A creamy avocado spread is one of my absolute favorite ways to enjoy ripe avocados. With very little effort and just a few minutes of your time, this plant-based dip is super smooth and has a light, refreshing and tangy flavor. I love serving it as a spread to use on toast or crispy bread, or as a dip to serve with crackers or fresh veggies. Breakfast, lunch, dinner... there is no wrong time to have it!
What is Avocado Spread?
Avocado spread is a creamy and tangy avocado-based dip that is ready in minutes. Its flavor is somewhat neutral, which is why it pairs well with so many different types of dishes.
Unlike guacamole, which consists of lime juice, salt, onion, jalapeño and cilantro (and sometimes tomatoes), avocado spread is creamier, milder and has a completely different taste. Both are delicious in their own right and are staples in our household.
Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Quick and easy: This dish is ready in minutes and involves very little actual work. Just slice open some avocados and add ingredients to the food processor!
- Mild yet flavorful: Avocado spread adds a smooth, tangy finish but is neutral enough not to overpower what you are serving it with.
- Versatile: This spread can be enjoyed on toast for breakfast, in wraps for lunch, as a dip for snack time or as a topping for tacos. A batch of this spread won't last long!
- Kid-friendly: My kids are obsessed with avocado spread every single time. It makes for a perfect after-school snack.
- Stores well and stays green: Most avocado-based spreads will brown after a day or so, but not this one! Its green color will be just as vibrant the next day.
- Dairy-free: While some avocado spreads use Greek yogurt, sour cream or cream cheese, this recipe is vegan and dairy-free.
Ingredients
One of my favorite things about this avocado spread recipe is that it uses simple ingredients I almost always have in my fridge or pantry. All you need are:
- Avocados: Mashed avocados are obviously the star of this dish and are what makes the spread super creamy and vibrant green. Nothing beats the taste of a perfectly ripe avocado!
- Vegan sour cream: While I prefer homemade dairy-free sour cream, you can use store-bought instead. My homemade version consists of cashews (providing additional plant-based protein), water, fresh lemon juice, apple cider vinegar and fine salt.
- Maple syrup: Maple syrup adds a touch of sweetness to the spread.
- Lime juice: Adding lime juice adds a bit of acidity while also balancing out some of the sweetness of the maple syrup.
- Salt: The salt enhances the flavors of all the ingredients and will keep you coming back for seconds.
How to Make Avocado Spread
Sometimes the most delicious dishes require the least amount of effort, and this dish is one of them!
1. Cut the avocados. Slice open the avocados on a cutting board and remove the skin and pits. It is not necessary to dice the avocado flesh or cut them into smaller pieces as they will be blended in the food processor.
2. Combine ingredients in food processor (or blender). Add all of the ingredients to a food processor and run until smooth and creamy. Alternatively, you can combine the ingredients in a bowl and mash with the back of a fork or a potato masher until well combined and then stir with a spoon to fully incorporate.
3. Serve immediately!
Using a Food Processor
Using the Back of a Fork
Recipe Tips
Use a potato masher for a slightly chunkier texture. I personally love my avocado spread to be ultra-creamy so I use a food processor, but that's not to say a little texture isn't good! If you prefer a slight chunk from the mashed avocado, a potato masher is a good idea to use instead of the back of a fork (which gives a really chunky result) or a food processor (which gives a really smooth result). Depending on how long you mash, using the potato masher will give you creaminess while also leaving some chunks, similar to the texture of guacamole.
Use ripe avocados. Choose avocados that are dark green to almost black in color. They should feel somewhat firm but yield to gentle pressure.
- Underripe avocados will be tough and are uneasy to mash, preventing the spread from being creamy. To speed up the ripening, store the avocados near a banana, apple or tomato or in a brown paper bag.
- Overripe avocados will be brown as well as mushy, which we definitely don't want. To slow the ripening process, store the avocados in the refrigerator.
Feel free to add some spice! When I'm making this to use as a dip (and not for the kids), I sometimes add some jalapeño to the food processor or sprinkle some red pepper flakes at the end for a little heat!
What to Serve with Avocado Spread
I love this recipe for any time of day - seriously!
Breakfast: This healthy spread makes for the best avocado toast! Sprinkle some hemp seeds for added protein or top with sliced tomatoes, red onions and fresh herbs to dress it up a bit. Feel free to add other seasonings such as sea salt, black pepper or garlic powder as well.
Lunch: Use this as a sandwich spread as a great alternative to mayo for a plant-based condiment on sandwiches or wraps. It can even be thinned out and used as a dressing for salads.
Appetizer or Snack: This spread makes for a wonderful stand-alone avocado dip to serve with fresh veggies, tortilla chips, pita chips, crackers or even crispy sweet potato fries.
Dinner: Enjoy this recipe with almost any Mexican entrée such as veggie fajitas, enchiladas, tostadas, or taquitos. It also pairs wonderfully with roasted vegetables or even as a topping for pumpkin chili.
Storage
Store the spread in an airtight container or cover tightly with a layer of plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for up to three days. While it won't brown as quickly as guacamole does, eventually it will, starting with the top of the spread. When that happens, stir with a spoon prior to serving the next time to bring it back to a bright green.
Health Benefits of Avocados
Avocados offer healthy fats, dietary fiber and nearly 20 vitamins and minerals such as potassium, folate, vitamin E, C and B6. They contain nutrients, including carotenoids and monounsaturated fats, that have been associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases (source).
More Ways to Use Avocado
If you still have more avocados and need to use them up, don't stress! You can use them the following ways:
Breakfast/Brunch: This savory avocado toast with roasted tomatoes recipe is one of my favorites!
Salads: Enjoy a refreshing summer tomato avocado basil salad or broccoli salad with avocado.
Appetizers/Dips: I love adding avocado to easy dips like cowboy caviar and my 15-minute vegan 7-layer dip.
Main dishes: Add avocados to summer rolls, homemade sushi or vegan taco bowls.
Dessert: Believe it or not, avocados are delicious as ingredients in many delicious desserts such as vegan mint chocolate chip ice cream and creamy chocolate fudgesicles.
5-Minute Avocado Spread
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
This creamy avocado spread is one of my absolute favorite ways to enjoy avocado. With very little effort and just a few minutes of your time, this plant-based dip is super smooth and has a light, refreshing and tangy flavor. I love serving it as a spread to use on toast or crispy bread, or as a dip to serve with crackers or fresh veggies. Breakfast, lunch, dinner... there is no wrong time to have it!
Ingredients
2 avocados
¼ cup vegan sour cream (homemade or store-bought)
1 lime, juiced
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon maple syrup
Instructions
- Cut the avocados. Slice open the avocados and remove the skin and pits. It is not necessary to dice or cut them into smaller pieces as they will be blended in the food processor.
- Combine ingredients in food processor (or blender). Add all of the ingredients to a food processor and run until smooth and creamy. Alternatively, you can combine the ingredients in a bowl and mash with the back of a fork or a potato masher until well combined and then stir with a spoon to fully incorporate.
- Serve immediately!
Equipment
Buy Now → Notes
My homemade vegan sour cream uses 1 cup raw cashews, ½ filtered water, 1 large lemon, 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar (or white distilled vinegar) and ¼ teaspoon fine salt. Blend all the ingredients for 45 seconds, scrape the sides down and then blend for another 15 seconds. See full recipe for more details.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. While it won't brown as quickly as guacamole does, eventually it will, starting with the top layer. When that happens, stir with a spoon prior to serving to bring it back to a bright green.
- Prep Time: 5
Kim says
I can't believe it stays green! I love avocado spreads so much, but they always turn brown and then I have to throw them out. This is perfect!
Elaine Gordon says
Haha yes! isn't that the best part!?
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Toni! So happy everyone in your household enjoyed!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Dina and Bruce! So happy to hear you enjoyed this one!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Carrie! So happy to hear you enjoyed this one so much and found it so simple to make!
Elaine Gordon says
So happy to hear you like that idea, Ann!