Holiday Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip

A festive two-layer dip featuring tart cranberries and jalapeños over smooth cream cheese. The red and green colors make it perfect for holiday gatherings. Let me share my go to holiday appetizer that always gets people talking! This cranberry jalapeño dip combines sweet tart cranberries with spicy peppers layered over creamy cheese. I discovered this recipe years ago at a Christmas party and had to beg for the recipe it's that good. Why This Dip Is Amazing Don't let the unusual combo fool you this dip is absolutely addictive. The sweet tart cranberries dance with spicy jalapeños while cream cheese smooths everything out. Every time I bring this to a party people hover around it until it's gone! Grab These Ingredients Fresh Cranberries: These tart little jewels are the star of the show. Green Onions: They add that perfect savory bite. Fresh Cilantro: Brings brightness and that gorgeous green color. Jalapeños: Just enough kick to make things interesting. Sugar: Tames those tart cranberries perfectly. Lemon Juice: A little citrus magic to wake everything up. Spices: Cumin and kosher salt are our secret weapons. Cream Cheese: Get the full fat kind it makes all the difference. Let's Make Magic Prep Your Berries Give those cranberries a good rinse and pop them in your food processor. Pulse until they're chopped but not mush we want texture! Add The Good Stuff Toss in your green onions cilantro and that spicy jalapeño. Add sugar cumin lemon juice and salt. Quick pulses until everything's mingling but still chunky. Patience Is Key Here's the hard part this needs to hang out in the fridge for at least four hours. Trust me it's worth the wait the flavors need time to get cozy. The Grand Finale Spread your softened cream cheese in a pretty dish then top with the cranberry mix. Use a slotted spoon to keep things from getting too juicy. Pro Tips Make sure your cream cheese is really soft before spreading saves so much frustration! Pick sturdy crackers this dip means business. And always make extra of the cranberry mix it's amazing on sandwiches the next day. Make It Your Way Want to switch things up? Mix everything together instead of layering. Some folks like it spicier add an extra jalapeño if you're brave. Not a cilantro fan? Fresh parsley works too just use a bit more. Holiday Helper This is my go to for holiday parties because I can make it ahead of time. The cranberry mixture actually gets better after a day in the fridge. Just don't add it to the cream cheese until you're ready to serve. Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse Frequently Asked Questions How far ahead can I make this? Refrigerate cranberry mixture minimum 4 hours before serving. Can I substitute cilantro? Yes, use fresh parsley instead. How do I soften cream cheese quickly? Microwave 15-20 seconds or leave at room temp 1 hour. What should I serve it with? Sturdy crackers or toasted baguette slices. Can I store cranberries? Yes, buy fresh and freeze for later use. Holiday Cranberry Dip A festive layered dip combining spicy jalapeños, tart cranberries, and creamy cheese. Perfect for holiday entertaining. Prep Time 15 Minutes Cook Time ~ Total Time 15 Minutes Difficulty: Easy Cuisine: American Yield: 8 Servings (1) Dietary: Vegetarian, Gluten-Free Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse Ingredients 01 12 ounces fresh cranberries. 02 4 green onions, minced. 03 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped. 04 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced. 05 1 cup granulated sugar. 06 1/2 teaspoon cumin. 07 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice. 08 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt. 09 16 ounces cream cheese, softened. Instructions Step 01 Pulse cranberries in food processor until coarsely chopped. Step 02 Add green onions, cilantro, jalapeño and pulse to combine. Step 03 Mix in sugar, cumin, lemon juice, and salt. Step 04 Refrigerate mixture minimum 4 hours. Step 05 Spread softened cream cheese in serving dish. Step 06 Top with cranberry mixture. Notes Serve with sturdy crackers. Can use parsley instead of cilantro. Soften cream cheese before using. Freeze extra cranberries for later. Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse Tools You'll Need Food processor. Serving dish. Plastic wrap.