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Overhead view of cranberry jalapeño dip on cream cheese in a white bowl, surrounded by Ritz crackers and fresh cranberries on a gray surface.

Cranberry Jalapeño Dip

40aprons.com/cranberry-jalapeno-dip/
This cranberry jalapeño dip recipe is the ultimate holiday party appetizer that's incredibly quick to make! Sweet, tangy cranberries meet spicy jalapeños in a vibrant relish that's layered over cream cheese and served with crackers. It’s incredibly tasty and looks absolutely stunning on your serving table!
Prep 10 minutes
Total 10 minutes
Recipe Makes (Approximate): 8

Equipment

  • Food processor or blender, if you don’t have a processor
  • Serving plate or 9-inch pie dish
  • Citrus juicer optional

Ingredients

For the Cranberry Jalapeño Mixture

  • 1 12-ounce bag cranberries, fresh or frozen
  • ¼ cup cilantro (roughly chopped)
  • ½ cup green onions (roughly chopped, about 6 green onions or 1 regular bunch)
  • 1-2 jalapeño peppers (minced, with seeds for more heat; see Notes)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (juice of 1 lime)
  • ⅓ cup white granulated sugar (see Notes)
  • 1 pinch salt

For Serving

  • 1 8-ounce block cream cheese, softened (optional)
  • Ritz crackers (or crackers of choice)

Instructions

Make the Cranberry Mixture

  • Roughly chop ¼ cup cilantro and ½ cup green onions (about 6 green onions or 1 bunch).
  • Mince 1-2 jalapeño peppers. Keep seeds if you want more heat, or remove them for milder dip.
  • Juice 1 lime to get about 2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice.
  • Add 12 ounces cranberries (fresh or frozen), chopped cilantro, chopped green onions, minced jalapeño pepper, 2 tablespoons lime juice, ⅓ cup white sugar, and 1 pinch of salt to bowl of food processor fitted with medium blade.
  • Pulse 8-10 times until ingredients are chopped to medium, relish-like consistency. Don't over-process—you want texture, not smooth puree.
  • Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Add more sugar for sweetness, more jalapeño for heat, or squeeze more lime for brightness.

Assemble the Dip

  • Spread 8 ounces softened cream cheese in even layer on serving plate or 9-inch pie dish.
  • Top cream cheese layer with cranberry-jalapeño mixture, spreading it evenly over top.
  • Refrigerate for up to 1 hour before serving to let flavors meld. Remove from refrigerator 20-30 minutes before serving for best flavor and texture.
  • Arrange crackers around dip and serve at room temperature.

Recipe Notes

Add Texture: Fold in ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts to the cranberry mixture for extra crunch and a hint of earthiness.
Switch Up the Base: Instead of cream cheese, try goat cheese for a tangier flavor, or layer it over brie for an ultra-luxurious appetizer. You can also skip the cheese entirely and serve this as a fresh salsa.
Herb Variations: Swap cilantro for fresh mint for a completely different flavor profile, or use flat-leaf parsley if you're not a cilantro fan.
Jalapeño Heat Level: Start with 1 jalapeño with seeds removed for mild heat. For medium heat, use 1 jalapeño with seeds. For spicy, use 2 jalapeños with seeds. Jalapeños vary wildly in heat, so taste a small piece before adding to gauge spice level.
Sugar Adjustment: Start with ¼ cup sugar, taste, and add up to ⅓ cup based on your preference. Some prefer sweeter to balance tartness and heat, others prefer less sweet to let savory notes shine.
Make Ahead: Cranberry mixture can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored in airtight container in refrigerator. Assemble with cream cheese up to 8 hours before serving. Store covered in refrigerator.
Storage: Cranberry mixture alone keeps for up to 5 days refrigerated. Once assembled with cream cheese, consume within 2-3 days for best quality.
Freezing: Freeze cranberry mixture (without cream cheese) for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator and assemble with fresh cream cheese when ready to serve.
Dairy-Free Option: Use a dairy-free cream cheese, or skip cream cheese entirely and serve as fresh cranberry salsa.
No Food Processor: Use a blender instead. Pulse in short bursts to avoid over-blending, stopping to scrape down sides as needed.

Nutrition Information (Approximate)

Calories: 153calProtein: 0.2gFat: 0.05gSaturated Fat: 0.004gSodium: 6mgPotassium: 29mgTotal Carbs: 9gFiber: 0.2gSugar: 9gNet Carbs: 9gVitamin A: 117IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 0.1mg
Recipe By: Cheryl Malik
https://40aprons.com/cranberry-jalapeno-dip/