This butternut squash dip is made with goat cheese and cream cheese for a super creamy texture then topped with a festive tart cherry compote. Serve it with some pita chips for the perfect holiday appetizer!
I sorta want to host a holiday party every week through New Years now that this butternut squash dip is in my life.
I’m just gonna come out and say, it might be the best thing I’ve eaten all season.
*This post is sponsored by the Cherry Marketing Institute
Last year at this time, I was doing my first “cut” diet with my nutrition coach, learning about macros and prepping for our vacation to Cabo right after the New Year.
I promised myself when that was over I would never do a “cut” again over the holidays.
The results were amazing but I wasn’t sure I had the willpower to resist all that holiday goodness ever again like I did last year.
And then we went and booked a return trip to Cabo (I love it so much there) for the same time this coming January.
Couple that with the cruise last month where I ate like I’d never see food again for 8 days straight and guess who’s cutting again smack in the middle of the holidays?
Oh hi, that’s me.
My point?
I don’t usually bother calculating macros and figuring out how pathetically small my portion has to be of a lot of the foods I make this time of year because:
1 – It’s just not worth it, I’d rather eat volume and feel satisfied (one of the few times in life quantity > quality).
2 – Eating those foods usually just triggers the desire to eat more of those foods and then you’re in a tailspin of cravings when you’ve got 4 weeks left until you plan on being in a bikini for 10 days straight.
Not ideal.
This butternut squash dip was different though.
The minute I taste checked it for seasonings in the food processor, I knew calculations were in order because I was eating this damn dip.
It’s creamy, cheesy, savory, herb-infused deliciousness broke me down.
It’s also adaptable.
If you prefer to use a different type of squash, buttercup squash, sweet dumpling squash and koginut squash are all really great options that are similar in flavor to the more traditional butternut squash.
And if you want to simplify the cooking process, try air-frying the butternut squash in halves then scooping it out for the dip.
And you know what?
It’s pretty darn healthy in the grand scheme of things!
Butternut squash is the new sweet potato.
Better even, especially for those of us in a daily face off with carbs.
With less than half the carbs of a sweet potato gram for gram, you get to eat a heck of a lot more deliciousness and that was music to my “cutting” ears.
Now let’s discuss that tart cherry compote on top, perhaps my favorite part!
Montmorency tart cherries bring not only a festive punch of color to the top of this creamy butternut squash dip but a tangy sweet bite and some amazing health benefits as well.
Their flavor works well in both sweet and savory dishes making them versatile little things.
From sour cherry crisp to tart cherry glazed salmon, they’re delicious in whatever they touch.
Their distinct sweet and sour flavor profile is actually indicative of the presence of anthocyanins, a compound that’s been linked to helping reduce inflammation like muscle soreness and arthritis pain.
As someone in a constant state of soreness from workouts, I took that to mean this dip and I were destined for each other.
If you want the same flavor effect of the tart cherries but don’t have them on hand to make this dip, try this easy pickled cranberry recipe instead. The two fruits are very similar and are almost an even swap when used this way.
So with my calculator by my side, I happily inhaled 1/3 of this perfect holiday appetizer while scheming excuses to make it again and again and again until squash season is over.
Love this butternut squash goat cheese dip with tart cherry compote recipe?
Grab more seasonal tart cherry ideas like this kabocha squash soup with tart cherry drizzle or this goat cheese fried chicken with cherry tarragon sauce.
Looking for more seasonal dips like this butternut squash dip? My pumpkin herb cheese ball or this pumpkin goat cheese dip are both delicious as well! Or try this whipped goat cheese dip with roasted garlic for a less seasonal option.
You can even make some roasted squash seeds and use them as a crunchy topping for this dip!
Butternut Squash Goat Cheese Dip with Tart Cherry Compote
Ingredients
For the Butternut Squash Goat Cheese Dip
- 3 cups cubed butternut squash
- 1 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tablespoon chopped rosemary
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 3 ounces goat cheese
- 2 ounces cream cheese
For the Tart Cherry Compote:
- 1 cup frozen tart cherries
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 tablespoon chopped rosemary
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- Toss the butternut squash with the olive oil, salt, pepper and rosemary and spread out on baking sheet. Roast for 30 minutes until fork tender, tossing half way through.
- While the squash roasts, make the tart cherry compote by combining all ingredients in a small sauce pot over medium heat. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes until reduced and thickened, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Add the roasted butternut squash to a food processor with the remaining ingredients. Process until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.
- Transfer the squash mixture to a baking dish and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake in the oven for about 10 minutes until warmed through.
- Remove the dip from the oven, top with the tart cherry compote and any extra chopped herbs. Serve warm with toasted pita wedges or vegetables.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
This was delicious! I couldn’t find frozen tart cherries anywhere, so I used canned and they worked great.
I love the flavor combo on this dish. Seriously have to try this. Yum!!!
Seriously the best dip ever!!