CHEESE AND PESTO SPREAD

Cheese and Pesto Spread image

A nice, light spread perfect for holiday entertaining. Serve with crackers.

Provided by CHStewart

Categories Appetizers and Snacks Dips and Spreads Recipes Cheese Dips and Spreads Recipes Cream Cheese Spreads Recipes

Time 6h20m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

1 cup firmly packed basil leaves
¼ cup toasted pine nuts
1 ½ teaspoons minced garlic
6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
6 tablespoons grated Romano cheese
⅓ cup olive oil
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (12 ounce) package Brie cheese
½ cup heavy whipping cream

Steps:

Blend basil leaves, pine nuts, and garlic together in a blender until evenly chopped. Add Parmesan cheese, Romano cheese, and olive oil; blend until smooth.
Beat cream cheese and Brie cheese together in a bowl until nearly smooth.
Beat cream in a glass or metal bowl until soft peaks form. Lift your beater or whisk straight up: the whipped cream will form soft mounds rather than a sharp peak. Fold whipped cream into cheese mixture.
Line a 3 1/2-cup mold with plastic wrap. Spread 1/4 the cheese mixture into the mold; top with 1/3 the basil pesto. Repeat layering 2 more times, ending with cheese mixture. Refrigerate until set, 6 to 24 hours. Turn mold onto a plate and remove plastic wrap.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 288.4 calories, Carbohydrate 1.7 g, Cholesterol 68.2 mg, Fat 27.1 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Protein 10.4 g, SaturatedFat 13.4 g, Sodium 318.4 mg, Sugar 0.3 g