Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip
Make this simple, sweet, and spicy cream cheese dip perfect for holiday parties or game days. It balances tart cranberry with spicy jalapeno for a festive appetizer.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 10 min
- Yield: About 2 cups 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
- 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh jalapeno (remove seeds for less heat)
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional, for topping)
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives (for garnish)
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
Instructions
- Place the softened cream cheese in a medium bowl.
- Add the cranberry sauce and lime zest to the bowl.
- Fold in the chopped jalapeno until the ingredients are just combined. Do not overmix; you want streaks of cranberry visible.
- Transfer the dip mixture to a serving dish.
- Chill the dip for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to blend.
- Before serving, sprinkle the top with chopped pecans and fresh chives.
- Serve cold with crackers, tortilla chips, or baguette slices.
Notes
- You can prepare this dip up to two days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Add the topping just before serving.
- For a smoother texture, use canned jellied cranberry sauce instead of whole berry sauce.
- Adjust the amount of jalapeno based on your preference for heat. Start with less and taste before adding more.
- This dip works well as a cheesy cranberry topping for baked brie.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 110
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 3
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 5
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 2
- Cholesterol: 20