Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip (Holiday Recipe) Recipe
This vibrant Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip is perfect for holiday gatherings, combining tart cranberries, spicy jalapenos, and fresh herbs for a flavorful and colorful appetizer. It is easy to prepare and served chilled over creamy room temperature cream cheese, making it a festive and crowd-pleasing dip.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes plus at least 2 hours chilling
- Yield: 15 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Fruit & Vegetables
- 1 12-ounce bag fresh cranberries
- 1-2 jalapenos, seeds removed
- 1-2 green onions
- 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
- 1/4 cup parsley leaves
Other Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 8-ounce block cream cheese (room temperature)
- Crackers, pretzels, crostini for dipping
Instructions
- Prepare Cranberries: Wash the fresh cranberries thoroughly and place them in the base of a food processor to ensure they are clean and ready for processing.
- Prep Jalapenos and Green Onions: Cut the jalapeno in half and remove all seeds to reduce heat, then chop into several pieces. Slice the green onions and add both jalapenos and green onions to the food processor.
- Add Herbs and Flavorings: Add the fresh parsley leaves, cilantro leaves, orange zest, orange juice, sugar, and salt to the food processor with the cranberries and peppers.
- Pulse Ingredients: Pulse the food processor several times until all ingredients are finely chopped but maintain some texture, forming a vibrant cranberry salsa.
- Chill the Salsa: Transfer the cranberry salsa to a bowl and refrigerate for at least a few hours to let flavors meld and intensify.
- Assemble the Dip: Just before serving, pour the chilled cranberry salsa evenly over a block of room temperature cream cheese to create a layered dip perfect for spreading.
- Serve: Serve the dip with crackers, pretzels, or crostini for dipping alongside your favorite holiday spread.
Notes
- Removing jalapeno seeds reduces spiciness; keep them if you prefer more heat.
- Refrigerate the cranberry salsa for several hours to allow flavors to meld and intensify.
- Use room temperature cream cheese for easier spreading and better texture contrast.
- Try substituting the sugar with honey or maple syrup for a natural sweetener alternative.
- This dip can be made a day ahead for convenience and better flavor development.
