Description
This Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip is a vibrant and flavorful appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings or any festive occasion. Combining fresh cranberries, spicy jalapeño, and zesty lime with creamy softened cream cheese creates a well-balanced dip that pairs perfectly with wheat crackers. Its bright, fresh flavors and colorful presentation make it an irresistible crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Scale
Dip Ingredients
- 12 ounce bag fresh cranberries
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (adjust based on preference)
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 3 scallions, chopped (green and white parts)
- 1 jalapeño (seeds and membranes removed)
- 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
- 1/2 – 3/4 tsp ground cumin
- Pinch of salt
- (2) 8-ounce blocks cream cheese, softened
Serving
- Wheat crackers for serving
Instructions
- Chop the Cranberry Mixture: In a food processor, pulse the fresh cranberries until coarsely chopped. Add sugar, lemon juice, jalapeño, scallions, cilantro, cumin, and salt. Blend until finely chopped, scraping down the sides occasionally.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Base: On a serving plate, spread the softened cream cheese evenly into a 1/4-inch thick layer using a spatula.
- Drain Cranberry Mixture: Use a slotted spoon, sieve, or cheesecloth to drain excess juice from the cranberry mixture; save the juice for cocktails if desired.
- Assemble Dip: Spoon the drained cranberry mixture evenly over the cream cheese layer. For decoration, add a whole cranberry and a few cilantro leaves in the center.
Notes
- Adjust sugar to balance the tartness of the cranberries and heat from the jalapeño.
- Removing seeds and membranes from jalapeño moderates the spiciness—keep seeds if you prefer extra heat.
- You can prepare the cranberry mixture up to a day ahead and refrigerate for better flavor melding.
- Serve with your favorite crackers or vegetable sticks for added texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cranberry dip, jalapeño cream cheese dip, holiday appetizer, festive dip, party dip, easy dip recipe
