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Obatzda with Pretzel

A Bavarian beer garden classic featuring a creamy, flavorful cheese spread made with Camembert, butter, and paprika, served with soft pretzels for dipping.

15 minEasyServes 6280 cal/serving

GermanAppetizerNo-CookVegetarianLow CarbPork-FreeCorn-Free

Ingredients

  • 8 oz ripe Camembert cheese, room temperature
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 small red onion, finely diced
  • 2 tsp sweet Hungarian paprika
  • 1/2 tsp caraway seeds, lightly crushed
  • 2 tbsp German wheat beer (Hefeweizen)
  • 2 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
  • to taste salt
  • to taste freshly ground black pepper
  • 6 soft Bavarian pretzels, warmed
  • 6 radishes, thinly sliced
  • 1 cucumber, sliced

Instructions

  1. 1

    Remove the rind from the 8 oz room temperature ripe Camembert cheese and place the cheese in a medium bowl. Using a fork, mash it until soft and creamy.

  2. 2

    Add the 4 oz softened cream cheese and 3 tbsp softened unsalted butter to the bowl. Mix well until smooth and fully combined.

  3. 3

    Mix in the 1/2 small finely diced red onion, 2 tsp sweet Hungarian paprika, and 1/2 tsp lightly crushed caraway seeds.

  4. 4

    Stir in the 2 tbsp German wheat beer (Hefeweizen) to achieve a smooth, spreadable consistency. If the mixture is too thick, add a little more beer.

  5. 5

    Season with to taste salt and to taste freshly ground black pepper to taste. Fold in half of the 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives, reserving the rest for garnish.

  6. 6

    Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. For best flavor, let it come back to room temperature before serving.

  7. 7

    To serve, transfer the Obatzda to a serving bowl, sprinkle with the remaining chives and a light dusting of additional paprika for color.

  8. 8

    Arrange the warm 6 warmed soft Bavarian pretzels, 6 thinly sliced radishes, and 1 sliced cucumber slices on a platter around the cheese spread.

Questions

Can I make Obatzda with Pretzel dairy-free?

Not cleanly. Here the dairy (8 oz ripe Camembert cheese, room temperature, 4 oz cream cheese, softened, 3 tbsp unsalted butter, softened) is the backbone of the dish, and plant-based substitutes change both its texture and its flavor. If you need strictly dairy-free, start from the dairy-free appetizer collection instead.

Can I make Obatzda with Pretzel gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in this entry is 2 tbsp German wheat beer (Hefeweizen), 6 soft Bavarian pretzels, warmed. Swap the beer for a certified gluten-free beer or a dry cider; the bread or crumbs for a gluten-free loaf or gluten-free panko. Everything else proceeds as written.

How long does Obatzda with Pretzel keep?

Refrigerate leftovers within two hours and eat them within three days. It is served cold; there is nothing to reheat.

Can I halve or double Obatzda with Pretzel?

Yes. As written it serves 6. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. There is no cooking pitfall here; the quantities simply scale.

Serve it with

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