EASY Loaded Festive Bread Dipping Oil

Loaded festive bread dipping oil is the easiest – and quickest – no-cook appetizer for Christmas parties and holiday entertaining. Think dried cranberries, apricots, pistachios, sage and bright orange zest mixed with olive oil for the ultimate low-effort crowd-pleaser. Just chop, mix, and serve with soft, warm no-knead focaccia for scooping and swirling.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Olive oil. I like using a good quality extra virgin olive oil – the flavor of the dip is all about the base of the oil, so you ideally want a good one if possible.
• Dried fruit. Cranberries and apricots bring gorgeous color and sweetness, but you could use your favorite. Figs, prunes, or dates are also great. Chop them finely so you get a little in every scoop.
• Sundried tomatoes. I like using semi-dried tomatoes because they tend to be softer than sundried. If you can’t find them, regular sundried tomatoes are great. Try to find a brand marinated in olive oil for superior flavor.
• Pistachios. These bring festive color and a lovely crunchy texture. Use shelled, unsalted pistachios if you can. If yours are salted, taste the finished dip before adding any more salt. Use almonds or pecans instead if you like, or pumpkin seeds for a nut-free option.
• Herbs. I’m using fresh rosemary and sage leaves, but you could use basil, flat-leaf parsley, oregano, or thyme. You could also swap the fresh herbs for dried ones.
• Garlic. I use two cloves, but raw garlic can be strong. If you’re worried, start with one small clove, then you can always add more.

How to Make Festive Bread Dipping Oil

1. Chop (or grate) your ingredients finely to make sure every scoop gets a little of everything.
2. Add them to a shallow bowl with your olive oil, then mix to combine well.
3. Taste, and add a bit more salt if you think it needs it. I like to mix the oil in the dish I’m going to serve it in, to save on washing up. But you can also mix it in a bowl and then transfer it to whatever you’d like to serve it in.
4. Serve the dipping oil with lots of lovely fresh bread – I HIGHLY recommend my easy no-knead chili cheese focaccia – or this fragrant rosemary parmesan bread.

Watch How to Make Festive Dipping Oil

Festive Dipping Oil FAQs

Eight Easy Bread Dipping Oil Variations

This is SUCH a customizable recipe, which is why it’s so perfect when you need something fast.

1. Loaded Mediterranean Dipping Oil: Mix ¾ cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, ½ cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated, 2 tablespoons sundried tomatoes, finely chopped, 1 tablespoon Kalamata olives, finely chopped, 1 tablespoon rosemary, finely chopped, 1 tablespoon thyme leaves, 3 garlic cloves, crushed, 2 teaspoons chili flakes, 1 teaspoon sumac, zest of 1 lemon and 1 teaspoon of flaky sea salt.
2. Basil Pesto Bread Dipping Oil Mix 2 tablespoons of fresh basil pesto with ½ cup of olive oil, a handful of chopped fresh basil leaves, the zest and juice of a lemon, ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese, 2 garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon of chopped toasted cashews (or pine nuts), and ½ teaspoon of salt.
3. Hot Honey Sauce and Lemon Bread Dipping Oil. Mix ½ a cup of olive oil with the zest and juice of 1 lemon, 1 tablespoon of honey, 2 teaspoons of chilli flakes, a handful of fresh thyme leaves, and 1 teaspoon of salt.
4. Pizza Bread Dipping Oil. Mix ½ cup olive oil with 2 tablespoons of tomato paste, 3 crushed garlic cloves, ½ cup of grated parmesan, a handful of chopped fresh basil, 1 teaspoon of chili flakes, 1 teaspoon of salt, and a good grind of black pepper.
5. Spicy Sweet Chili Bread Dipping Oil. Mix ¼ cup olive oil with ¼ cup chili oil, 2 tablespoons sweet chili jam, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds, 1 tablespoon crushed toasted peanuts, and a good handful of chopped cilantro (coriander) leaves. A little lime juice to finish things off is great too!
6. Triple Garlic Bread Dipping Oil. Mix ½ cup olive oil with 8 confit garlic cloves, 3 crushed garlic cloves, 3 chopped smoked garlic cloves, ¼ cup grated parmesan, 2 sprigs of finely chopped rosemary, and 1 teaspoon of flaky salt. Keep things easier by simply using raw garlic if you like.
7. Greek-Inspired Bread Dipping Oil. Mix ½ cup of olive oil with 1/3 cup chopped oregano, ¼ cup chopped mint, ¼ cup chopped thyme (or use dried herbs), ½ cup crumbled feta, ½ cup chopped olives (I used green and Kalamata), the zest and juice of 1 lemon, and 1 tablespoon of honey.
8. Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Bread Dipping Oil. Mix ½ cup of olive oil with ¼ cup sun-dried tomato pesto, a handful of fresh thyme and oregano leaves, the juice of 1 lemon, and 1 tablespoon of chopped roasted almonds.

Like this recipe? Try these easy appetizers next

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Crispy Loaded Antipasti Salami Bites

Crispy Mini Dumpling Cups

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