Description
Looking for a crowd-pleasing dip that’s sweet, spicy, and incredibly easy? This Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip is your go-to appetizer for holidays, parties, or snack cravings. It combines the tart bite of cranberries with the subtle heat of jalapeños, all swirled into a creamy layer of whipped cream cheese. Serve it with crackers or veggies for a colorful, festive spread. Perfect for those hunting for easy party recipes, holiday appetizers, or just a bold flavor dip idea!
Ingredients
1 cup fresh cranberries
1–2 medium jalapeños, seeded for mild or leave seeds for heat
8 oz cream cheese, softened
½ cup sugar
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 green onions, chopped
2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped (optional)
Pinch of salt
Extra cranberries, jalapeño slices, and lime zest for garnish
Instructions
1. Add cranberries, jalapeños, sugar, and lime juice to a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped, not mushy. Let sit for 15–20 minutes.
2. Strain excess liquid from the mixture using a fine mesh sieve to prevent sogginess.
3. In a medium bowl, whip the cream cheese until smooth using a hand mixer or spoon.
4. Fold in the strained cranberry-jalapeño mixture, green onions, cilantro (optional), and salt. Mix well.
5. Spread into a serving dish and garnish with extra cranberries, jalapeño slices, and lime zest.
6. Serve with crackers, toasted baguette, or vegetable sticks. Chill for 1 hour if making ahead.
Notes
Let the dip sit for at least 15 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld beautifully.
If you’re sensitive to spice, use only one jalapeño and remove all seeds and membranes.
For a festive twist, a touch of honey or orange zest can be added to the cranberry mix.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 7g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg