Ricotta Base
- Ricotta cheese (Dairy)
- Sour cream (full fat or premium recommended) (Dairy)
- Garlic powder (Spice)
- Onion powder (Spice)
- Dried oregano (Herb)
- Ground black pepper (Spice)
- Dried red chili flakes (optional) (Spice)
Topping & Garnish
- Jalapeño honey (Sweetener/Flavoring)
- Fresh oregano leaves (Herb)
- Dried red chili flakes (optional) (Spice)
- Ground black pepper (optional) (Spice)
For Serving
- Warm bread or crackers
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)
Variations
I love the sweet and spicy kick of this Whipped Ricotta Dip, but here are some variations:
- Different Honey: Use regular honey, hot honey (without jalapeño infusion), or maple syrup instead of jalapeño honey.
- Add Citrus: Blend in some lemon zest for a brighter flavor.
- Different Herbs: Use fresh basil, thyme, or chives instead of or in addition to oregano for garnish.
- Make it Cheesier: Fold in some grated Parmesan cheese after blending.
- Roasted Garlic: Use roasted garlic instead of garlic powder for a deeper, sweeter garlic flavor.
How to Make Whipped Ricotta with Jalapeño Honey
Let me show you how easy it is to make this creamy Whipped Ricotta Dip:
Whip the Ricotta Mixture
- I add the ricotta cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, ground black pepper, and dried red chili flakes (if using) to my blender or food processor.
- I blend until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy. Please note that some readers have reported back that the ricotta mixture was rather runny after blending it. Other readers have not had any issues. If you are worried, you can use a fork to mash and mix until smooth instead of blending.
Plate and Style the Dip
- I transfer the whipped ricotta mixture from the blender to a serving bowl.
- Using the back of a teaspoon, I smooth out the mixture, intentionally leaving some swooping lines and crevices. This not only looks pretty but also helps hold the honey!
Add Honey and Garnish
- I spoon the jalapeño honey generously over the whipped ricotta, making sure to fill in those lovely crevices I created.
- I top with a sprinkling of dried red chili flakes and ground black pepper, if desired, for extra visual appeal and flavor.
- Finally, I garnish with fresh oregano leaves.
Serve
- Serve with bread or crackers
Tips and Tricks for the BEST Whipped Ricotta
Here are my secrets for making this dip truly exceptional:
- Use Full-Fat Dairy: For the creamiest, richest texture and to avoid a watery dip, use full-fat ricotta and sour cream as recommended.
- Drain Ricotta (If Watery): Some ricotta brands have excess whey. If yours seems very wet, let it drain in a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth for 30 minutes before whipping.
- Blend vs. Mash: Blending creates the lightest, smoothest texture. If you prefer a slightly denser dip or are concerned about it becoming too thin, mashing vigorously with a fork is a good alternative.
- Jalapeño Honey: You can buy jalapeño-infused honey or make your own by gently warming honey with sliced jalapeños (seeds removed for less heat) and letting it steep. Strain before using.
- Serve Chilled: While optional, chilling the dip slightly can help it firm up if it seems too loose after blending.
How to Serve
This Whipped Ricotta Dip is perfect served as:
- An Appetizer: Serve with warm crusty bread, pita bread, crackers, or vegetable sticks for dipping.
- A Spread: Use it as a base for bruschetta or crostini, topped with roasted vegetables or prosciutto.
- Part of a Cheese Board: A lovely creamy addition to a cheese or charcuterie platter.
Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Make Ahead and Storage
You can make the whipped ricotta dip ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Add the jalapeño honey and garnishes just before serving.
FAQs about Whipped Ricotta with Jalapeño Honey
- My ricotta dip is runny, what can I do?
- Ensure you used full-fat ricotta and sour cream. Draining the ricotta beforehand can help. If it’s already blended and runny, try chilling it thoroughly in the refrigerator for a few hours, which should help it firm up considerably.
- Can I make this without a blender or food processor?
- Yes, you can achieve a similar (though slightly less airy) result by mashing and vigorously mixing the ricotta base ingredients with a fork or whisk in a bowl until as smooth as possible.
- How spicy is the jalapeño honey?
- The spice level depends on the specific jalapeño honey used or how long you steep the jalapeños if making it yourself. Start with a smaller amount if you’re sensitive to heat.
Enjoy this cool, creamy, sweet, and spicy Whipped Ricotta with Jalapeño Honey! It’s an easy yet impressive appetizer.
Print
Creamy Whipped Ricotta with Jalapeño Honey
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 16 1x
- Category: Appetizer, Dip
- Cuisine: American
Description
When you whip ricotta with garlic, onion, oregano, and sour cream, not only is the flavour incredible, but the texture is silky smooth. Topped with homemade Jalapeño Honey, this dip is cool and spicy at the same time. Serve with your favourite crackers and bread.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1/4 cup full-fat sour cream (see notes)
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried red chili flakes (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper (plus more for garnish, optional)
- 1/4 cup jalapeño honey (store-bought or homemade)
- Fresh oregano leaves, for garnish
For Serving:
- Warm bread (pita, crusty bread)
- Crackers
- Vegetable sticks
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: Add the ricotta cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, ground black pepper, and dried red chili flakes (if using) to a blender or food processor.
- Blend or Mix: Blend on medium speed until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy. Alternatively, if you prefer a slightly thicker texture or are concerned about the mixture becoming too runny (as some blenders can cause this), vigorously mash and mix the ingredients together in a bowl with a fork or whisk until smooth.
- Transfer to Serving Bowl: Transfer the whipped ricotta mixture from the blender/processor (or mixing bowl) to a serving bowl.
- Create Swirls: Using the back of a teaspoon or a small spatula, smooth out the top of the mixture, creating decorative swooping lines and crevices.
- Add Jalapeño Honey: Spoon or drizzle the jalapeño honey over the whipped ricotta, intentionally allowing it to pool in the crevices you created.
- Garnish: Top with an additional sprinkling of dried red chili flakes and ground black pepper, if desired. Garnish with fresh oregano leaves.
- Serve: Serve immediately with warm bread, crackers, or vegetable sticks for dipping.
Notes
- Ricotta: Whole milk ricotta generally provides a creamier result than part-skim.
- Sour Cream: For the best texture and to prevent a watery dip, use full-fat or premium sour cream. Low-fat or fat-free options contain more moisture and may make the dip too runny, especially when blended. Mixing by hand (Method 2 in instructions) is a safer alternative if using lower-fat sour cream or if concerned about thinning.
- Jalapeño Honey: This adds a unique sweet and spicy kick. You can find it pre-made or make your own by infusing honey with jalapeños. Adjust the amount to your heat preference.
- Blending vs. Mixing: Blending creates the smoothest, lightest texture but can sometimes make ricotta mixtures runny. Mixing vigorously by hand yields a slightly denser but still smooth texture and avoids potential thinning issues.
- Storage: Store leftover dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The texture may change slightly upon chilling.