Whip Up Cream Cheese And Greek Yogurt For An Extra Fluffy Dip

A deliciously creamy dip devoured with the help of a bag of pita chips instantly makes a last-minute movie night on the sofa more fun. To make an extra fluffy blockbuster of a dip that doesn't skimp on the flavor, try whipping up cream cheese with Greek yogurt. This simple move transforms the texture of a dense dip into a silkier, velvety consistency that's moreishly lush. Plus, it's a great way to use up leftover dairy products in your fridge.

The other perks? Firstly, the whipping action of an electric beater incorporates air into the cream cheese, making it lighter, smoother, and more voluminous, much like creaming a mixture of butter and sugar when preparing cake batter. Secondly, both ingredients have a mild, neutral base, making them the ideal foundation to add your own sweet or savory flavors. For example, you can sweeten plain Greek yogurt with anything from maple syrup, honey, or stevia (or use flavored yogurt to begin with, like vanilla or coconut). For a savory option, you could simply incorporate some fresh herbs, crushed garlic, or chili flakes, to make a punchy spread for mini bagels and toast points.

A sweet cream cheese dip is perfect for layering up in a parfait, serving with chocolate-covered pretzels, or simply eating by the spoonful once it's sweetened to your liking. Furthermore, because it features protein-packed Greek yogurt, it's a deliciously sating and balanced snack when paired with fresh fruit because it combines fat, protein, and fiber. 

For a lighter dip, simply dollop in a touch more yogurt to cut through the richness of the cream cheese. Conversely, it's the yogurt is a tad too runny, use more cream cheese for a thicker dip with a fluffier consistency, that won't loosen if it has to go back into the fridge.

Some dip recipes call for whisking whipping cream into Greek yogurt to give it a feathery texture and make the consistency more "scoopable." However, this move doesn't add much in the way of flavor. Cream cheese lends a yogurt-based dip a rounder, fuller-flavored taste and more body so it doesn't fall off the edge of your cracker. Having said that, you could always combine all three ingredients to get the best of every option. Once you've assembled your dip, dig in with a fan of warm flatbread, or your favorite bag of hearty bread chips.