Print
clockclock iconcutlerycutlery iconflagflag iconfolderfolder iconinstagraminstagram iconpinterestpinterest iconfacebookfacebook iconprintprint iconsquaressquares iconheartheart iconheart solidheart solid icon

Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

3.9 from 55 reviews

This Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip offers a festive combination of creamy, tart, sweet, and mildly spicy flavors, making it an ideal appetizer for holiday parties. Featuring a fresh cranberry salsa with jalapeno and cilantro atop whipped cream cheese, this dip pairs perfectly with a variety of crackers and chips.

  • Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: Approximately 12 servings

Ingredients

Cranberry Salsa

  • 12 ounce bag Fresh Cranberries
  • 1 Jalapeno
  • 2 to 3 Tablespoons Cilantro
  • 3 Green Onions
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice (optional)

Dip Base

  • 2 (8-ounce) packages Cream Cheese, softened and whipped

Instructions

  1. Chop Ingredients: Use a hand chopper or food processor to finely chop the fresh cranberries, jalapeno, cilantro, and green onions. If using a food processor, pulse only to avoid pureeing the cranberries. Alternatively, hand chop into small pieces for more texture variety.
  2. Combine and Refrigerate: Transfer the chopped mixture into a bowl, then stir in sugar, salt, and optional lemon juice. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight to allow flavors to meld and juices to develop.
  3. Strain Mixture: When ready to serve, strain the cranberry jalapeno salsa in a colander with small holes to remove excess juice, preventing the dip from becoming too liquid on the serving platter.
  4. Prepare Cream Cheese: Place the softened cream cheese in a mixing bowl and whip for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for the dip.
  5. Assemble Dip: Spread the whipped cream cheese evenly on the bottom of a pie plate, serving platter, or plate. Spoon the strained cranberry salsa atop the cream cheese layer.
  6. Serve: Serve immediately with butter crackers, wheat entertainment crackers, nut and seed crackers, pita chips, or tortilla chips. Cinnamon sugar pita chips make an excellent accompaniment for added flavor.

Notes

  • Only use fresh cranberries for this recipe; frozen cranberries are too soft and won't provide the desired texture.
  • Straining the cranberry salsa after refrigeration is crucial to prevent excess juice from wetting the serving dish and crackers.
  • Hand chopping yields chunkier texture, while using a food processor results in a more uniform salsa—use pulsing to avoid a cranberry puree.
  • Choose sturdy crackers or chips for dipping to ensure ease of serving; cinnamon sugar pita chips pair especially well with the dip.
  • Recipe adapted from Lindsey Maestas.
  • Author: Amelia
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://recipesvibe.com/cranberry-jalapeno-cream-cheese-dip-recipe/