Liptauer is a delicious paprika-infused cheese spread which is perfect for entertaining. It’s easy to make and popular throughout Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary.
Liptauer (pronounced LIP-tower) comes from the Liptov region of Slovakia, which used to be part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire before its fall in 1918. At that time, it was a popular spread among nobility and royalty, and was served topped with caviar.
Nowadays, it’s a more humble cheese spread and is popular as a snack throughout the region. It’s commonly served in traditional Austrian wine taverns called Heuriger. It's also often included on a Brettljause, an Austrian breakfast board which typically features a variety of cured meats and cheeses, bread, spreads and dips, pickles, and vegetables.
Liptauer is ideally served with darker breads like rye or pumpernickel. You could also serve it as part of a cheese or charcuterie board with crackers or warm soft pretzels, or even use it as a sandwich spread.
Best of all, Liptauer is so quick and easy to make! As long as your cream cheese and butter is soft (at room temperature) it will come together in no time at all. You can enjoy it immediately, or let it sit in the fridge for a few hours to let the flavors develop a bit more.
This simple cheese spread is definitely a crowd pleaser. It's great for parties and other gatherings. You can even add it to your holiday menus as a delicious appetizer perfect for grazing over before the main event.
Ingredient notes
- Cheese: In Slovakia, this spread is traditionally made with bryndza, a soft, sheep’s milk cheese, but many recipes use quark, cottage cheese, cream cheese, or even goat cheese as a stand-in. I use cream cheese in this recipe because it's easy to find and very versatile. If you use a different type of cheese from this list, the texture and thickness of the cheese spread may vary.
- Paprika: Use sweet (not smoked) paprika in this recipe. You can try hot paprika if you'd like a spicier spread, though it's not as common.
- Caraway Seeds: Caraway seeds are the seeds you'll find in seeded rye bread. They are a popular ingredient throughout much of Central Europe, and you'll find them in everything from soups to pastas (not just in breads). I use whole caraway seeds in my Liptauer but you could also grind them up in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle if you prefer.
How to make it
Add soft cream cheese and butter to the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or to a mixing bowl using a handheld mixer (PHOTO 1). Beat together until smooth (PHOTO 2).
Add the remaining ingredients and beat until well combined (PHOTOS 3-4).
Transfer to a bowl and garnish as desired. Serve Liptauer at room temperature with rye or pumpernickel breads, crackers, warm pretzels, or veggies for dipping/spreading. It’s especially great paired with red or white wine!
Please scroll to the bottom of the post for the full recipe (in a printable recipe card) including ingredient amounts and detailed instructions.
Expert tips
Liptauer tastes even better after resting for at least 2 to 3 hours in the fridge to allow the flavors to develop. Return to room temperature before serving to allow it to soften back up. Liptauer will last about 1 week in the refrigerator.
Instead of simply serving Liptauer in a bowl, you can unmold it onto a cheeseboard or plate. Line a small bowl with plastic wrap and fill it with the Liptauer, smoothing out the surface. Cover and refrigerate until set, about 3 hour to overnight. Then flip the cheese onto your board or plate and peel off the plastic wrap.
Some variations of Liptauer also include chopped herbs, Worcestershire sauce, or anchovy paste. You can definitely adjust the recipe to your liking by including any of these ingredients if you choose to.
Other recipes you may like
- Obatzda (German Beer Cheese Dip)
- Nakládaný Hermelín (Czech Marinated Cheese)
- Obložené Chlebíčky (Czech Open Faced Sandwiches)
- Erdäpfelsalat (Austrian Potato Salad)
- Krautfleckerl (Austrian Cabbage and Noodles)
- Cremeschnitte (Austrian Cream Slices)
- Buchteln (Austrian Stuffed Sweet Rolls)
- Vanillekipferl (Austrian Vanilla Crescent Cookies)
Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also follow me on social media on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!
Liptauer (Austrian/Slovakian Cheese Spread)
Ingredients
- 8 ounces (225 grams) cream cheese at room temperature
- 2 ounces (55 grams / 4 tablespoons) unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 clove garlic minced or crushed
- 1 tablespoon minced white or brown onion
- 2 teaspoons sweet paprika (substitute hot paprika if you prefer a spicy spread)
- 1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 ½ teaspoons chopped capers
- 1 teaspoon caraway seeds whole or ground with a spice grinder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
To Garnish (any combination of the following):
- Finely diced red bell pepper
- Finely diced cornichons or pickles
- Sliced scallions or chives
- Capers
- Paprika
Instructions
- Add the soft cream cheese and butter to the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or to a mixing bowl using a handheld mixer. Beat together until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and beat until well combined.
- Transfer to a bowl and garnish if desired. Serve at room temperature with rye or pumpernickel breads, crackers, warm pretzels, or veggies for dipping/spreading. It’s especially great paired with red or white wine!
- Liptauer tastes even better after resting for at least 2 to 3 hours in the fridge to allow the flavors to develop. Return to room temperature before serving to allow it to soften back up. Liptauer will last about 1 week in the refrigerator.
Notes
- In Slovakia, this spread is traditionally made with bryndza, a soft, sheep’s milk cheese, but many recipes use quark, cottage cheese, cream cheese, or even goat cheese as a stand-in. I use cream cheese in this recipe because it's easy to find and very versatile. If you use a different type of cheese from this list, the texture and thickness of the cheese spread may vary.
- Instead of simply serving Liptauer in a bowl, you can unmold it onto a cheeseboard or plate. Line a small bowl with plastic wrap and fill it with the Liptauer, smoothing out the surface. Cover and refrigerate until set, about 3 hour to overnight. Then flip the cheese onto your board or plate and peel off the plastic wrap.
Nutrition
*All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.*
Terri-Anne Glynn says
Made this today. I swapped the cream cheese and used high protein cottage cheese (might be called farmers cheese elsewhere?) which brought the calorie count down to 80cals/serve. We are dieting in our house and my son loved it too, I have already raved to my friends about it too! Love your site, I get so many great recipes. Thank you