Obatzda (German Beer Cheese Dip)

Obatzda beer cheese dip in a blue bowl surrounded by hard and soft pretzels.

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Obatzda is a craveable German cheese dip enhanced with beer, onion, and spices. Serve it with glorious warm, soft pretzels or rustic bread to dip or spread and enjoy. Whether you’re celebrating Oktoberfest, the big game, or simply your love of cheese, this easy recipe is sure to please.

Prep Time10

Total Time10

Course: Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine: Bavarian, German

Servings: servings

Calories: 175kcal

Author: Victoria

Ingredients

7 to 8 ounces (200 to 225 grams) camembert cheese roughly cubed, room temperature
4 ounces (113 grams) cream cheese room temperature
1 ounce (28 grams / 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter room temperature
2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
2 tablespoons chopped chives
1 teaspoon sweet paprika (not spicy or smoked)
½ teaspoon caraway seeds ground (optional)
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 to 4 tablespoons wheat beer preferably German

Optional Garnishes:

Thinly sliced red onion rings
Chopped chives
Paprika

Serving Suggestions:

Soft pretzels
Crunchy pretzels
Pretzel crisps
Bread (such as rye, pumpernickel, or sourdough)
Crackers
Sliced red onion rings
Sliced or whole radishes

Instructions

In a medium mixing bowl mash together the camembert cheese, cream cheese, and butter with a fork. It’s helpful to mash against the sides of the bowl. It should retain a bit of chunky texture rather than being completely smooth.
Stir in the remaining ingredients, except for the beer, until evenly combined. It will be very thick, but do your best to get it fairly homogenous.
Finally stir in the beer, starting with 2 tablespoons but then adding more until you achieve your desired texture. It's easier to incorporate the beer by pressing down with the back of a large spoon as you mix.
Cover and refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes (or longer) to allow the flavors to meld and the mixture to firm up a bit.
Garnish with sliced onion, chopped chives, and/or paprika if desired. Serve with warm soft pretzels, crunchy pretzels, pretzel crisps, rustic bread, crackers, or vegetables.

Notes

Store leftover obatzda in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Note that after a few days the flavor of the onion will intensify, so it’s preferable to eat it within the first couple days if possible.
The nutritional information does NOT include any garnishes or dippers; it's only for ⅛ of the dip per serving.
Small wheels of camembert typically come in either 7-ounce or 8-ounce sizes. The 1-ounce disparity won’t make a huge difference in the recipe. Camembert has a stronger and more pungent flavor than brie. If you are concerned about the "funkiness" of the cheese, you can opt for a milder brie instead.
You can easily adjust the ratios of camembert cheese, cream cheese, and butter to suit your tastes or what you have on hand.
In addition to serving obatza in a bowl for easy dipping and spreading, alternatively you could use an ice cream scoop to scoop it directly onto a serving board or platter. Make sure you add less beer so it's firm enough to scoop. I added 4 tablespoons of beer for a runnier dip texture, but stick with 2 tablespoons if you want a thicker scoopable version.

Nutrition