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This 10-minute prep honey whipped ricotta dip topped with cranberry sauce (or your favorite jam!), pecans and more will be a favorite appetizer for any party. The layers of flavor, with the rich creamy ricotta makes for such a delicious dish but the fact that it comes together so quickly makes it the easiest appetizer and that’s the real win!

Whipped ricotta dip with honey, cranberry sauce, pecans and other garnish in dish with bread.

Why We Are SO In Love With This Whipped Ricotta Dip
Ingredient Notes
Ways To Vary This Recipe
Step-By-Step Instructions
Recipe Tips
Storage
Other Easy Appetizer Recipes
Cranberry Whipped Ricotta Dip with Honey Recipe
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I am in love with appetizers for dinner. This colorful, rich and creamy honey whipped ricotta dip is all I need really! It is just so good.

Over the holiday season, I try to keep everything on hand for this creamy whipped ricotta dip so that if an unexpected guest shows up, I can easily whip this one up in just a few minutes. Gotta love it!

Love appetizer recipes too? Try these other favorites: Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates, Puff Pastry Brie Bites, Simple Cranberry Brie Crostini or these Marinated Mozzarella Tomato Basil Skewers!

Why We Are SO In Love With This Whipped Ricotta Dip

I have been making this honey-whipped ricotta with all the cranberry sauce, pecans, thyme and more for a few years now and it honestly just seemed too easy to even put on the site.

But isn’t that what I am supposed to be doing? After getting rave reviews from friends asking for the recipe, I knew this appetizer recipe needed to be shared.

This whipped ricotta is:

ready in about 10 minutes
so simple to customize and vary
perfect with toasted or grilled crusty bread, crackers, and more
it looks so gorgeous and festive–we love pretty food!

Can’t wait to hear what you think of this dip recipe!

Ingredient Notes

See full list of ingredients with exact measurements below in recipe card.

Baguette, ricotta, honey, cranberry sauce and other labeled ingredients.

Whole milk ricotta cheese is by far the very best when making this or really any whipped ricotta. It is extra rich and creamy and has the best flavor. I have made this with several brands as well. Murray’s is by far my favorite so far. First, it comes in a 16 oz. container, it is sturdier than any of the other ricottas and has a really nice thickness to it. My other favorite is Galbani for a less pricey ricotta cheese. Store brands are definitely not the same, so just know the kind of ricotta you choose will definitely make a difference.
Since I make this around the holiday season a lot, cranberry sauce is my go to. If I am using canned, I opt for a whole berry type cranberry sauce. I have also used this Cranberry Apple Chutney Recipe and that was amazing. Any jam or preserves will certainly work. I have used these spiced cherry preserves before like I do in my Puff Pastry Brie Bites and that was amazing. Wild blueberry preserves are also delicious for a fun twist!
For best results, use fresh lemon juice. You can add a bit of lemon zest to the dip as well if you’d like.

Ways To Vary This Recipe

as noted above, you can easily skip the cranberry sauce and use another jam or preserve
use a different chopped nut: top with chopped walnuts, pistachios or another favorite. You can also toast the pecans or nut before chopping.
top with a different fresh herbs like rosemary, parsley or chopped basil
add a kick by using hot honey instead of regular honey

Step-By-Step Instructions

Ricotta, olive oil and sea salt in food processor before whipping.

Step 1: In a food processor, combine ricotta, lemon juice, sea salt, and olive oil. (I start with one tablespoon and add more as desired)

Step 2: Blend until smooth and creamy adding more olive oil for desired taste and thickness. I mean, JUST LOOK AT THAT PERFECTION!

Sliced baguette on parchment lined pan with olive oil brushed over top.

Step 3: Slice fresh baguette, brush lightly with olive oil.

Step 4: Bake at 350°F on baking sheet for about 10-15 minutes or until desired toastiness! You can serve with other dippers like crackers, pita chips or soft pita as well.

Whipped ricotta dip topped with cranberry sauce, honey, pecans, orange zest and thyme.

Step 5: Spread the whipped ricotta mixture in a shallow dish and the drizzle of honey over top, swirling it through the ricotta. Spread cranberry sauce over top and sprinkle pecans, fresh thyme and orange zest over the cranberry sauce. Serve with the the warm bread, crackers and more!

Recipe Tips

You can make this whipped ricotta a day in advance. I suggest just whipping the ricotta and then assembling the dip as noted closer to the time you plan to serve it. If that’s not an option, it will still hold up being made with all the ingredients a day ahead of time, but presentation is definitely at it’s best when topped closer to serving.

As noted previously, any jam or preserves can be used. We have made this dip with several other flavors and while around the holidays, I love the cranberry flavor, I have been known to make it with wild blueberry jam ON REPEAT many times!

Ricotta dip in dish with cranberry sauce, pecans, thyme and orange zest over top.

Storage

Store this whipped ricotta dip for about 3-4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. There may be a little bit of liquid that forms over top, but you can just try to stir that back in a bit.

Freezing this dip is not recommended.