Cheese Spreads and Dips

You'll have a hard time keeping guests away from this creamy, cheesy dip that's packed with tasty crawfish meat. If you can't find frozen crawfish tails, you can substitute chopped cooked shrimp.

Recipe: Cheese Dip with Crawfish

Crumbled bacon is the crowing glory of this creamy cheese dip that features cream cheese, blue cheese and sour cream. You're guaranteed not to have any leftovers when you bring this dip to a party.

Recipe: Bacon Cheese Dip

These are not your mother's cheese balls. First, they're made with goat cheese and shaped into bite-size balls, making them super easy to serve and eat. Also, they're rolled in a variety of tasty toppings: wasabi-coated peas, crushed gingersnaps, granola, and a Parmesan-fennel seed mixture.

Recipe: Modern Cheese Balls

Baking pimiento cheese takes this popular sandwich spread to a whole new dimension of gooey, cheesy goodness. It's so incredibly good that your guests may want to lick the serving dish when all the dip is gone.

Recipe: Baked Pimiento Cheese

This festive recipe is filled with flavors featuring cream cheese, tomatoes, pine nuts, and basil. Make it now and enjoy or make it 3 days in advance to serve at your next holiday party.

Recipe: Layered Sun-dried-Tomato-and-Basil Spread

Deviled ham and softened cream cheese form the base and smoked almonds dot the surface of this edible holiday pine cone. Assembly takes just 10 minutes, but guests will think you spent hours. Make several in advance and chill until the next celebration.

Recipe: Pinecone Cheese Ball

This smoky green chili cheese dip, made with smoked cheddar, Monterey Jack and cream cheese is always a big hit at parties. Its spicy flavors pair well with the exotic avocado mango salsa for a mouthwatering burst of Tex-Mex flavor. Better yet, it freezes well.

Recipe: Smoky Green Chile-Cheddar Cheese with Avocado-Mango Salsa

This recipe makes a lot, but it can be frozen for up to a month. It fits perfectly into 4 (10-oz.) ramekins. Try it out at your next holiday party with multi-grain crackers or crispy potato chips.

Recipe: Beer-Cheese Spread

Holiday guests won't believe this beautiful cherry chutney cheesecake is light. If you don't have time to strain yogurt, buy Greek style yogurt (it's already strained) and proceed as instructed. To save time, make the cherry chutney up a few days before your party.

Recipe: Cherry Chutney Cheese Torte

Blue cheese and toasted walnuts are one of those amazing culinary matches, but here the richness goes one step further. There's a splash of sherry and a generous amount of softened butter in this cheese spread. Freeze it for up to a month in advance.

Recipe: Buttery Blue Cheese Spread with Walnuts

Take the elegance level at holiday parties up a notch with this French inspired make-ahead cheese spread. A blend of goat cheese, cream cheese, rosemary, and honey, it's crowned with store bought fig jam. Serve it with fancy crackers or toasted baguette slices.

Recipe: Rosemary Cheese with Fig Preserves

Spicy homemade pimento cheese is a rare treat and a welcome addition at any holiday party. Make this spread up to four days in advance, and have fun serving it in unusual containers and with all kinds of funky crackers and breadsticks.

Recipe: Spicy Roasted Red Bell Pepper Pimiento Cheese

A mixture of fat-free yogurt and cream cheese help keep this roasted red pepper-garlic dip light; cumin and cayenne keep it spicy. Make some up ahead of time for parties and drop-in guests. Serve with roasted pita chips, garlic flatbread, or chips.

Recipe: Red Pepper-Cheese Dip 

This super-easy variation of the classic Southern sandwich spread features goat cheese instead of the traditional cheddar, plus minced onion and crushed whole pimientos and garlic for full-bodied flavor.

Get a double punch of cheese flavor with cream cheese and colby-Jack and add some heat with chili powder, green chiles, and jalapeño peppers. With the addition of chicken, you can almost count this hearty dip as your main dish.

This easy 4-ingredient cheese spread is perfect for last-minute entertaining. Serve with assorted crackers or baguette slices.

Offer a savory goat cheese spread as a holiday appetizer and serve it with chutney or jam and crackers. It's great for parties since you can make it a day or two ahead.