Cheese Dip

Cheese dip: a spoonful of heaven on a cracker

We've got just six words for the guy or gal who invented the cheese dip: "Thank you, great wizard of cheese." As if cheese wasn't already the tastiest treat on the planet, this cheese artist found a new way to make us fall in love with cheese all over again. Whether you like it served warm and mild with just a hint of onions and garlic, or hot and spicy and pumped full of extra ingredients, cheese dip is always ready to make your day by turning ordinary cheese and crackers into a fantastic feast of flavor.

Many say that cheese dip was invented in the 1930s, but we're guessing humans have been making cheese dip since the first day cheese met fire. Because, when you come to think about it, isn't making dips from cheese what really makes us human?

Cheese magic trick #17: How to make cheese dip disappear

Okay, this isn't much of a magic trick…as all you have to do to make cheese dip disappear is put it on the table. Gone in minutes, trust us. Of course, there are ways to make it disappear even faster, depending on the ingredients you use. That's what is fun about cheese dip – it's easy to experiment, and even your less-than-perfect recipes will still be gratefully devoured.

Here are a few of our favorite disappearing cheese dip ideas:

• Colby-Pepper Jack Cheese dip, made with shredded colby cheese, cream cheese, and pepper jack cheese along with chicken, green chilis, chipotle peppers, mayonnaise, and sour cream — baked in the oven ‘til bubbly.
• Baked Fontina Cheese Dip, featuring fontina cheese sprinkled with sliced garlic, thyme, and rosemary, melted under a broiler and served on a baguette.
• Hissy Fit Dip, with muenster cheese and cream cheese along with pork sausage, sour cream, and seasonings, baked until golden brown.
• Blue Cheese and Quark Dip with Pistachios, made by combining blue cheese and quark cheese with yogurt and mayo, then sprinkled with pistachios.
• Pub-Style Beer Cheese Dip, made with cheddar cheese, cream cheese, mustard, garlic, and beer.

Why Wisconsin cheese dip is where it's at

When you're making a dish where cheese is ingredient #1, you want to buy the cheese from a place where cheesemaking is #1. That's why cheese dips made with Wisconsin cheese will always be the hit of the party.

You may think of Wisconsin as a place where people like to have a good time. And it's true; we're a fun-loving bunch. But when it comes to cheese, well, that's when we get serious. There's no lollygagging, shortcuts, or halfhearted tries when it comes to making cheese in Wisconsin – we are in it to win it.

So, it shouldn't really come as a surprise that we've won more cheesemaking awards than any other state or nation can the world. Because in Wisconsin, we're a state that's dedicated to doing one thing better than anybody else: making the tastiest, most award-winning, highest-quality cheese in the universe.

Next time you see a cheese dip made with Wisconsin cheese, you better act fast – ‘cause it won't be around for a long.