10-Minute Kentucky Benedictine Spread is made with just a few simple ingredients. This southern spread combines cream cheese, crisp cucumber, onion, and spices in one bowl, resulting in a creamy and tangy dip that's perfect to serve with crackers or as small tea sandwiches.
What recipe could be more fitting for me to share that is not only southern, but from Kentucky, and specifically created in Louisville, KY where my family lives?! This 10-minute Benedictine spread is everything you love about Derby City, Kentucky and just the South in general. Similar to 10-minute Kentucky beer cheese dip and pimento cheese, this is a cool creamy dip full of flavor and perfect for any gathering you are hosting!
World-famous chef Jennie Carter Benedict was from Louisville, KY where she established and built a highly successful food career in the early 1900s. Along with catering and opening a restaurant on 4th Street in downtown Louisville, Jennie Benedict & Co, came the famous cucumber and cream cheese sandwich spread that she created. While her original recipe is not recorded and is still her secret recipe, Benedictine spread is a staple recipe here in Kentucky and amongst the South.
It is a simple recipe made of 10 ingredients and one bowl. It is perfect to serve for bridal showers, holidays, Derby parties, or any get-together you are hosting. Serve as a dip or as a traditional Benedictine finger sandwich. Through different rounds of recipe testing, let me show you how I love to make this Kentucky classic dip!
Welcome to my home, let's cook!
You will just need 10 ingredients for this recipe. It sounds like a lot but it is just a couple of simple fresh veggies, spices, cream cheese, and mayo!
⭐️RECIPE TIP ⭐️For the food coloring, I have Wilton icing colors on hand from cake making. I just take a toothpick or butter knife and stick the tip in to gather up the smallest amount, and then drag that through the dip. I have found this to be not only the easiest but least messy way to add just the smallest amount of food coloring possible without getting green EVERYWHERE (only speaking from experience lol). This is also optional to the recipe but it adds just the tiniest hint of light green giving it that classic Benedictine color.
Once you are ready to serve, place it in a serving bowl alongside your favorite crackers, french bread, and or fresh veggies. It has a smooth and creamy texture - so whatever you like to serve with dips will be perfect!
Traditionally this dip is made into Benedictine Tea Sandwiches that are a staple at any bridal shower here in Kentucky. These are the perfect little finger sandwiches served on white bread with the crust cut off and cut into triangles. They are also great to serve at holiday parties, teas, showers, Derby parties, or any get-together where you need a small bite-sized hand-held nibble!
Recipe
10 Minute Kentucky Benedictine Spread
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
10-Minute Kentucky Benedictine Spread is made with just a few simple ingredients. This southern spread combines cream cheese, crisp cucumber, onion, and spices in one bowl, resulting in a creamy and tangy dip that's perfect to serve with crackers or as small finger sandwiches.
Ingredients
- 1 Medium English Cucumber (about 1 cup) - peeled, seeded, and finely diced
- 1 Small Onion (about ½ cup) - finely diced
- 1 Garlic Clove - finely minced
- 2 - 8 Ounce Packages Cream Cheese - softened to room temperature
- 2 Tablespoons Mayonaise
- Juice from ¼ of a Lemon
- 2 Teaspoons Fresh Dill - finely minced
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- ½ Teaspoon White Pepper
- ⅛ Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
- Green Food Coloring*
Instructions
- Peel the cucumber and slice off the ends. Cut in half and with a spoon, gently scrape the seeds out to remove. Finely dice and add to a large mixing bowl. You want to dice as small as you can so that there are no big chunks.
- Finely dice the onion. Mince the garlic clove. Add the to the bowl with the cucumber.
- Add softened cream cheese, mayo, lemon juice, fresh dill, and spices. Mix well until everything is evenly combined.
- Add a tiny amount of green food coloring and stir. Add a small amount at a time and keep adding until it is a very light green color.
- Place in a bowl and serve with crackers, french bread, and fresh veggies or enjoy as Benedictine Finger Sandwiches.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
- Can be prepped up to 24 hours before serving - keep in an airtight container in the fridge until needed.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer - Dips
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 ounces
- Calories: 238
- Sugar: 3.4 g
- Sodium: 529 mg
- Fat: 22.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 6.3 g
- Fiber: 0.6 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 59.8 mg
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