Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip
This Holiday Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip is the ultimate festive appetizer! A perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and tangy, it features tart cranberries, fresh jalapeños, cream cheese, and just the right touch of sugar. It’s a bold and flavorful dip that’s always a holiday party favorite. Serve it with crackers for a crowd-pleasing dish your guests will love!
Try my easy homemade cranberry sauce, cranberry fluff salad, or cranberry baked brie next!
Sweet Spicy & Creamy Holiday Cranberry Jalapeño Dip
The cranberries provide a tangy fruity base while the jalapeños kick up the flavor with spiciness! Serving it with a salty crackers or chips further compliments the dip by adding a savory element.
It’s the perfect dip to serve as an appetizer for a family gathering or a party at Thanksgiving or Christmas.
This is one of those dip recipes that is ‘morish’ as it will have your guests coming back for more. It is that GOOD!!! Try this as a spread on your next leftover holiday turkey sandwich … pure bliss!!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Easy homemade cranberry cream cheese dip
- Make ahead recipe that takes only 10 minutes to make
- Perfectly balanced dip packed full of flavor
- Best appetizer for your next holiday party
- Great dip recipe to bring to a gathering
- The perfect Christmas appetizer or Thanksgiving appetizer
Ingredients
- Cranberries – fresh only
- Granulated Sugar
- Green Onions
- Jalapeno – deseeded
- Cilantro
- Lemon Juice
- Salt – coarse Kosher salt
- Cream Cheese
Substitutions
You can substitute the cream cheese by using goat cheese or baked brie.
Step by Step Instructions
STEP ONE – Clean, wash, and dry the cranberries.
STEP TWO – In a food processor add the cranberries, sugar, green onions, jalapeno, cilantro, lemon juice, and salt. Pulse for 10-15 seconds or until combined. Taste to see if you need to add more sugar or salt.
STEP THREE – Spread the cream cheese on a plate or leave it as a block.
STEP FOUR – Top the cream cheese with the jalapeno relish.
Variations: Add some crispy bacon or bacon bits as a salty topping or some orange zest on top.
What to serve with cranberry jalapeno dip
- Favorite crackers salted or unsalted
- Chips
- Tortilla Chips
- Corn Chips
- Pretzels
- Veggies cut up
- Use it as a sandwich spread (amazing on a leftover turkey sandwich!!)
Sandra’s tips
- Only use fresh cranberries in this recipe
- If you like more heat add more jalapeños
- Let it ‘mingle’ by storing it the fridge for 12 to 24 hours really helps the flavors meld and give that ‘wow factor ‘ as when it is first made it will not have as much flavor
- Make sure to chop the cranberries finely to ensure the flavor is well distributed
Make it ahead of time
You can make this cranberry cream cheese dip up to 3 days ahead stored in the fridge before serving. When it is chilled in the fridge overnight it really allows the flavors to meld and blend for the best flavor results.
Storage
Store your leftover cranberry dip in the fridge covered with wrap or in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Cranberry Jalapeno Dip
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Description
This Cranberry Jalapeno Dip has an amazing combination of sweet, spicy and tangy flavors that is perfect to serve as a party crowd pleaser during the holidays. The tart cranberries are offset with the sweetness of sugar and cream cheese, which is complimented with the heat of the jalapeños. It is a perfectly balanced dip, packed full of flavor!!
Ingredients
12 ounces cranberries, fresh and uncooked
3/4 cup granulated white sugar
1/2 cup green onions
1–2 jalapeno, deseeded
1/4 cup cilantro
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
16-ounce cream cheese, room temperature
Instructions
- Clean, wash, and dry the cranberries.
- In a food processor add the cranberries, sugar, green onions, jalapeno, cilantro, lemon juice, and salt. Pulse for 10-15 seconds or until combined. Taste to see if you need to add more sugar or salt.
- Spread the cream cheese on a plate or leave it as a block.
- Top the cream cheese with the jalapeno relish.
- You can make this ahead of time, but assemble the relish on top of the room-temperature cream cheese before your guests arrive.
Notes
Store your leftover cranberry relish in the fridge covered with wrap or in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
NOTE: For a creamier spread of cream cheese, whip the room tempearture cream cheese in a glass mixing bowl first before spreading on plate to serve the appetier.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
