Brown Butter Pecan Pie Cheesecake Dip

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This Brown Butter Pecan Pie Cheesecake Dip brings two favorite desserts together in one easy party dip. It all comes together in a few minutes. Chill and serve. This dip has a yummy, fluffy, sweetened cream cheese base topped with toasted pecans coated in caramel, butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

Brown the butter for a nutty flavor that pairs beautifully with the pecans, or just use melted butter to save a step. After a quick chill, serve this pecan pie dip with cinnamon graham crackers, apple slices, shortbread cookies, or pretzel crisps. Lots options for you to use the tray and dippers to accommodate your party theme and party goers.

If you enjoy cheesecake desserts, browse our cheesecake recipes.

Who Will Enjoy This Sweet Dip?

Brown butter Pecan Pie Cheesecake dip is a good fit for casual holiday gatherings, open houses, and dessert tables where guests can graze and mingle. It’s especially suited to pecan pie and cheesecake fans who would enjoy a rich, shareable dessert with cookies, apples, or pretzels. Since pecans are the star of the topping, offer a separate nut-free dessert if anyone at the party has a tree-nut allergy.

Our Candy Cane Oreo Cheesecake Dip, for example, is festive nut free cheesecake dip you could offer as an option. However, For someone with a serious nut allergy, check the labels on the specific Oreos, candy canes, whipped topping, chocolate syrup, and dippers for cross-contact warnings. Make sure your dips is safe for all nut allergies or you know who you’re cooking for. Serve it with nut-free dippers on a separate platter.

Planning the rest of your holiday spread? See our guide to Fall Appetizer Menus and Easy Holiday Entertaining Tips. It has lots of calculation help for food quantities, and serving tips for lots of different party configurations.

Why You’ll Love This Pecan Pie Dip

• Easy to assemble: Make the cheesecake layer, stir together the pecan topping, and layer them in a serving dish.
• No baking required: It’s a handy dessert when the oven is busy with holiday cooking.
• Good for sharing: Set it out with a few different dippers for a dessert board or party table. This finger food dessert dip will attract lots of drive by appetites. Who needs pie really. Save your self the dishes and the time in the kitchen.:)

Helpful Tools for Making and Serving Pecan Pie Dip

This no-bake pecan pie dip requires only basic kitchen equipment. The right mixing and serving pieces will make it easier to prepare ahead, refrigerate and carry to a party.

• Electric hand mixer: A hand mixer is the best choice for beating the softened cream cheese until smooth, then whipping it with the powdered sugar, vanilla and salt. It handles this small amount more easily than a stand mixer and produces a light cheesecake layer without much cleanup.
• Medium-deep mixing bowl: Choose a bowl deep enough to contain the cream cheese mixture while using the hand mixer. A shallow bowl allows powdered sugar to scatter.
• Silicone spatula: Use a flexible spatula to fold the whipped topping gently into the cream cheese mixture. It is also helpful for scraping the bowl and spreading the cheesecake layer evenly in the serving dish.
• Small, light-colored skillet: A light-colored pan makes it easier to see when the butter’s milk solids turn golden brown. The pan can also be used to toast the pecans before assembling the topping.
• Cutting board and chef’s knife: Hand-chopping the toasted pecans gives the topping better texture and prevents the nuts from becoming too fine or oily in a food processor.
• Shallow serving dish with a fitted lid: A 9-inch pie plate, small casserole dish or shallow lidded serving container gives guests plenty of surface area for scooping through both the pecan topping and cheesecake layer.
• If you need to transfer the dip, it is easy to refrigerate the cheesecake base of the dip separately from the pecan topping and transport it to a party with dippers in a bag. At the party, assemble on to your serving tray with dippers, as instructed, just before serving.
• Large party tray: Set the chilled dip in the center of a tray, wooden board or platter and arrange graham crackers, shortbread cookies, pretzels and apple slices around it shortly before serving. A tray with a raised rim helps contain the dippers and makes the finished appetizer easier to carry.
• Small serving spoon or spreader: The dip is soft enough for sturdy dippers, but a spoon or spreader makes serving easier for apple slices and delicate cookies.

Refrigerate the covered dip on its own. Add dry dippers to the party tray shortly before serving so they remain crisp, and cut the apples near serving time to keep them fresh.

Ingredients

Cheesecake dip: Softened cream cheese makes a smooth base. Powdered sugar and vanilla sweeten and flavor it, while whipped topping gives the dip a light texture.

Pecan pie topping: Toasted pecans, thick caramel sauce, butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon create the pecan pie flavor. Brown the butter for the signature nutty taste. Finish with a pinch of flaky sea salt.

How to Make Brown Butter Pecan Pie Cheesecake Dip

1. Beat the softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
2. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Beat for about 2 minutes, until light and fluffy.
3. Gently fold in the thawed whipped topping.
4. Spread the cheesecake mixture in a shallow serving dish if serving immediately, or a covered container if storing for later..
5. In a separate bowl, stir together the toasted pecans, caramel sauce, butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until the pecans are coated.
6. If you browned or melted the butter, let the pecan mixture cool to room temperature. Store in the fridge now in its own lidded container for transport, or let it sit on the counter to cool for immediate use.
7. Spoon the pecan topping over the cheesecake layer, leaving a small border of cheesecake visible. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
8. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Tips for the Best Dip

• Soften the cream cheese first. This helps it beat smoothly without lumps.
• Let warm pecan topping cool. Cooling it before layering helps keep the cheesecake base from getting warm.
• Brown the butter for more flavor. For a quicker version, melted butter also works.

What Dippers to Serve With It

Serve chilled with cinnamon graham crackers, apple slices, shortbread cookies, or pretzel crisps. A mix of crisp, sweet, and salty dippers makes a festive dessert platter.

Make Pecan Pie Dip Ahead Instructions

Both parts of this pecan pie dip can be prepared up to 24 hours before serving. Store the cheesecake mixture and pecan topping in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator.

About 15 to 20 minutes before assembling the tray, remove the pecan topping from the refrigerator. Stir it well once the butter and caramel have softened enough to become spoonable. For double or triple recipes you will need more time for the topping to come up to room temp.

To assemble, spread the chilled cheesecake mixture directly onto the center of a large rimmed serving tray, wooden board or platter. Spoon the pecan pie topping over the cheesecake layer, allowing some of the creamy base to remain visible around the edges. Arrange graham crackers, shortbread cookies, pretzels and other dry dippers around the dip.

TIP: To prepare apples to remain fresh.

Lemon or lime juice will slow the browning of freshly cut apple slices. A mild bath keeps the citrus flavor from dominating:

• Mix about 1 tablespoon lemon or lime juice with 1 cup cold water.
• Soak the apple slices for 3–5 minutes.
• Drain and blot thoroughly with paper towels before placing them on the tray.

NOTE: Orange juice can be used undiluted for a sweeter, milder option, although it may not prevent browning quite as long.

Because this dip contains dairy, keep it chilled during the party. FoodSafety.gov’s party food safety guide recommends keeping cold dips cold with ice and following the two-hour limit for perishable foods.

Storage

The dip needs at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator before servingfor . Keep it covered and refrigerated until serving, and refrigerate leftovers.

Your Printable Recipe Card:

The recipe card also has calculators for double and tripling the recipe and a convenient conversion measurement calculator.

Find more Party dip ideas and recipes in our 10 Plus Party dips post.