Three variations of cheese dips, delicious hot or cold. Smoked Gouda Dip, Jarlsberg Jalapeno cheese dip and Gruyere Cheese Dip pack a flavorful punch of cheesy, creamy, deliciousness with just a few ingredients and are ready in minutes! Be sure to read the notes for some fabulous variations!
Chop desired amount of garlic, start with two cloves, more if you'd like to use in other recipes.
In a heavy duty pan, over medium-high heat, pour about 1 tablespoon olive oil. Once hot, toss in your finely chopped garlic and stir until golden, stir the entire time and don't walk away, just takes a couple of minutes and it will burn fast!
Using a slotted spoon scoop the garlic out onto a paper towel to drain, cool completely.
Make up extra toasted garlic and keep it in a clean, recycled spice jar in your fridge for use on salads, pastas, garlic toast, etc.
All Dip Instructions
Mix together softened cream cheese (if using), mayonnaise, whisking until smooth.
Add in bacon bits, red or green onions (depending on dip), toasted garlic, salt (to taste) and shredded cheese(s) (plus chopped jalapeno for Jarlsberg Jalapeno dip). Mix well until combined.
May be served immediately, but flavors are better if allowed to sit in fridge for 30 minutes or more. Serve with your favorite crackers, veggies, or chips. See notes about storing, freezing and heating.
Notes
In a tightly covered container, keeps in fridge up to 7 days. If left out for more than 2 hours, discard leftovers. Freeze up to 3 months.Tips for Freezing Dips | Some amount of separation may happen if frozen and thawed, higher fat content yields less separation. If you decide to freeze, the best use for the cheese dip(s) would be to thaw, stir in a little cream and bake until bubbly.Substitution for Toasted Garlic | I recently found this product at our grocery store, and it's pretty delicious; organic garlic nuggetsSee post for more tips for cold dips and how to keep your hot dips creamy.
HEAT | Place in a shallow, oven safe dish and heat until bubbly in a 350º oven for 20-25 minutes, serve with tortilla chips