White Bean Dip Olive Penguins

Featured in: Orbit Fuel

This creamy white bean spread combines cannellini beans, olive oil, and fresh lemon juice for a smooth, savory flavor. Enhanced with garlic, parsley, and smoked paprika, it offers a delightful balance of tastes. The spread is beautifully topped with playful olive penguin decorations, made by stuffing black olives with mozzarella and assembling them with carrot pieces. Ideal for winter gatherings, it requires minimal preparation and no cooking, making it quick and easy to serve as a festive appetizer.

Updated on Fri, 12 Dec 2025 10:02:00 GMT
Creamy winter dip featuring white beans, topped with adorable olive penguin garnishes. Save It
Creamy winter dip featuring white beans, topped with adorable olive penguin garnishes. | zetluna.com

A creamy, savory white bean dip perfect for winter gatherings, adorned with adorable olive penguin decorations for a festive touch.

This recipe brings warmth and fun to our winter gatherings with both its taste and charming presentation.

Ingredients

  • White Bean Dip: 2 cups (1 can, 15 oz) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed, 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 clove garlic, minced, 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped, 1/2 tsp sea salt, 1/4 tsp ground black pepper, 1/4 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
  • Olive Penguin Decoration: 18 large black olives (whole, pitted), 6 small mozzarella balls (bocconcini or ciliegine), 1 large carrot, 6 toothpicks

Instructions

Prepare the Dip:
In a food processor, combine cannellini beans, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika (if using). Process until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Transfer and Smooth:
Transfer dip to a serving bowl and smooth the top with a spatula.
Penguin Decoration Assembly:
Peel the carrot and cut into 12 thin coins (about 1/8-inch thick) for penguin feet. Cut 6 small triangles from additional carrot slices for beaks. Pat the olives dry. Cut a slit lengthwise in 6 olives and gently stuff each with a mozzarella ball to form the penguins white belly. Place a carrot coin flat on your work surface for feet. Stand the stuffed olive vertically on top. Top with a whole olive (head). Insert a carrot triangle into the head olives pitted hole for the beak. Secure the penguin by threading a toothpick through the head, body, and feet. Repeat to make 6 penguins. Arrange on top of or around the white bean dip.
Delicious, smooth white bean dip, festively decorated with cute olive penguins for a snack. Save It
Delicious, smooth white bean dip, festively decorated with cute olive penguins for a snack. | zetluna.com

This dip has become a family favorite especially during chilly winter evenings when everyone gathers around the table to share stories and snacks.

Required Tools

Food processor or blender, knife and cutting board, measuring spoons, toothpicks, serving bowl

Allergen Information

Contains dairy (mozzarella). Gluten-free but check labels on processed foods if serving those alongside. For vegan or dairy-free needs use a suitable cheese substitute.

Nutritional Information

Calories 140 per serving, Total Fat 6 g, Carbohydrates 15 g, Protein 6 g

Homemade white bean dip and olive penguins, a vibrant, Mediterranean-inspired winter appetizer to share. Save It
Homemade white bean dip and olive penguins, a vibrant, Mediterranean-inspired winter appetizer to share. | zetluna.com

Serve chilled or at room temperature for best flavor and presentation.

White Bean Dip Olive Penguins

Savory white bean spread adorned with olive penguins for a festive winter touch.

Prep Time
20 mins
Time to Cook
1 mins
Overall Time
21 mins
Authored by Clara

Recipe Type Orbit Fuel

Skill Level Required Easy

Cuisine Type Mediterranean-Inspired

Recipe Output 6 Number of Portions

Dietary Needs Veggie-Friendly, Free of Gluten

The Ingredients You'll Need

White Bean Dip

01 1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
02 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
03 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
04 1 clove garlic, minced
05 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
06 1/2 tsp sea salt
07 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
08 1/4 tsp smoked paprika (optional)

Olive Penguin Decoration

01 18 large black olives, pitted
02 6 small mozzarella balls (bocconcini or ciliegine)
03 1 large carrot
04 6 toothpicks

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 01

Prepare the White Bean Dip: Combine cannellini beans, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika, if using, in a food processor. Process until the mixture is smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed. Adjust seasoning to taste.

Step 02

Transfer Dip to Serving Bowl: Spoon the dip into a serving bowl and smooth the surface with a spatula.

Step 03

Prepare Penguin Feet and Beaks: Peel the carrot and slice into 12 thin coins approximately 1/8 inch thick for penguin feet. Cut 6 small triangles from additional carrot slices to use as beaks.

Step 04

Assemble Penguin Bodies: Pat olives dry. Cut a lengthwise slit in 6 olives and gently stuff each with a small mozzarella ball to form the white belly of the penguins.

Step 05

Build Penguin Figures: Place a carrot coin flat as feet, then stand a stuffed olive vertically on top. Mount a whole olive as the head above the body and insert a carrot triangle into the head olive's pitted hole to form the beak.

Step 06

Secure and Arrange Penguins: Secure each penguin by threading a toothpick through the head, body, and feet. Repeat assembly for all six penguins and arrange them on or around the dip.

Tools You'll Need

  • Food processor or blender
  • Knife and cutting board
  • Measuring spoons
  • Toothpicks
  • Serving bowl

Allergy Information

Review each ingredient to identify allergens and consult an expert if needed.
  • Contains dairy from mozzarella. Gluten-free but check labels on any processed accompaniments.

Nutritional Facts (Per Serving)

Keep in mind these details are for general guidance and shouldn't replace professional advice.
  • Caloric Content: 140
  • Fats: 6 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 15 grams
  • Proteins: 6 grams