Description
This Holiday Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip is a vibrant and festive appetizer combining tart cranberries, a hint of spicy jalapeño, fresh herbs, and creamy cheese. Perfect for holiday gatherings, it offers a delightful balance of flavors that’s sure to impress guests at Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any seasonal party.
Ingredients
Scale
Cranberry Mixture
- 12 ounces fresh cranberries
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 to 2 jalapeños, seeded and finely diced
- 2 teaspoons lime juice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Cream Cheese Base
- 2 (8-ounce) blocks cream cheese, softened
For Serving
- Crackers or sliced baguette
Instructions
- Prepare the cranberry mixture: Rinse and dry the fresh cranberries thoroughly. Place them in a food processor and pulse just until finely chopped, taking care not to puree them. Transfer the chopped cranberries to a medium bowl.
- Combine ingredients: Add granulated sugar, chopped green onions, chopped cilantro, finely diced jalapeños, lime juice, and salt to the cranberries. Mix everything well until evenly combined.
- Chill the mixture: Cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate the cranberry mixture for at least 1 hour. This allows the flavors to meld and the sugar to slightly macerate the cranberries for enhanced taste and texture.
- Prepare the cream cheese base: When ready to serve, arrange the softened cream cheese blocks side-by-side on a serving platter or spread them evenly in a shallow dish.
- Assemble the dip: Spoon the chilled cranberry jalapeño mixture over the cream cheese, spreading it out evenly for an attractive presentation.
- Serve: Offer the dip chilled or at room temperature alongside crackers, crostini, or sliced baguette for guests to enjoy.
Notes
- For a spicier dip, leave some jalapeño seeds in or increase the number of peppers used.
- The cranberry topping can be made up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated until serving.
- This dip is especially suited for holiday gatherings like Thanksgiving and Christmas parties.
- Use gluten-free crackers to keep the dish gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
