Holiday Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip Recipe
This Holiday Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip is a festive and flavorful appetizer perfect for any gathering. The creamy base pairs beautifully with the tangy cranberry-jalapeño relish, creating a delightful burst of sweet, spicy, and savory flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus chilling time)
- Cook Time: 0 minutes (no baking required)
- Total Time: 45 minutes (including chill)
- Yield: Serves 8–16 (depending on portion size) 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Bake / Cold Assembly
- Cuisine: American Holiday
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 12 oz fresh cranberries (or one bag frozen, drained)
- 1–2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and finely chopped (ribs for more heat)
- 1/4 cup green onion, finely chopped (plus extra for garnish)
- 2 Tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon or lime juice
- Pinch of salt
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened at room temperature
Cranberry Jalapeño Relish:
Cream Cheese Layer:
Instructions
- Prepare Cream Cheese Layer: Spread softened cream cheese evenly in bottom of a pie plate or serving dish.
- Make Cranberry Jalapeño Relish: Pulse or finely chop cranberries; combine in a bowl with jalapeño, green onion, cilantro, sugar, lemon or lime juice, and salt. Chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.
- Assemble the Dip: Drain any excess liquid from the cranberry mixture. Spoon the relish over the cream cheese layer. Garnish with chopped green onions.
- Serve: Enjoy with crackers, chips, baguette slices, apple wedges, or pita chips.
Notes
- Make the relish in advance and refrigerate separately from the cream cheese until ready to serve to prevent run-off.
- Adjust the jalapeño quantity to control spice level.
- Fresh cranberries are recommended for the best texture.
- You can mix sour cream or Greek yogurt into the cream cheese for extra tang and creaminess.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ~2 Tbsp relish plus cream cheese
- Calories: ~206 kcal
- Sugar: ~18 g
- Sodium: ~120 mg
- Fat: ~13 g
- Saturated Fat: ~7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: ~6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: ~22 g
- Fiber: ~1 g
- Protein: ~2 g
- Cholesterol: ~31 mg
