Game Day Cheesecake Dips and Chips
Are you in need of something fun and different to offer your sports fan guests for dessert? Snack food on game day is a must so why not put a twist on the old chips and dip. I am about to unveil to 3 fabulous cheesecake dips that are super easy to make and not loaded with sugar or artificial flavors. I know you must have enough going on so rest assured you can make this treat in less than an hour!
Meyer Lemon
If you haven’t heard of Meyer Lemons, then you are in for a treat my friend! Meyer lemons are the star of my Italian Lemon Cheesecake Dip and for good reason. These lemons are far less acidic and sweeter which makes them perfect for this dip. The flavor is a cross between a mandarin orange and a lemon. Unfortunately, they are only available between November and March. Are you unable to get your hands on these? I got you covered, just click on this link, Food52 which explains how to get a similar flavor using a combination of tangerines and lemon.
Coconut Palm Sugar
When it comes to coconut, I am obsessed. In my kitchen, I have coconut oil, spray, water, milk and now sugar. I was thrilled to find out that coconut palm sugar has a low glycemic index. A 2 1/2 teaspoon contains only 8 grams of sugar, while cane sugar contains 10 grams. It has a wonderful toasted flavor with just a hint of coconut. You can find it at most grocery stores in the baking section.
Dark Chocolate
I prefer the rich chocolaty flavor of dark chocolate over milk chocolate. It isn’t too sweet and when paired with peanut butter, it really shines. In order for a chocolate to be considered dark, it must have a cacao content of 50% or higher and not contain any added milk solids. The higher the percentage of cacao, the better the quality, so I used semi-sweet dark chocolate chunks with 72% cacao.
Sweet Chips
So what about the sweet chips? There are SO many options for you! Here is a list of tasty suggestions…
- Ladyfingers (perfect with the Italian Lemon)
- Graham crackers
- Vanilla wafers
- Ginger snaps
- Pretzels
- Chocolate covered pretzels
- Pepperidge Farm Chessman Cookies
- Fresh strawberries
- Apple slices
Game Day Cheesecake Dips and Chips
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 3–2 1/2 cup dips 1x
Ingredients
Italian Lemon Cheesecake Dip
- 2–8-ounce packages of Neufchatel or cream cheese
- 4 tbsp juice from Meyer lemon
- 2 tsp Meyer lemon zest (garnish)
- 3 1/2 tbsp pure cane sugar
- 1/2 cup whole milk or skim ricotta
Toasted Coconut Cheesecake Dip
- 2–8-ounce packages of Neufchatel or cream cheese
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut flake, toasted (reserve 1/4 cup for garnish)
- 1 1/2cup coconut milk
- 1/4 cup coconut palm sugar
Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate Cheesecake Dip
- 2–8-ounce packages of Neufchatel or cream cheese
- 1/2 cup Organic Peanut Butter (no added sugar)
- 3 tbsp pure cane sugar (omit if using a peanut butter w/ sugar added)
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chunks or chips, melted (garnish)
Instructions
- Toast coconut flakes in 350-degree oven for 5 minutes and set aside.
- Repeat steps 2-4 for each dip. Beat cream cheese on high speed for 1 minute using a hand mixer or Kitchen Aid.
- Slowly add required sugar and mix until incorporated.
- On low speed add all remaining ingredients. Mix until incorporated.
- Chill dips in the refrigerator until a half hour before serving.
- When it’s time to serve, remove all dips from the refrigerator and garnish each one.
- Melt chocolate chunks in the microwave for 45 seconds to 1 minute, stir. Drizzle on top of the Peanut Butter Dip.
- Garnish the Italian Lemon dip and Toasted Coconut Dip with suggested garnish.
Notes
Remember, do not to garnish dips until they are ready to serve. Enjoy!
Cheesecake Dips and Chips are a great addition for almost any occasion and can be made ahead of time. Do you entertain often? Check out my Build Your Own Roasted Vegetable Salad!
