Creamy Cranberry Jalapeno Dip Recipe
This Creamy Cranberry Jalapeno Dip combines the tartness of fresh cranberries with the spicy kick of jalapenos and the smooth richness of cream cheese. Perfectly balanced with lime juice, cilantro, and a hint of sweetness, this dip is an excellent appetizer for holiday gatherings or any party. It’s refreshing, creamy, and easy to prepare in advance.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes (including chilling time, longer if refrigerated overnight)
- Yield: About 2½ cups 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Fresh Ingredients
- 12 ounces fresh cranberries
- 2 jalapenos, minced (about ¼ cup)
- 4 green onions, thinly sliced (about ¼ cup)
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped small
- 2–3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 large lime)
Pantry Ingredients
- ½ cup sugar (add up to ¼ cup more for additional sweetness if desired)
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
Dairy
- 16 ounces cream cheese
Instructions
- Roughly chop the cranberries: Pour the fresh cranberries into a food processor or food chopper and pulse once or twice to roughly chop them without pureeing. This keeps some texture in the dip.
- Mix the ingredients: In a bowl, combine the chopped cranberries with minced jalapenos, sliced green onions, chopped cilantro, sugar, lime juice, and kosher salt. Stir thoroughly to blend all flavors. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour, preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to meld.
- Strain the cranberry mixture: When ready to serve, remove the mixture from the refrigerator and pour it through a fine mesh strainer over a bowl. Let the liquid drain completely from the cranberry mixture, reserving the liquid for later use.
- Prepare the cream cheese base: While the cranberry mixture is straining, whip the cream cheese until smooth and creamy using a mixer or a whisk.
- Combine and adjust consistency: Add the strained cranberry mixture to the whipped cream cheese along with about 2 tablespoons of the reserved liquid. Stir well to combine. Add more reserved liquid in small teaspoon increments as needed to reach the desired creamy consistency.
- Serve: Transfer the dip to a serving bowl and serve chilled with crackers or pretzel crisps for a delicious appetizer.
Notes
- For a sweeter dip, increase the sugar up to ¾ cup according to taste.
- Adjust the amount of jalapenos based on your preferred spice level; remove seeds for milder heat.
- Make the dip a day ahead to deepen flavors and improve texture.
- Use a fine mesh strainer to achieve a smooth, creamy consistency without excess liquid.
- Serve chilled and store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Keywords: cranberry dip, jalapeno dip, creamy dip, holiday appetizer, cream cheese dip, party dip, fresh cranberry dip
