Our Dip Cook-Off with family and friends featured dips that were savory, hot, cold, and even sweet. But which dips took home the gold? Find out here.
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The past few years have seen many glorious and delicious cook-offs with our friends: a summery Taco and Margarita Cook-Off, a carb-heavy Lasagna Cook-Off, the gluttonous Macaroni and Cheese Cook-Off, and the controversial Chili Cook-Off.
Continuing this delicious tradition, we gathered again for a Dip Cook-Off!
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Preparing for a dip competition
This theme was suggested by our friend Rebecca, and we pretty much left all options on the table. Folks could try their hand at hot dips, cold dips, sweet dips, and savory dips. Smooth or chunky. Veggie or meat.
Given all these options and the relative ease of preparing most dips, we had a record number of entries: fourteen!
Our only requirement of the dip contenders was that they furnish a dipping vehicle for their dips: the item that would get the dip to mouths. In this way, each dip chef could choose the perfect accompaniment for their creations.
Since this gathering took place in early June, I had hoped that we would get outdoor cook-off... and perhaps some "dipping" in the pool! However this particular early June day turned out to be gray, cool, and drizzling with rain, so our cook-off stayed indoors.
Perhaps this chilly, rainy day (preceded by a chilly, rainy week) influenced the contenders as they chose their dips, because more than half of them were hot dips.
They just couldn't wait to start dippin'
Interestingly, only about half of the dips and guests arrived on time for the competition.
At first, it was no problem for everyone to sit back and wait, choose a beer or pour a glass of Prosecco, amiably chat, and pretend that they weren't dying to dig into the aromatic dips that filled the table and counter in the kitchen.
However, an hour or so later with at least six dips still en route, I faced the same frothing unrest that I had witnessed at the Macaroni and Cheese Cook-Off.
There I was, trying to hold back the crowd (including my husband and kids) from digging into the food until everyone arrived, and literally every other person at the party demanded access to the dips!
Despite my efforts, the dam cracked: one person went for it, chip in hand, digging into the hot Jalapeno Popper Dip.
When everyone saw this, there was no holding them back any longer: every dip was attacked. And I was hungry too, so I let mob mentality take over, tucking into dips along with everyone else!
The entries in the Dip Cook-Off
Within a half-hour, we finally had all the guests and dips on hand. The array of apps buried the table and half the kitchen counters, each with a numbered placard displaying the name of the dip.
Here are all the dip entries along with entrant names (which were withheld until after votes were tallied!)
Cold Herb Dip with Ruffles Potato Chips, from Rebecca
Louisiana Hot Crab Dip with wheat crackers, from Eli
The Original Taco Dip (a.k.a OGTD) with Mission Tortilla Strips, from Anna and Lindsay
Hummus homemade pita chips, dip from Logan M., pita chips from Christian
Jalapeno Popper Dip with Santitas Tortilla Chips, from Logan T.
Taco Dip with Santitas Tortilla Chips, from Haley, recipe courtesy of Sarah D.
Cold Curry Cheddar Spread with tortilla chips, from Rebecca
Hummus with tortilla chips, from Charles
Taco Bean Dip with Tostitos Tortilla Scoops, from Audrey, Dan, and Emma
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French Onion Dip with Ruffles Potato Chips, from Stephanie
Taco Dip with Santitas Tortilla Chips, from Logan T.
Roasted Veggie and Bacon Dip with Tostitos Tortilla Chips, from me!
Tzatziki Dip with fresh pitas, from Rebecca
Cream Cheese, Caramel, and Toffee Dip with 'Nilla Wafers and apples, from Casey
Preparing for the vote
We had a wonderful array of dips and quite a range of flavors! Even though there were four types of Taco Dips, they were all different from each other: some hot, some cold, with beans and without, and one with meat.
The two hummus dips were also distinct from each other, and the Louisiana Hot Crab Dip was the only dip that had seafood!
It surprised me that there was only one sweet dip entry, though there were three ways to enjoy it: with sweet, red apple wedges, tart Granny Smith apple slices, or classic 'Nilla wafer cookies.
As we went for round after round of dip sampling, it again brought me back to the atmosphere of the Macaroni and Cheese Cook-Off: too many rich, delicious, and flavorful eats, and all of us eating way too much of everything!
As we made our way through our second, third, and fourth helpings the ballots for voting were circulated. The categories for the votes were:
- Best Sweet Dip
- Best Savory Dip
- Best Hot Dip
- Best Cold Dip
- Biggest Surprise Dip
- Best Spicy Dip
- Best Overall Dip
The majority of people easily made their choices for the first six categories, but everyone struggled to choose the Best Overall Dip. There was such a wide variety of dips, and all were so tasty. It made choosing the Oscar Award for Best Picture-equivalent for the Dip Cook-Off a real challenge.
In the end, though, the votes were cast and painstakingly analyzed by our professional panel of judges.
The Dip Cook-Off Winners
Here are the dips that went home with the gold! Well, actually, just a piece of paper, but they certainly had that gold medal feeling.
Winner of the Best Sweet Dip:
Casey with her Cream Cheese, Caramel, and Toffee Dip!
Winner of the Best Hot Dip:
Our very own Haley with her entry, Sarah Durning's Easy Taco Dip!
Winner of the Best Cold Dip:
Stephanie with her French Onion Dip!
Winner of the Biggest Surprise Dip:
Eli with his Louisiana Hot Crab Dip!
The winner of the Best Spicy Dip AND Best Overall Dip:
Both of these titles were claimed by Logan T.'s Jalapeno Popper Dip! She wasn't available for a photo, but some of the cutie kids in our crowd helped display her certificates!
And that was a wrap on the dip-a-licious cook-off! We all went home stuffed with creamy, savory, sweet, and spicy dips.
Recipes
Here are some of the dip recipes from our cook-off. Give them a try!
- Louisiana Hot Crab Dip
- Curry Cheddar Spread
- Ina Garten's Hummus
And here are more tasty appetizers worth making, whether there's a cook-off or just a casual get-together:
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