This Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip is the ultimate holiday appetizer-sweet, tangy, and just the right amount of heat. It's festive, colorful, and guaranteed to wow your guests at any gathering.
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Cranberries are such a delicious fruit that I love using in recipes! From cranberry relish to cranberry sauce, candied cranberries, in cranberry orange muffins, Christmas Fruit Salad, cranberry margarita drinks, and cranberry mint juleps, and now in this delicious dip!
Why This Recipe Works
- Balanced Flavors - The sweetness of cranberries blends perfectly with the heat of jalapeños.
- Make-Ahead Friendly - Prepares in advance, letting flavors meld beautifully.
- Festive & Colorful - Bright red and green make it a standout dish on any holiday table.
- Versatile - Works as a dip, spread, or topping for meats and sandwiches. (It would be great on a tri-tip sandwich or a turkey cranberry sandwich!
Fresh vs Frozen Cranberries
You can use either fresh or frozen cranberries for this recipe. Fresh cranberries will have more structure and a crunchier texture, whereas thawed cranberries will be softer and may make the dip a little watery.
If you only have frozen, you may want to try my blended dip version (instructions included below!), or just know that they will be a bit less crisp on top of the cream cheese.
Looking for other dips to make this holiday? Try this Spinach Dip, Buffalo Chicken Dip, Smoked Queso, Pumpkin Fluff, or this Little Debbie Christmas Tree Dip.
What This Recipe Needs
- Cranberries- Fresh or Frozen, just make sure to see my notes on how to use whichever you choose.
- Jalapeno- I like to use one large or several small. Depending on how hot you want the dip, you can adjust the amount.
- Green Onion- This adds a great fresh flavor to the dip.
- Cilantro- If you don't like cilantro, feel free to leave this out. I know some people can't stand it, and this dip is great even without it!
- Sugar- A little sweetness to offset the tartness from the cranberries.
- Lime Juice- Some acidity to enhance the flavors.
- Cream Cheese- This creamy, rich base really brings all the flavors together!
- Cumin- You don't need much, but I love the extra flavor this adds!
How to Make Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip?
Chunky Cranberry Jalapeno Dip is more like a cranberry salsa poured over a layer of cream cheese. I think it's a bit prettier than the blended since you get the stark red and white contrast, but you do have to dig through the cranberry to get to any of the cream cheese.
- Step 1: In a food processor, pulse fresh cranberries until coarsely chopped but not pureed. You will only need to pulse a few times.
- Step 2: In a bowl, combine chopped cranberries, diced jalapenos, chopped green onions, cilantro, sugar, lime zest, lime juice, cumin, and salt. Then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Step 3: Spread cream cheese into a thin layer.
- Step 4: Drain any excess liquid from the chilled cranberry mixture, then spread the mixture over the cream cheese.
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- Step 6: Garnish with extra green onions and serve with crackers.
How to Make Blended Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip?
Blended Cranberry Cream Cheese Jalapeno Dip is similar to what you might find at the store. It mixes all the ingredients into the cream cheese, and so you have one uniform dip.
- Step 6: In a food processor, pulse cranberries (fresh or frozen), jalapenos, green onion, cilantro, sugar, lime zest, juice from the lime, cumin, and salt. Then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Step 7: Pour off any excess liquid from the cranberry mixture. Then, add everything to the bowl of a mixer along with the cream cheese and mix on medium speed until the cream cheese is thoroughly mixed into the cranberry jalapeno mixture.
- Step 8: Place in a serving dish, garnish with green onions, and enjoy with some crackers!
Expert Tips
- Chop cranberries finely so the topping spreads evenly over the cream cheese.
- Let the cranberry mixture sit for 30 minutes to a few hours, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Use room-temperature cream cheese for easier spreading.
- Garnish with extra green onion, cilantro, or sliced jalapeños for a festive look.
Frequently Asked Questions
It has a mild kick, but you can adjust the heat by removing or keeping jalapeño seeds.
Yes! Prepare the cranberry topping a day early and chill until ready to serve. When you are ready to serve, pour over the cream cheese or mix it into the cream cheese.
It's delicious with crackers, tortilla chips, or spread over toasted baguette slices.
Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Water from the cranberries will continue to separate and so you may need to mix the dip or pour off any extra liquid when you go to eat up the leftovers.,
This dip is great alongside smoked cream cheese, baked brie, hot spinach artichoke dip, or a delicious autumn salad. It also goes great with some smoked chicken thighs, herb-crusted rack of lamb, filet medallions, a delicious smoked ribeye, or some spatchcock turkey.
More Related Recipes
Check out all my holiday recipes and especially don't miss my smoked turkey breast, easy sweet potato rolls, Christmas Wreath cookies, Christmas Chex Mix, and this Gingerbread Bundt Cake!
If you like this recipe, make sure to give it a 5-star review and leave a comment down below!
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Video
Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries can use fresh or frozen*
- 2 jalapenos diced, seeds removed
- 4 green onions chopped
- ¼ cup cilantro chopped
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 lime zested then juiced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 16 oz cream cheese softened to room temp (Two 8 oz packages)
- Crackers
Instructions
Chunky Dip
- Look through the cranberries and remove any soft or off-colored ones.12 oz cranberries
- In a food processor, pulse cranberries until coarsely chopped but not pureed. You will only need to pulse a few times.
- In a mixing bowl, combine chopped cranberries, diced jalapenos, chopped green onion, cilantro, sugar, zested lime, juice from the lime, cumin, and salt. Mix together, then refrigerate for 30 minutes or overnight.2 jalapenos, 4 green onions, ¼ cup cilantro, ¾ cup sugar, 1 lime, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon cumin
- When ready to serve, remove from refrigerator and carefully pour off any extra liquid that's accumulated.
- Spread cream cheese onto a shallow plate or pie dish.16 oz cream cheese
- Pour cranberry jalapeno mixture over cream cheese, garnish with extra green onions, serve with crackers, and enjoy!Crackers
Blended Dip
- In a food processor, pulse cranberries, jalapenos, green onion, cilantro, sugar, zested lime, juice from the lime, cumin, and salt.12 oz cranberries, 2 jalapenos, 4 green onions, ¼ cup cilantro, ¾ cup sugar, 1 lime, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon cumin
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. When ready to serve, pour off the liquid that has come from the cranberries and other ingredients.
- Add everything to the bowl of a mixer along with softened cream cheese and mix on medium speed until the cream cheese is thoroughly mixed into the cranberry jalapeno mixture.
- Place in a dish, garnish with extra green onions, and enjoy!
Notes
- *Fresh vs Frozen Cranberries: Fresh cranberries are firmer and have a great texture. Frozen can be slightly less firm, and I like using them for a blended cranberry dip, although I have used them for a "chunky" version, and it was delicious too!
- Storage: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Lisa says
I love both versions of this dip!