Liptauer Cheese Spread will soon be on your list of favorite appetizers. Why? Because this boldly flavored, creamy, cheesy, smoky spread is a unique crowd pleaser. And, it’s quick and easy to prepare ahead with ingredients available at the grocery store.
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Where I first met Liptauer
I first discovered amazingly delicious Liptauer Cheese at an Austrian “Heuriger” back when I spent the fall semester of my junior year studying at the Institute for European Studies (IES) in Vienna, Austria. Shortly after we all arrived in country, our teachers treated us to an evening at a Heuriger – an Austrian country tavern where winemakers introduce their new wines. Liptauer Cheese is one of the many traditional foods served in the taverns. When we sat down to taste the wine, there were bowlfuls of this orange-y colored, creamy spread on the table, with bread slices and crackers alongside.
Just by its appearance, I was intrigued, so I dug in. Instantly, I was hooked! My taste buds were dancing; I had never tasted anything quite the same. And growing up in the Clayton household, I had been exposed to lots and lots of different foods. This spread was different. Creamy, cheesy, smoky, tangy, pungent, all at the same time. I’ve loved it ever since.
What is Liptauer Cheese?
Liptauer is a creamy, spicy cheese spread popular in Austria, Hungary and Slovakia. Depending on the country, it is traditionally served on rye bread or with crackers.
Liptauer Cheese Spread Ingredients
After years of experimenting, I finally found the right mix and balance of ingredients in my own version of Liptauer Cheese. The ingredient list for this bold, earthy cheese spread is a bit long, but everything you need is available at the grocery store:
- Cream cheese
- Goat cheese
- Butter
- Sour cream
- Capers
- Beer
- Onion
- Anchovy
- Paprika, preferably Hungarian
- Dry mustard
- Caraway seeds
- Kosher salt
- Fresh ground pepper
- Raincoast Crisps, pretzel chips, multigrain crackers and/or celery sticks – for serving
How to make Liptauer Cheese
Here’s all you have to do to make this unusual, crowd-pleasing spread:
- Combine base ingredients.
Combine cream cheese, goat cheese, butter and sour cream in the bowl of a food processor. Process just until combined. - Add remaining ingredients and process.
Add the capers, beer, onion, anchovy, paprika and dry mustard and process until combined. Stir in caraway seeds. Season to taste with kosher salt and fresh ground pepper. - Pack and refrigerate.
Pack cheese spread in a crock, mold, or serving bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight (or longer), allowing the flavors to blend. Bring to room temperature before serving.
How to eat Liptauer
I like to serve Liptauer Cheese as an appetizer, with crackers, pretzel chips and celery. It can also be served on rye or pumpernickel bread.
Serve my Liptauer Cheese Spread with Raincoast Crisps (any flavor with fig), multigrain crackers, pretzel crisps and/or celery.
How long does Spreadable Cheese last?
Liptauer will last up to 4 days, covered and refrigerated.
Can you freeze Liptauer Cheese?
I wouldn’t recommend freezing this cheese as it can change the texture to be less smooth and more grainy – meaning it won’t spread as well.
Liptauer Spread FAQs
There are so many different flavors and textures going on in this spread I wouldn’t add any more to to the spread itself. You could add an optional garnish (in a bowl on the side) of chopped bell peppers and/or green onion.
Liptauer has a very strong, unique flavor. Its bold, earthy, smoky and tangy all at the same time. Cheese, paprika and capers are the dominant tastes, but it all blends together in creamy deliciousness.
Liptauer reportedly comes from the Central European countries of Austria, Hungary and Slovakia.
Liptauer Cheese Spread Recipe
Boldly flavored, creamy, cheesy, smoky Liptauer Cheese is a unique crowd pleaser. Plus it’s easy to prepare ahead with readily available ingredients. Serve with crackers, pretzel chips and/or celery sticks.
- Yield: 1 3/4 cups; can easily be doubled 1x
Ingredients
- 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 ounces goat cheese, softened
- 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, softened
- 1 1/2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 1/2 tablespoons capers
- 1 tablespoon beer
- 1 1/2 heaping teaspoons grated onion
- 1 large anchovy, coarsely chopped (or 3/4 teaspoon anchovy paste)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons sweet paprika, preferably Hungarian
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
- 1 1/2 teaspoons caraway seeds
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Fresh ground pepper, to taste
- Raincoast Crisps, pretzel chips, multigrain crackers, celery sticks – for serving
Instructions
- Combine the cream cheese, goat cheese, butter and sour cream in the bowl of a food processor. Process just until combined.
- Add the capers, beer, onion, anchovy, paprika and dry mustard and process until combined. Stir in caraway seeds. Season to taste with kosher salt and fresh ground pepper.
- Pack in to a crock, mold, or serving bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight (or longer), allowing the flavors to blend. Bring to room temperature before serving.
Notes
Make ahead: spread can be prepared up to 3 days ahead, covered and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before serving.
- Category: appetizers, make ahead
- Cuisine: German
