Crack Corn Dip (Print Version)

Creamy corn and cheese blend with spicy jalapeños for the ultimate party appetizer

# What You Need:

→ Dairy

01 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - 1 cup sour cream
03 - 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese

→ Vegetables

04 - 1 can (15 oz) whole kernel corn, drained
05 - 1 can (15 oz) cream-style corn
06 - ½ cup chopped green onions
07 - ¼ to ½ cup chopped jalapeños, fresh or pickled

→ Seasonings

08 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
09 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
10 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ For Serving

11 - Tortilla chips

# Directions:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese and sour cream. Blend with a hand mixer or whisk until smooth and fully combined.
02 - Add whole kernel corn and cream-style corn to the mixture. Stir gently to incorporate both varieties.
03 - Fold in shredded cheddar cheese, chopped green onions, jalapeños, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until evenly distributed throughout.
04 - Taste the dip and adjust seasonings or jalapeño quantity as desired for heat level preference.
05 - Transfer the dip to a serving bowl for cold service or to a baking dish if planning to serve warm.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Transfer dip to baking dish and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until bubbling and lightly golden on top.
07 - Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
08 - Present dip with tortilla chips as accompaniment.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in minutes, which means you can make it on your way out the door to literally any gathering.
  • The contrast between creamy cheese and the little kick from jalapeños keeps people reaching for more without realizing how much they've eaten.
  • Works equally well straight from the fridge or bubbling hot from the oven, so you can adapt it to your day.
02 -
  • Overheating cream cheese-based dips can make them separate and get oily, so 350°F and 20 to 25 minutes is the sweet spot, not 400°F and ten minutes like you might think.
  • The dip thickens as it cools, so if you're serving it warm, it might look a little looser than you expect, but that's actually perfect for dipping.
03 -
  • Always use fresh jalapeños if you have them, because their flavor is cleaner and you can control exactly how spicy the dip becomes by adjusting the amount.
  • The secret that changed my game was realizing that mixing the dip a few hours before serving and letting it chill meant all the flavors actually got to know each other, making it taste noticeably better.
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