Introduction

Oh, hello there! Come on in, the kitchen is cozy. You know how sometimes you stumble upon a recipe that’s so ridiculously simple, so utterly delicious, that it instantly becomes a go-to? This is one of those recipes. Meet Carli’s Bee Cheese. Now, I don’t know exactly why it’s called Bee Cheese, but I like to imagine it’s because it’s so good, everyone will be buzzing about it! This spread is a total game-changer for easy entertaining, unexpected guests, or honestly, just a Tuesday afternoon snack attack. It comes together in minutes and tastes like you fussed for hours. Trust me on this one, you need this recipe in your life.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Fast: Seriously, you can whip this up faster than you can decide what to wear to that potluck.
Easy: No fancy techniques here. If you can stir, you can make this.
Giftable: Pop it into a cute jar with some crackers and you’ve got the perfect hostess gift or holiday treat.
Crowd-Pleasing: Cheddar, butter, and just the right kick? Nobody says no to this spread.

Ingredients

Gather ’round, let’s talk about the few magical things you’ll need:

10 oz sharp cheddar cheese, grated: Sharp is key here for that wonderful, bold flavor. Grate it yourself if you can for the best texture, but pre-shredded works in a pinch!
6 oz butter, softened: This is the star for that glorious spreadable consistency. Make sure it’s truly soft – not melted, but easily squishable.
2 tablespoons sherry: Just a little bit adds a lovely depth and slight nuttiness. Don’t skip it if you can help it!
1 tablespoon horseradish: This is where the “zing” comes in! Use prepared horseradish (the kind from the jar in the refrigerated section). Adjust to your spice preference.
1 garlic clove, minced: Fresh is best for that vibrant garlic punch.
2 tablespoons chopped Italian flat leaf parsley (optional): This adds a lovely pop of color and fresh flavor, but it’s totally okay if you want to leave it out.

How to Make It

Okay, get ready for the easiest steps ever:

First things first, make sure your butter is really nice and soft. Leave it out on the counter for an hour or two, or if you’re in a hurry, cut it into smaller pieces to help it along.
In a medium bowl, combine the softened butter and the grated sharp cheddar cheese. Now, grab a sturdy spoon, a fork, or even your stand mixer with the paddle attachment. You want to beat or mix these together until they are well combined and starting to look like a smooth paste. This is easier if your butter is super soft.
Once the butter and cheese are happy together, add the sherry, horseradish, and the minced garlic.
Mix everything together really well. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to make sure all those delicious flavors are getting incorporated. Keep mixing until the spread is smooth and looks uniform.
If you’re using it, stir in the chopped fresh parsley now. It adds such a pretty touch!
Give it a little taste. Need more zing? Add another tiny bit of horseradish. Want it richer? (Probably not, but you do you!). Adjust to your liking.
Scoop the spread into a serving dish, a storage container, or even shape it into a log or ball if you’re feeling fancy.
For the absolute best flavor, cover it and pop it in the fridge for at least an hour to let the flavors meld. Bringing it back out to room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before serving will make it perfectly spreadable!

Substitutions & Additions

This recipe is super forgiving and fun to play with!

No Sherry? A splash of Worcestershire sauce or even a tiny bit of dry mustard powder can add a similar savory depth. You could also just leave it out, but the sherry does add something special.
Different Cheese? While sharp cheddar is traditional and recommended, you could experiment with mixing in a bit of smoked cheddar, white cheddar, or even a touch of cream cheese for extra creaminess.
Spice It Up: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce for an extra kick.
Herb Power: Swap parsley for chives, scallions, or even a tiny bit of fresh thyme.
Crunch: Stir in some finely chopped pecans, walnuts, or even crispy fried onions for texture.

Tips for Success

Soft Butter is NON-Negotiable: I cannot stress this enough! Hard butter means a lumpy spread that’s hard to mix. Softened butter blends seamlessly with the cheese.
Let it Mingle: Giving the spread time in the fridge lets the horseradish, garlic, and sherry really get to know the cheese and butter. This improves the flavor dramatically.
Room Temp Serve: For easy spreading on crackers, bread, or veggies, let the Bee Cheese sit out for a bit before serving. It softens up beautifully.
Serving Ideas: This is perfect with crackers, crusty bread, celery sticks, carrot sticks, bell pepper strips, or even apple slices!

How to Store It

This Bee Cheese is a trooper when it comes to storage. Just transfer any leftovers (if there are any!) to an airtight container. Keep it in the refrigerator. It should last happily for about 10-14 days. Because of the butter, it will firm up when cold, so remember to let it sit out briefly before serving again.

FAQs

Can I use pre-shredded cheese? Yes, you can! While grating your own often yields a slightly better texture, the pre-shredded stuff works just fine for this recipe.
Can I make this ahead of time? Absolutely! This spread is made for making ahead. In fact, making it a day or two in advance lets the flavors deepen even more. Just store it covered in the fridge.
What kind of sherry should I use? A dry or medium sherry works well here. You don’t need anything fancy or expensive.
Is it possible to make this too spicy? Ha! Yes, if you’re heavy-handed with the horseradish. Start with the recommended amount, taste, and add a little more if you like a lot of heat.

Carli's Easy & Irresistible Sharp Cheddar Bee Cheese Spread

This spread is a total game-changer for easy entertaining, unexpected guests, or honestly, just a Tuesday afternoon snack attack. It comes together in minutes and tastes like you fussed for hours.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Equipment

Medium bowl
Spoon or fork or stand mixer
Fork or spoon or stand mixer
Stand Mixer with paddle attachment, or spoon or fork

Ingredients

10 oz sharp cheddar cheese, grated Sharp is key here for that wonderful, bold flavor. Grate it yourself if you can for the best texture, but pre-shredded works in a pinch!
6 oz butter, softened Make sure it's truly soft – not melted, but easily squishable.
2 tablespoons sherry Just a little bit adds a lovely depth and slight nuttiness. Don't skip it if you can help it!
1 tablespoon horseradish Use prepared horseradish (the kind from the jar in the refrigerated section). Adjust to your spice preference.
1 garlic clove, minced Fresh is best for that vibrant garlic punch.
2 tablespoons chopped Italian flat leaf parsley Optional: This adds a lovely pop of color and fresh flavor, but it's totally okay if you want to leave it out.

Instructions

First things first, make sure your butter is really nice and soft. Leave it out on the counter for an hour or two, or if you're in a hurry, cut it into smaller pieces to help it along.
In a medium bowl, combine the softened butter and the grated sharp cheddar cheese. Now, grab a sturdy spoon, a fork, or even your stand mixer with the paddle attachment. You want to beat or mix these together until they are well combined and starting to look like a smooth paste. This is easier if your butter is super soft.
Once the butter and cheese are happy together, add the sherry, horseradish, and the minced garlic.
Mix everything together really well. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to make sure all those delicious flavors are getting incorporated. Keep mixing until the spread is smooth and looks uniform.
If you're using it, stir in the chopped fresh parsley now. It adds such a pretty touch!
Give it a little taste. Need more zing? Add another tiny bit of horseradish. Want it richer? (Probably not, but you do you!). Adjust to your liking.
Scoop the spread into a serving dish, a storage container, or even shape it into a log or ball if you're feeling fancy.
For the absolute best flavor, cover it and pop it in the fridge for at least an hour to let the flavors meld. Bringing it back out to room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before serving will make it perfectly spreadable!

Notes

Why You'll Love This Recipe:
Fast, Easy, Giftable, Crowd-Pleasing.

Substitutions & Additions:
No Sherry? Use a splash of Worcestershire sauce or dry mustard powder, or leave it out.
Different Cheese? Experiment with smoked cheddar, white cheddar, or a touch of cream cheese.
Spice It Up: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or hot sauce.
Herb Power: Swap parsley for chives, scallions, or thyme.
Crunch: Stir in finely chopped pecans, walnuts, or crispy fried onions.

Tips for Success:
Soft Butter is NON-Negotiable: Hard butter means a lumpy spread. Softened butter blends seamlessly.
Let it Mingle: Chilling lets flavors deepen.
Room Temp Serve: Let it sit out for 15-20 minutes before serving for easy spreading.
Serving Ideas: Perfect with crackers, crusty bread, celery sticks, carrot sticks, bell pepper strips, or apple slices!

How to Store It:
Transfer leftovers to an airtight container in the refrigerator. It lasts about 10-14 days. It will firm up when cold, so let it sit out briefly before serving.

FAQs:
Can I use pre-shredded cheese? Yes.
Can I make this ahead of time? Yes, it's recommended.
What kind of sherry? A dry or medium sherry works well.
Is it possible to make this too spicy? Yes, if you use too much horseradish. Taste and adjust.