When we're looking for a real crowd-pleasing recipe, we always trust in beer cheese. We've done it in a skillet with pigs in a blanket, over brats, on sliders, and even folded it into macaroni for the most genius comfort food ever. There's one way we had never done it: COLD. ??
While you might think beer cheese would lose its appeal without the gooey creaminess achieved by heating it, we're here to tell you this is simply not true. This cold beer cheese recipe (otherwise known as pub beer cheese) was an unexpected hit in the Delish kitchen. It's salty, creamy, cheesy, and as ridiculously simple to make as it is to scarf down.
This recipe couldn't be more party-friendly. It whips up in minutes and you only have to dirty one bowl. How's that for easy? It starts the way any good dip does, with lots of cream cheese. Next comes cheddar and garlic powder-all essentials. What really makes this dip great, though, is the caraway seeds. They add an herby, savory flavor that adds intrigue without being overpowering. If you do want more of a flavor wallop, try adding horseradish or strong mustard too.
Then finish it off with the titular ingredient: beer! Use whatever kind you like, anything from a hoppy IPA to a creamy stout. You could even go non-alcoholic, though start with less because those often taste a bit watered-down compared to their boozy counterparts.
We love serving this with big hard or soft pretzels (homemade, maybe?), but the little ones work too. Honestly, there's not a lot that doesn't go well with this dip: try everything from crackers to toasty bread to grapes.
Made this? Let us know how it went in the comments below.
Editor's Note: This recipe was updated on August 22, 2022.
Yields: 8-10
Prep Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 15 mins
blocks cream cheese, softened to room temperature
shredded Cheddar
beer
chives
caraway seeds
garlic powder
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
© PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GOREPub Beer Cheese Dip