Olive Cream Cheese Spread

Calling all olive lovers - you're to love this simple olive cream cheese spread made with your favorite olives and cream cheese mixture. A creamy olive dip that can be used as a savory olive spread on delicious sourdough bread or a dip with your favorite vegetable sticks and crackers.

You can use green olives, black olives or a mixture of any olives you like! It makes an easy appetizer using simple ingredients you've probably got in the fridge already!

This olive cream cheese spread is a popular southern spread, often used on platters or for making tea sandwiches - but it's so versatile, you might be surprised at how you can use in your kitchen.

If you love cream cheese dips, you might like to try this fig cream cheese spread or this roasted red pepper cream cheese dip.

How To Make This Olive Dip Recipe

This dip can be made by hand but I think you get the best result using a food processor or Thermomix. This allows you to whip the cream cheese and chop the olives at the same time, making it even easier to whip up this easy dip. This flavorful creamy dip is not for olive haters!

I recommend using a block of cream cheese rather than a tub of cream cheese as the block with blend into more of a creamy texture that can hold the olives.

Using Food Processor or Thermomix

• Add the cream cheese and olives to the bowl of a food processor Thermomix. You don't need to chop the olives for this method.
  
• Process the cream cheese and olives until the mixture is smooth and creamy. If you like a chunkier texture, stop the mixer before it is smooth or stir through some chopped olives when placing it into a serving bowl.

Hand Mixing or Using Electric Mixer

• Dice the olives into small pieces and add them to a bowl with the cream cheese. For this method, make sure that your cream cheese has softened at room temperature.
  
• Use an electric mixer or fork to beat the olives into the cream cheese.

What Type of Olives To Use?

You can literally use any type of olives you like or have on hand, however some will work better than others. I prefer to use fresh olives from the deli section of the grocery store rather than a jar of olives or canned olives - but it really is up to your personal tastes.

My favorite way to make this easy recipe is to use full fat cream cheese and a tub of mixed olives marinated in chili and garlic. The olives contain big green olives and lovely salty kalamata olives.

You can use manzanilla olives (even ones stuffed with pimientos), Kalamata olives, marinated green olives - pretty much any type of olive you like! This is a great guide to understanding which olives to use.

Want Extra Flavor?

If you want to take this creamy olive spread to the next level, why not try one of these recipe variations:

• Add 20 to 30g of olive tapenade for a super olive flavor!
  
• For a delicious dip with veggie sticks, pop your olive dip in a bowl, drizzle with good quality olive oil and sprinkle with Greek Seasoning or Homemade Everything Bagel Seasoning. Italian seasoning works too!
  
• Add some fresh herbs to the mix! Try chopping up some fresh parsley and oregano and adding them to this delectable dip!
  
• Add a teaspoon of garlic powder or onion powder - or both for an even tastier dip.
  
• Why not add a pinch (or two) of red pepper flakes or paprika for some spicy goodness! They add a lovely color too!
  
• For a big olive flavor, add a little of the olive brine to the bowl.
  
• You can use up to 100g of sour cream in this recipe if you don't have enough cream cheese.

How To Serve Olive Cream Cheese Spread

I absolutely love this simple spread and I especially love that it's so versatile! Here are some of the ways I use this creamy olive dip:

• Serve with toasted baguette slices or even sourdough crostini as a hearty snack or simple lunch.
  
• Add it to a charcuterie board with sharp cheddar cheese and my favorite crackers (you should try these seedy sourdough crackers or this sourdough lavosh).
  
• Use it as a sandwich spread - it goes with so many lunch meats and sandwich fillings! My favorite is leftover bbq chicken, slices of cheese and creamy olive spread on sourdough sandwich bread.
  
• Serve it alongside a selection of fresh veggies - think crunchy carrot and celery, cucumber spears, red capsicum or even broccoli florets. You could even add some sourdough pumpkin grissini!
  
• For true olive lovers, why not serve a dish of this creamy olive spread alongside this sourdough olive bread.

How To Store Cream Cheese Olive Dip/Spread

Store this olive cream cheese spread in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. I don't recommend freezing this dip, although you can make it with cream cheese that has been frozen.