Description
Spicy-sweet “holiday cranberry jalapeño cream cheese dip” brings festive zest to party spreads. Creamy cheese mingles with tart cranberries and fiery peppers, creating an irresistible appetizer you’ll want to share with friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 bag (12 ounces / 340 grams) fresh cranberries, rinsed and drained
- 16 ounces (450 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 12 jalapenos, finely chopped (seeds removed for less heat)
Flavoring Ingredients:
- ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) lime juice (about 2 limes)
- ¼ cup (10 grams) fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Serving Suggestions:
- Crackers
- Tortilla chips
- Fresh vegetables
Instructions
- Transform whole cranberries into a vibrant relish using a food processor, pulsing carefully to maintain a coarse texture without creating a puree.
- Allow chopped cranberries to mingle with sugar, lime juice, finely diced jalapenos, fresh cilantro, and a pinch of salt, enabling the ingredients to harmonize and intensify their flavors for 15-20 minutes.
- Select a spacious serving platter and gently spread softened cream cheese across the surface, creating a smooth, even canvas using a flexible spatula.
- Artfully distribute the cranberry mixture over the cream cheese layer, ensuring complete and uniform coverage that showcases the bright red relish against the white backdrop.
- Seal the assembled dip with protective wrap and nestle into the refrigerator, allowing the components to chill and marry their flavors for a minimum of 30 minutes.
- When ready to serve, present the dip alongside an array of accompaniments like crisp crackers, rustic tortilla chips, or a colorful assortment of fresh vegetable crudités for guests to enjoy.
Notes
- Pulse cranberries carefully to maintain a chunky texture, avoiding over-processing that could turn them into a mushy puree.
- Allow the cranberry mixture to rest and marinate, letting the flavors intensify and blend seamlessly.
- Soften cream cheese at room temperature for easy spreading and a smooth, creamy base.
- Adjust jalapeno quantity based on personal heat preference, removing seeds for milder version or adding more for extra kick.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 192
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 143 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg