Fresh Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip

Creamy, spicy and filled with the flavors of the holiday, this cranberry jalapeno cream cheese dip comes together in under 5 minutes and is perfect for parties and gatherings!

Tangy cream cheese, spicy jalapenos and tart cranberries come together in this "perfect for the holidays" (or really any time) dip. 

It may seem like an odd combo...I certainly wasn't sure whether or not it would work or not. But it does. The creaminess of the whipped cream cheese offsets the spice and tart just perfectly. It's just so good.

And I'm saying that as a person who doesn't necessarily LOVE cranberries (seriously cranberry lovers, how do you do it??). The freshness of the cilantro adds the perfect finishing touch to this cranberry dip.

And this cranberry jalapeño dip is perfect for parties. Serve it alongside these other appetizers for am awesome holiday hors d'oeuvres menu!

Why this holiday cranberry jalapeno dip recipe works

• This cranberry salsa is sweet, tangy and spicy, the perfect combination of flavors.
• It's ultra easy to make this dip, taking just a few minutes to throw together.
• It can be made ahead so you can focus on other things.
• The recipe can be easily doubled, tripled or quadrupled.

Ingredients to make this holiday dip

The full list of ingredients and instructions on how this dip is made can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Fresh ingredients are highly recommended to get the best results for this cream cheese dip! 

For the creamiest results, I prefer to use full fat cream cheese. You can substitute fat free or ⅓ less fat if needed. You always want to use softened cream cheese so it mixes easier.

Fresh or frozen cranberries are an absolute must. Dried cranberries just don't work in this recipe. If you absolutely have to, you can use cranberry sauce too.

Fresh cranberries are available typically from October to December and are also great used in this cranberry orange chutney or this cranberry baked brie. Frozen cranberries are available all year round.

Fresh herbs and jalapeno also give the creamy cranberry dip a fresh component that goes great with the tart cranberries and sweetened cram cheese.

For extra zest, you can add a squeeze of lime juice or lemon juice - always use fresh citrus juice!

Step by step instructions to make cranberry jalapeno cream cheese dip

1. Let the block of cream cheese soften to room temperature.
2. Finely chop the jalapenos, herbs and cranberries. You can also use a food processor.  

3. In a bowl, add the sugar, cream cheese, honey, salt and chili powder and mix together until well combined and not grainy. You can also use a mixer for convenience.

4. In a separate bowl, combine the cranberries, jalapeno, cilantro and lemon juice and toss to coat with the lemon juice.

5. Pour the cream cheese mixture in a bowl. The mixture should be about 1 ½ inches thick.

6. Pour the cranberry mixture on top of the cream cheese and serve with crackers. This complements these air fryer jalapeno poppers great!

Expert tips

1. For extra spice, add an additional jalapeno or other hot pepper like Thai chili or habanero pepper.
2. Whip the cream cheese mixture well to prevent it from being grainy. Use a hand mixer to whip it for the best results.
3. The recipe can be easily doubled, tripled or quadrupled.
4. The chili powder can be ommited if you'd like less spice.
5. Chop the cranberries in smaller pieces if desired. They can be quartered or halved.

Frequently asked questions

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