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The ever popular biergarten staple and Oktoberfest favorite, this traditional Obatzda recipe is the perfect party food for your next gathering! This creamy Bavarian cheese spread is delicious served with pretzels, rustic bread, crackers or veggies!
For more German biergarten favorites be sure to try our Currywurst, Schnitzel, and Frikadellen!
Today we are journeying to the land of my mother’s birth and where I grew up in wide-eyed awe at the beauty of the landscapes and castles: Bavaria, Germany. And we are specifically venturing into the world of classic “biergarten food” in the form of one of the region’s most popular staples: Obatzda!
What is Obatzda?
Obatzda, also known as Obatzder or Obazda, is an orange-colored Bavarian cheese spread that’s made from combining aged soft cheese (usually camembert) with butter, some Frischkäse (can use quark or cream cheese), onion, and spices. A splash or two of beer is also a popular addition. Some people prefer their Obaztda really strong and add some Limburger. A similar spread that’s found in Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria is known as Liptauer and is typically made with sheep or goat cheese. Obatzda is served with pretzels or rye bread.
It’s said that it all started in the 1920’s with the landlady of the famous Weihenstephan Bräustüberl, the world’s oldest brewery, in Freising, a small town in Bavaria, Germany. She gathered up overripe cheese scraps and mashed them together with butter and spices to serve as a cheese spread at the brewery. Her patrons loved it and it has since become a staple of Bavarian biergarten food. The renowned orange-colored cheese spread is synonymous with Oktoberfest and can be found everywhere throughout the region.
How to Serve Obatzda
Obatzda is commonly served garnished with any combination of chopped chives, onion slices and/or radishes. It’s served with traditional Bavarian pretzels or sliced rye bread. It’s also delicious with some rustic sourdough bread. Alternatively you can also serve it spread on crackers or as a dip for vegetables.
Depending on whether you prefer to serve it as a spread or as a dip, you can determine the consistency by how much beer and/or heavy cream you add to it.
Obatzda Recipe
Let’s get started!
Place the camembert in a medium sized bowl and mash it thoroughly with a fork.
Add the remaining ingredients except for the onion and continue to mash until the mixture reaches the desired consistency. It should not be completely smooth, it should be chunky.
Let the spread chill for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, and then stir in the onions before serving. (The onions will release liquid if left in too long and will make the spread watery.) Add salt to taste.
To serve, garnish the Obatzda with some onion slices, chopped chives, and some sliced radishes if desired.
Enjoy!
For more German favorites be sure to try our:
- German Apple Cake
- Rouladen
- Schnitzel
- Frikadellen
- Maultaschen
- Currywurst
- Sauerbraten
- Zwiebelkuchen
- Spaetzle
- Rotkohl
- German Potato Salad
- German Plum Cake
- German Sauerkraut Soup
- German Potato Soup
- German Potato Pancakes
Obatzda (Bavarian Cheese Spread)
Kimberly Killebrew
A Bavarian biergarten staple and Oktoberfest favorite, this creamy cheese spread is the perfect party food for your next gathering!
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 10 minutes mins
Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine German
Servings 6
Calories 284 kcal
Ingredients
- 8 ounces ripe camembert (can substitute brie) , at room temperature
- 4 ounces cream cheese (full fat)
- 5 tablespoons quality butter , softened at room temperature
- 1 small yellow onion , very finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
- 1 teaspoon caraway seeds , coarsely crushed
- 2 teaspoons Hungarian paprika
- 2 tablespoons wheat beer (optional)
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- For garnish: chopped chives, sliced red onions, sliced radishes
Instructions
Place the camembert in a medium sized bowl and mash it thoroughly with a fork. Add the remaining ingredients except for the onion and continue to mash until the mixture reaches the desired consistency. It should not be completely smooth, it should be chunky.
Let the spread chill for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, and then stir in the onions before serving. (The onions will release liquid if left in too long and will make the spread watery.) Add salt to taste.
To serve, garnish the Obatzda with some onion slices, chopped chives, and some sliced radishes if desired.
Serve with soft pretzels, rye bread, crackers or vegetables.
Nutrition
Calories: 284kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 649mg | Potassium: 150mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1222IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 178mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Keyword Bavarian Cheese Spread, Obatzda, Obatzder, Obazda
Tried this recipe? Mention @daringgourmet or hashtag #daringgourmet
FAQs
What does Obatzda taste like? Given the heavy presence of ripe cheese like camembert, freshly chopped onion, and a number of spices, Obatzda had a sharp, strong taste (but not spicy) with a rich and creamy consistency throughout.
What German beer is best for beer cheese? ›
Instead, Arias likes to use a German hefeweizen in beer cheese. A hefeweizen is a type of wheat beer that is perfect for warm weather sipping — it has a pleasantly bready taste but is also very crisp.
What does beer cheese dip taste like? ›
This Beer Cheese Dip Is:
Wildly robust with deep flavor. Extra smooth and creamy. Pub-style and a snack you'd find at a brewery. Flavored with smoked paprika, garlic, and the slightest bit of dijon mustard.
Is beer cheese alcoholic? ›
Primarily crafted from milk, butter, and melted cheddar, plus a bit of beer, the dip might lead some to wonder if it includes enough alcohol to feel a booze-induced impact. Rest assured, while beer cheese does contain alcohol, it's typically not enough to give anyone a buzz.
Is beer cheese German? ›
Weisslacker (or Weißlacker (German: [ˈvaɪ̯sˌlakɐ])) (German for "whitewashed" due to the rind color), also known as bierkäse and beer cheese, is a type of cow's milk cheese that originated in Germany, but is now known worldwide.
What is the history of Obatzda? ›
Obatzda History
Obatzda dates back to the 1800s when it was first created by an innkeeper called Katharina Eisenreich. It's thought she made the tasty dish using leftover ingredients, and the dish proved to be wildly popular with the guests at her Bavarian inn. Obatzda was extremely popular during the 1920s.
What does Bavarian cheese taste like? ›
Due to the fact that there are many versions of the cheese, the flavors can range from creamy, mild, and milky to garlicky, mushroomy, spicy, and herbaceous.
What do Germans dip pretzels in? ›
Bavarian Pretzels dipped in lye (aka Laugenbrezel) These Bavarian pretzels are done the authentic and traditional way, dipped in food safe lye.
What is Czech beer cheese? ›
The most popular pub snack in Prague is called pivini syr, or “beer cheese” in English. It's a spread you make yourself at the table with an extremely aromatic cheese called romadur, a close cousin to limburger, strong mustard, and lots of raw onions.
What beer do Germans drink most? ›
By far the most popular type of beer in Germany is pilsner, generally known as 'Pils'. The light-golden beer with the dry hoppy aroma is very popular in the North, West and East.
Beer in German is “das Bier” and the plural is “die Biere”. There are so many different beers in Germany that it's easy to get overwhelmed.
What beer do Germans drink during Oktoberfest? ›
One thing is for sure at Oktoberfest everyone is drinking German lager. These are called Oktoberfestbiers in and around Germany. Within this family of German-brewed lagers there are two types: the dark, malt-forward Märzen and the lighter, hoppier Festbier.
Do you eat beer cheese hot or cold? ›
Beer cheese is also typically served as a cold spread, while some like to serve it hot like queso-style cheese dips.
What kind of beer is best for beer cheese? ›
I used Fat Tire because that what I had on hand, but Budweiser, Bud Light, Coors Light, and Miller Lite are all good options. No need to use anything fancy! What brands of cheese do you recommend? For the Cheddar, you can use a good supermarket brand, like Cabot or Tillamook.
What is another name for beer cheese? ›
Beer cheese is a form of cold pack cheese, sometimes called crock cheese or club cheese. It's usually made from processed cheese or a blend of cheddar and other cheeses along with spices such as cayenne pepper, mustard powder, and garlic.
Can kids have beer cheese sauce? ›
Can I serve beer cheese dip to kids? It's a little tricky. Most of the alcohol cooks off, leaving just the beer's flavor behind. While some residual alcohol could remain, it's a very minor amount.
How long does beer cheese last in the fridge? ›
If the beer cheese arrives within the 3-day window, it is perfectly safe to eat.
What state is known for beer cheese? ›
Beer cheese is a cheese spread most commonly found in Kentucky. Similarly named cheese products can be found in other regions of the United States, but beer cheese spread itself is not widely distributed.
Why is beer cheese so good? ›
Beer Cheese is one of our Wisconsin Cheeses along with Muenster, Brick, Limburger, and our American Cheeses. It is full flavored, salty and tangy; you won't be missing out on flavor if you try this cheese. Beer Cheese is a semi-soft combination of Limburger Cheese and Brick Cheese.
How to eat beer cheese? ›
The result is a creamy, cheesy dip or spread that is perfect for dipping pretzels, crackers, or vegetables, and is a great way to start off a meal or as an addition to a snack platter. Beer cheese can also be used as a topping for burgers, nachos, pizza, and more.
The popular toppings of authentic bavarian pretzels are:
Sesame, poppy, sunflower, pumpkin or caraway seeds, cheese sauce and bacon bits. Bavarians especially enjoy their pretzels in the late morning with Weißwürst, sweet mustard, and a Beer.
What German beer tastes sweet? ›
Maibock/Traditional Bock
Plain ol' traditional bock sits right in the middle—amber to brown in color, it's a strong, very malty lager that weighs in around 6 or 7% ABV. Expect a toasty, bready, slightly sweet flavor from the Munich and/or Vienna malt that make up the bulk of the grain in this beer.
What does German Swiss cheese taste like? ›
Popular Varieties of Swiss Cheese
Known for having a mild, slightly sweet taste, it captivates with nutty undertones. The aging process enhances these flavors, making it a versatile choice for both snacking and culinary creations.
What does German cheese taste like? ›
Young Tilsit cheese taste boasts a mild, creamy character with a subtle nuttiness reminiscent of Havarti or a young Gouda. Its texture is smooth and supple, yielding easily to the knife.
What does German beer taste like? ›
Compared to the craft beers that many US beer enthusiasts have become acquainted with, however, it's fair to say that many of the classic German styles place more of an emphasis on malt, and all of its attendant flavors (bread, caramel, toast), than on hops (spice, bitterness, herbaceousness).
