Description
This Baked Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip is a delicious and festive appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings or any party. Creamy, tangy cream cheese is topped with a sweet and aromatic whole berry cranberry sauce, enhanced with orange zest, cinnamon, and fresh rosemary. Optional pecans add a delightful crunch. Served warm with crackers or baguette slices, this dip is easy to prepare and sure to impress your guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Dip Ingredients
- 1 (8-ounce) block cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
- ½ teaspoon orange zest
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup chopped pecans (optional)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- Pinch of salt
To Serve
- Crackers or baguette slices
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s at the right temperature for baking the dip evenly.
- Prepare the cranberry mixture: In a small mixing bowl, combine the whole berry cranberry sauce, orange zest, ground cinnamon, chopped fresh rosemary, chopped pecans if using, and a pinch of salt. Stir well to blend all ingredients evenly.
- Arrange the cream cheese: Place the softened block of cream cheese in a small oven-safe baking dish or a cast iron skillet to serve as the base of your dip.
- Top with cranberry mixture: Spoon the prepared cranberry sauce mixture evenly over the top of the cream cheese block, spreading gently to cover the surface.
- Bake: Put the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 15–18 minutes, or until the dip is heated through and starts to bubble slightly around the edges.
- Serve warm: Remove from the oven and allow it to cool slightly before serving with crackers or toasted baguette slices for dipping.
Notes
- For a smoother dip texture, whip the cream cheese before spreading it in the baking dish, then top with the cranberry mixture.
- Using leftover homemade cranberry sauce can add extra depth and freshness to the flavor.
- Optionally, substitute pecans with walnuts or omit nuts for a nut-free version.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
