Description
This Holiday Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip is a festive and flavorful appetizer perfect for any holiday gathering. Creamy and tangy cream cheese is balanced with the tartness of fresh cranberries and the subtle heat from jalapeños, complemented by green onions and shredded cheddar cheese. A touch of honey adds just the right amount of sweetness, making this dip a delightful crowd-pleaser served best with tortilla chips or crackers.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 1 cup fresh cranberries (or canned cranberry sauce if preferred)
- 1/4 cup jalapeños (finely chopped, fresh or pickled)
- 1/4 cup green onions (sliced)
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (optional for sweetness)
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
Serving
- Tortilla chips or crackers (for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare the Cream Cheese Base: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth using a hand mixer or a whisk to ensure a creamy, lump-free texture.
- Add Flavorings: Fold in sour cream, honey or maple syrup if using, salt, and pepper. Mix well until all ingredients are combined and the dip has a uniform consistency.
- Incorporate Mix-Ins: Gently stir in the cranberries, finely chopped jalapeños, sliced green onions, and shredded cheddar cheese. Ensure that these are evenly distributed throughout the dip without breaking down the berries too much.
- Transfer to Serving Dish: Spoon the mixture into a 9-inch pie dish or your chosen serving platter. Spread evenly to create a smooth, attractive top layer.
- Chill: Refrigerate the dip for at least 10 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld and the dip to firm up slightly, making it easier to serve.
- Serve: Present the chilled dip alongside tortilla chips or crackers for scooping and enjoying.
Notes
- For a spicier dip, add more jalapeños or include some of their seeds.
- Fresh cranberries give a tart, fresh flavor, but canned cranberry sauce can be used for a sweeter, smoother texture.
- Adjust salt and pepper according to your taste preference.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute cream cheese and sour cream with plant-based alternatives.
- Keep the dip refrigerated and consume within 2-3 days for best freshness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-cook, mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: holiday dip, cranberry dip, jalapeño dip, cream cheese dip, appetizer, party food, easy dip recipe, festive appetizer
