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Best Jalapeño Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip – Easy Recipe

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This creamy, tangy, and slightly spicy dip combines tart cranberries with fresh jalapeño for a crowd-pleasing appetizer that’s ready in 15 minutes. Perfect for parties, game nights, or holiday gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 16 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped
  • 2 fresh jalapeños, seeded and finely diced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • Extra cilantro sprigs for garnish
  • Thinly sliced jalapeño rounds for garnish
  • Assorted crackers, crostini, or vegetable sticks for serving

Instructions

  1. Soften the cream cheese: Take the cream cheese out of the fridge about 30 minutes before starting. If in a hurry, cut into smaller cubes and let sit for 10 minutes until a finger pressed into it leaves an indent.
  2. Prep the cranberries and jalapeños: While cream cheese softens, chop fresh cranberries into small pieces (about pea-sized). Dice jalapeños, removing seeds unless you want extra heat. Chop dried cranberries to about the same size as fresh ones.
  3. Mix the base: In a medium mixing bowl, beat softened cream cheese with a hand mixer on medium speed until smooth and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Scrape down sides. Add sour cream and honey, beat for another minute until well combined.
  4. Fold in the good stuff: Using a spatula, gently fold in chopped fresh cranberries, dried cranberries, diced jalapeños, cilantro, and lime juice. Do not overmix; the dip should look speckled and colorful.
  5. Taste and adjust: Taste with a cracker. Add more honey for sweetness or more diced jalapeño or a pinch of cayenne for heat. Remember flavors will deepen as it chills.
  6. Chill for at least 30 minutes: Transfer dip to serving dish, cover with plastic wrap pressed directly onto surface, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let flavors marry and dip firm up.
  7. Garnish and serve: Just before serving, remove plastic wrap and garnish with cilantro sprigs and thin jalapeño rounds. Optionally drizzle extra honey on top. Serve with crackers, crostini, or vegetable sticks.

Notes

This dip can be made up to 2 days ahead; flavors improve after a day. For a milder dip, remove seeds and white membranes from jalapeños. For more heat, leave seeds in or add a pinch of cayenne. Let dip sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving for best flavor and spreadability.

Nutrition

Keywords: jalapeño cranberry cream cheese dip, easy dip recipe, holiday appetizer, party dip, cream cheese dip, cranberry jalapeño dip

Find it online: https://dinadinnertable.com/best-jalape-n-o-cranberry-cream-cheese-dip-easy-recipe/