Brenda Gantt’s pineapple dip recipe is a snack that I really enjoy making and serving because it’s quick, tasty, and always a hit with everyone.
Watching cooking creators on social media is one of my favorite hobbies, and I often try their recipes in my own kitchen. A few days ago I saw Brenda Gantt make her special pineapple dip and when I saw this I knew I must try it.
Brenda Gantt is a popular and beloved chef, author, and social media personality. She makes traditional southern recipes that tastes just like grandma used to make. Her recipes are simple, fresh, and always hit the spot.
I’ve always loved chips and dip – especially pineapple dip. That’s why Brenda Gantt’s version has always been at the top of my list.
This pineapple dip is absolutely incredible and refreshing and full of deep creamy flavors. It’s perfect to serve up with fresh fruits and crackers for a delicious appetizer!
Why You’ll LOVE This Recipe
You will love this pineapple dip recipe because it is easy to make and tastes incredible. The creamy texture mixed with sweet pineapple and sharp cheddar cheese creates a perfect balance of flavors.
This recipe is simple enough for anyone to try, no matter your cooking experience. When you make it, you get a tasty treat that feels fresh and satisfying. Plus, it’s a great way to impress guests or enjoy a snack just for yourself.
Brenda Gantt’s Pineapple Dip Ingredients
- Cream Cheese (2 blocks, 8 oz each): Use full-fat cream cheese for the best texture and flavor. Let it soften at room temperature for about 30 minutes before using, or warm it in the oven at 350°F for a few minutes, following Brenda’s method. If blocks are not available, tub cream cheese can work as a substitute, though blocks mix more easily and give better results.
- Granulated Sugar (1/2 cup): Regular white sugar works best for this recipe. For a less sweet version, start with 1/3 cup and add more to taste. Brown sugar is not recommended because it changes both the color and flavor of the dip in ways that don’t work well with the other ingredients.
- Crushed Pineapple (1 can, 20 oz, drained well): Make sure to drain this really well to prevent the dip from becoming watery. Crushed pineapple is important – chunks or rings don’t give the right texture. For stronger pineapple flavor, you can use the whole can, but make sure it’s drained extremely well. Fresh pineapple doesn’t work as a substitute because it has too much juice.
- Finely Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese (1 to 1 1/3 cups): Hand-grated cheese using a fine grater gives the best texture. Pre-grated cheese from the store may not blend as smoothly. Sharp cheddar delivers the best flavor, though mild cheddar works if that’s what you have. Other types of cheese don’t work well in this recipe.
- Snack Crackers (to serve): Round crackers like Ritz or Club crackers pair perfectly with this dip. You’ll need about 1-2 sleeves depending on how many people you’re serving. Plain or lightly salted crackers work best.
Recommended Kitchen Equipment for This Recipe
- Large mixing bowl: Big enough to mix everything without spilling.
- Electric mixer or wooden spoon: A mixer makes it quicker, but a spoon works fine too.
- Fine cheese grater: Helps make the cheese nice and soft to mix in.
- Can opener: For opening the pineapple can safely.
- Fine mesh strainer: Very important for draining the pineapple properly.
- Measuring cups: To measure sugar and cheese.
- Rubber spatula: Great for folding everything together gently.
- Serving bowl: Something pretty if you’re serving guests.
- Plastic wrap: To cover and chill the dip in the fridge.
How To Make Brenda Gantt’s Pineapple Dip
Step 1 | Soften the Cream Cheese
Take the cream cheese out of the fridge about 30 minutes before making the dip. It should be soft enough to press easily with a finger. If not taken out early, place the blocks in a 350°F oven for just a few minutes to soften them up quickly.
Step 2 | Beat the Cream Cheese
Put the softened cream cheese in a large mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer or a wooden spoon to beat until completely smooth and creamy. Don’t skip this step – lumpy cream cheese will make the whole dip lumpy.
Step 3 | Add and Mix Sugar
Add the sugar to the cream cheese and mix thoroughly. Make sure all the sugar gets mixed in completely to avoid uneven sweetness in the dip.
Step 4 | Drain the Pineapple
Open the can of crushed pineapple and pour it into a fine mesh strainer. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes to drain. Use a spoon to press down on the pineapple to get even more juice out. This step is important because extra juice will make the dip watery and runny.
Step 5 | Mix Pineapple into Cream Cheese
Add the drained pineapple to the cream cheese mixture. Mix gently – avoid overmixing to keep the nice texture of the pineapple pieces.
Step 6 | Grate the Cheese
Grate the cheese using the fine side of a grater. Use short strokes to create smaller pieces that blend better. Use about 1 to 1 1/3 cups of grated cheese, depending on how cheesy the dip should be.
Step 7 | Fold in the Cheese
Add the grated cheese to the mixture and fold in gently. Avoid beating or mixing too hard – just stir until everything is nicely combined.
Step 8 | Adjust Sweetness
Taste the dip and decide if more sugar is needed. Add a little at a time until the flavor is just right. It’s easier to add more than to take it out.
Step 9 | Chill the Dip
Transfer the dip to a serving bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. This helps all the flavors come together for a better taste.
Step 10 | Serve
Remove the dip from the fridge about 15 minutes before serving so it can soften slightly. Serve with round crackers like Ritz or Club crackers. For a nice presentation, place the dip bowl in the center of a platter and arrange the crackers around it.
Tips for the Perfect Dip
- Soften cream cheese: Make sure your cream cheese is really soft before you start mixing – this prevents lumps
- Drain pineapple well: Drain the pineapple for at least 10 minutes, and press out extra juice with a spoon
- Grate cheese finely: Use the fine side of the grater for the cheese to get the best texture
- Fold ingredients gently: Don’t overmix once you add the pineapple and cheese – gentle folding works best
- Adjust sweetness: Taste as you go and adjust the sweetness to your liking
- Chill before serving: Let the dip chill for at least 2 hours before serving for the best flavor
- Let soften slightly before serving: Take the dip out 15 minutes before serving so it’s not too cold and hard
Perfect Pairings for Pineapple Dip
I usually put the dip in a nice bowl right in the center of a big platter. Then I lay out rows of round crackers like Ritz or Club, so everyone has something to scoop up dip with.
Sometimes I add fresh fruit on the side like apple slices or grapes for something sweet and juicy. I also use celery sticks next to it for a fresh, crisp bite.
Brenda Gantt herself likes to keep things simple—she serves her pineapple dip with classic crackers and a little extra pineapple on top for a pop of color.
You can make the spread look special with a ring of grapes or strawberries around the dip. If you want, pair it with breadsticks, cornbread or even graham crackers for a sweeter touch.
Make Ahead Tips
This pineapple dip actually tastes better when you make it ahead of time. The flavors have more time to mix together and create that perfect taste. You can make it up to 2 days before you need it.
When you make it early, cover the bowl really well with plastic wrap so it doesn’t pick up other flavors from your fridge. Press the plastic wrap right down on top of the dip so no air gets in. This stops the top from getting hard or forming a skin.
If you’re making it for a party, prepare everything the night before and just take it out to soften before your guests arrive.
Leftover Storage Tips
If you have leftovers (though I doubt it!), cover the dip tightly with plastic wrap or transfer it to an airtight container. Store it in the fridge and it’ll stay good for about 3 to 4 days. Make sure it’s kept cold the whole time.
Don’t freeze this dip – the texture changes and it won’t be creamy when thawed. Also, if the dip smells sour, looks watery, or has any weird taste, it’s time to toss it. I always trust my nose and taste when checking old dips.
Before eating again, let the dip sit at room temp for 10–15 minutes so it softens up just a bit.
Brenda Gantt’s Pineapple Dip Recipe FAQs
1. How can I fix a runny dip?
It’s usually because the pineapple wasn’t drained well. Next time, press it harder or let it drain longer. For now, you can try adding a little more cream cheese to thicken it up.
2. What should I do if my cream cheese is lumpy?
If your cream cheese is lumpy, it usually means it wasn’t soft enough when you started mixing. Try using an electric mixer on high speed for a few minutes to break up the lumps. If that doesn’t work, you can push the mixture through a fine mesh strainer to remove the worst lumps.
3. Can I add nuts or other toppings?
I wouldn’t. Brenda’s original recipe keeps it simple, and that’s what I love. If you want to add anything, maybe try a sprinkle of toasted coconut on top – but that’s totally optional.
4. What other crackers work well with this dip?
While Ritz and Club crackers are the traditional choices, you can use other options too. Plain saltine crackers work great, and so do butter crackers. Graham crackers make it taste more like dessert. Avoid crackers that are too heavily seasoned because they will compete with the dip’s flavors.
5. How can I make this dip less sweet?
Start with less sugar – try 1/3 cup instead of 1/2 cup. You can always add more sugar to taste, but you can’t take it out once it’s mixed in. The sharp cheddar cheese also helps balance the sweetness, so make sure you’re using enough of it.
Brenda Gantt’s Pineapple Dip Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- Take the cream cheese out of the fridge about 30 minutes before making the dip. It should be soft enough to press easily with a finger. If not taken out early, place the blocks in a 350°F oven for just a few minutes to soften them up quickly.
- Put the softened cream cheese in a large mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer or a wooden spoon to beat until completely smooth and creamy. Don’t skip this step—lumpy cream cheese will make the whole dip lumpy.
- Add the sugar to the cream cheese and mix thoroughly. Make sure all the sugar gets mixed in completely to avoid uneven sweetness in the dip.
- Open the can of crushed pineapple and pour it into a fine mesh strainer. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes to drain. Use a spoon to press down on the pineapple to get even more juice out. This step is important because extra juice will make the dip watery and runny.
- Add the drained pineapple to the cream cheese mixture. Mix gently—avoid overmixing to keep the nice texture of the pineapple pieces.
- Grate the cheese using the fine side of a grater. Use short strokes to create smaller pieces that blend better. Use about 1 to 1 1/3 cups of grated cheese, depending on how cheesy the dip should be.
- Add the grated cheese to the mixture and fold in gently. Avoid beating or mixing too hard—just stir until everything is nicely combined.
- Taste the dip and decide if more sugar is needed. Add a little at a time until the flavor is just right. It’s easier to add more than to take it out.
- Transfer the dip to a serving bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. This helps all the flavors come together for a better taste.
- Remove the dip from the fridge about 15 minutes before serving so it can soften slightly. Serve with round crackers like Ritz or Club crackers. For a nice presentation, place the dip bowl in the center of a platter and arrange the crackers around it.
Brenda Gantt’s pineapple dip recipe is a tasty, easy-to-make snack that everyone can enjoy. Its mix of creamy cream cheese, sweet pineapple, and sharp cheese makes it special.
I highly recommend trying this recipe in your kitchen. It’s a great way to add something delicious to your snack time.
Give it a go and enjoy the fresh, creamy flavors of this classic southern dip!
