Party Cheese Snack Spread

A smooth party spread of Cheddar cheese spread, cream cheese and cottage cheese flavored with orange rind and Sabra liqueur, with crushed pecans. Makes about 3 cups.

Naturally gluten-freeVegetarianLow-carbMake-ahead

Contains: milk, tree nuts. Based on the ingredients as written; check package labels, which can change.

From the recipe book of Sandra Mills, a Le Cordon Bleu-trained cook in our family.

Bowl of orange cheese spread topped with pecans, surrounded by crackers
  • Prep 15 min
  • Stand 1 hr
  • Total 1 hr 15 min
  • Yield About 3 cups

Updated

Jump to: Ingredients | Instructions | Tips | Nutrition | Print recipe

This party spread from Sandra Mills's recipe book has an unexpected twist: grated orange rind and a splash of Sabra, the chocolate-orange liqueur, stirred into a blend of Cheddar cheese spread, cream cheese and sieved cottage cheese, with crushed pecans for crunch.

Letting it stand for an hour lets the orange and cheese flavors mingle. Serve it cold or at room temperature with crackers or apple slices.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Cheddar cheese spread
  • 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1 tablespoon grated orange rind
  • 1/4 cup Sabra Liqueur
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 cup small curd cottage cheese

Instructions

  1. Blend the cheeses. Mix the Cheddar cheese spread and cream cheese together until smooth.
  2. Flavor. Stir in the orange rind and Sabra, mixing thoroughly.
  3. Add the cottage cheese. Put the cottage cheese through a strainer and add it to the cheese mixture.
  4. Add the pecans. Add the crushed pecans and stir until smooth.
  5. Rest and serve. Put into a serving bowl, cover and let stand at least an hour to allow the flavors to mingle. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Nutrition per 1/4 cup (estimated)

130Calories
4 gCarbohydrates
0 gFiber
3 gNet carbs
5 gProtein
10 gFat

Estimated per 1/4 cup (the recipe makes about 3 cups), using USDA FoodData Central values for each ingredient. Net carbs are carbohydrates minus fiber. Optional ingredients, garnishes and anything served on the side are not included, and marinades are counted at about a third because most is discarded. Brands and portion sizes change the numbers.

Low-carbGluten-freeVegetarian

Tips

  • Pressing the cottage cheese through a strainer is what makes the spread smooth instead of lumpy.
  • Sabra is a chocolate-orange liqueur. Any orange liqueur works in its place.

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