We're not quite sure what it is, but we flock to spreads like sailors possessed by a siren's song. Which is why we made it a priority to scout new obsession-worthy options at the Winter Fancy Food Show [1]. This year, vendors delivered with everything from a tangy yogurt spread to a crush-worthy graham cracker cookie butter that you need to know.
Hope Spreads Dark Chocolate Chile
Hope Spreads Dark Chocolate Chile [2] isn't the first time we've seen chickpeas in a sweet form (remember this chickpea cookie dough [3] from POPSUGAR Fitness?), but we can't say we've ever seen a chile chocolate hummus with Indian spices like cardamom, cumin, and cinnamon.
Di Bruno Bros. Abbruzze Cheese Spread
Imagine if pimento cheese [4] took a trip to Italy, and in essence you have Di Bruno Bros. Abbruzze Cheese Spread [5] ($6). Like pimento cheese, it includes red peppers as well as a heavy hit of spice. It diverges from the retro recipe by nixing the mayo and adding a blend of three cheeses, roasted garlic, and Italian herbs to the mix.
Bonelli Simply Sesame Pistachio Cardamom
You might not think of spreading tahini on toast or apple slices, but one taste of Bonelli Simply Sesame Pistachio Cardamom [6] may make you reconsider. Here, cardamom's sweet, almost floral flavor tames the sesame's bitterness, and morsels of pistachio add a satisfying crunch.
Woolwich Dairy Cocoa Loco
No, that's not a tub of Nutella, but rather Woolwich Dairy Cocoa Loco [7], an irresistibly tangy chocolate goat-cheese spread.
Karoun Dairies Blue Isle Mediterranean Yogurt Spread Honey
Karoun Dairies debuted its Blue Isle Mediterranean Yogurt Spreads [8]. Of the line, Honey is the can't-miss flavor. The subtly sweet, full-fat yogurt has a spreadable, cream-cheese like consistency but with the probiotic benefits of yogurt. Our bagels have found their new favorite schmear.
Amoretti Graham Cracker Cookie Spread
Our latest cookie-butter crush takes inspiration from a beloved childhood snack: graham crackers. A word of caution: like Biscoff and speculoos spreads, buy Amoretti Graham Cracker Cookie Spread [9] at your own risk; it's a little too tempting.
Vermont Creamery's Creamy Goat Cheese
We recently tried Vermont Creamery's Creamy Goat Cheese [10] at the Cheesemonger Invitational [11] and fell instantly in love with its whipped texture. This stuff belongs on toast for breakfast or even dolloped atop any chocolate dessert.
El Marques Olive Butter
Though some sketchy hydrogenation may be at play, El Marques Olive Butter [12] takes 100 percent olive oil and transforms it into a spreadable, buttery product. The flavor tastes as you would expect it to, but the real fun is in the melt-in-your-mouth quality.
Karoun Breakfast Cream Spread
Essentially clotted cream with a touch of tang and a smoother texture, Karoun Breakfast Cream Spread [13] is begging to be slathered on crumpets, scones, and other carby delights.
Skillet Fennel & Black Pepper Bacon Spread
If you've tried sweet and salty bacon jam [14] before, you likely need no convincing to snap up a jar of Skillet's latest creation: Skillet Fennel & Black Pepper Bacon Spread [15] ($15). Like its original bacon spread [16], this variation is tantalizing when spread on crackers, burger buns, and the like, but what sets it apart is its lighter, brighter flavor.