Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip Recipe
This vibrant and tangy Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip combines the tartness of fresh cranberries with the spicy kick of jalapeno, fresh herbs, and sweetened with sugar. It’s a perfect make-ahead appetizer that offers a blend of creamy, spicy, and sweet flavors, ideal for holiday parties or casual gatherings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes (including refrigeration)
- Yield: About 12 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
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)
Cream Cheese Base
- 2 (8-ounce) packages Cream Cheese (softened and whipped)
Instructions
- 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 carefully to avoid pureeing the cranberries. Alternatively, finely hand chop all ingredients.
- Mix and Refrigerate: Combine the chopped mixture in a bowl. Stir in sugar, salt, and optional lemon juice. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight to meld flavors.
- Strain Mixture: Before serving, strain the cranberry mixture through a colander with small openings to drain excess liquid, ensuring the topping is not watery on the cream cheese.
- Prepare Cream Cheese: Place softened cream cheese in a mixing bowl and whip for 2 to 3 minutes until light and fluffy. Evenly spread the whipped cream cheese on a pie plate, serving platter, or plate.
- Assemble and Serve: Spoon the strained cranberry jalapeno salsa over the cream cheese layer. Serve immediately with crackers, pita chips, or tortilla chips for dipping.
Notes
- Pulse cranberries and jalapeno carefully to maintain texture and avoid pureeing.
- Refrigerate the salsa mixture for a minimum of 4 hours to allow flavors to develop fully.
- Straining the salsa prevents runny dip and preserves the cream cheese’s texture.
- For milder dip, remove seeds from jalapeno before chopping.
- Serve with your choice of crackers or chips for varied textures and flavors.
Keywords: cranberry dip, jalapeno dip, cream cheese dip, holiday appetizer, party dip, spicy cranberry salsa
