Description
This vibrant Cranberry Jalapeno Dip combines tart cranberries with the spicy kick of jalapeno and the creamy richness of cream cheese, making it a perfect festive appetizer. It’s easy to prepare, blending fresh ingredients for a zesty and colorful dip that’s ideal for serving with crackers or pita chips at parties or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Dip Base
- 2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
Cranberry Jalapeno Mixture
- 2 cups fresh or frozen (thawed) cranberries
- 3 green onions (chopped, green parts separated from whites)
- 1 small jalapeno (seeded and membrane removed)
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1/4 cup roughly chopped cilantro
- 1/4 cup honey or agave nectar (plus more for drizzling)
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Garnish and Serving
- Flaky sea salt (such as Maldon®, optional)
- Crackers or pita chips for serving
- Green onion greens for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare Cranberry Mixture: In a food processor, combine the cranberries, green onion whites, jalapeño, lime juice, cilantro, honey, and salt. Pulse until the mixture is finely chopped and well combined but not pureed.
- Drain Excess Liquid: Transfer the cranberry mixture to a fine mesh strainer placed over a bowl and let it drain to remove excess liquid, ensuring the dip maintains the right consistency.
- Mix Cream Cheese Base: In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and heavy cream together until the mixture is fluffy and smooth.
- Assemble the Dip: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly on a serving platter or dish, creating a base layer for the topping.
- Top and Garnish: Spoon the strained cranberry mixture evenly over the cream cheese base. Sprinkle flaky sea salt over the top if using, and garnish with the reserved green onion greens for added color and freshness.
- Serve: Drizzle additional honey over the dip if desired for extra sweetness, and serve immediately with crackers or pita chips.
Notes
- Use fresh cranberries if possible for the best texture, or thaw frozen cranberries completely before using.
- Adjust the heat level by adding more or less jalapeno according to your taste preference.
- The dip can be prepared a few hours in advance; keep it refrigerated and add the crackers just before serving to maintain their crispiness.
- For a vegan version, substitute cream cheese and sour cream with plant-based alternatives and use agave nectar.
- Draining the cranberry mixture prevents the dip from becoming watery and keeps the texture perfect.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cranberry jalapeno dip, holiday dip, creamy cranberry dip, spicy dip, appetizer, party dip, easy dip recipe, cream cheese dip
