This vibrant, showstopping dip is sure to become an instant staple.
I think appetizers are having a moment right now. Or, they are for me, at least. Don’t get me wrong, I still love to dedicate a couple of hours in the kitchen to conjure up a delicious meal for my friends and family. But sometimes that doesn’t fit into the schedule of me or my loved ones. Being the entertainer I am though, I always want to make at least something to serve at my place or bring to a friend’s. Cue my recent fixation on appetizers.
Specifically, I’m talking about incredibly easy appetizers. Ones that take little effort in the kitchen but still leave your loved ones feeling impressed (and satisfy your desire to impress). This cranberry-jalapeño cream cheese dip does exactly that. I think the flavor combination of cranberries and jalapeños is unexpected yet so tasty, and the added richness of the cream cheese really seals the deal.
There’s more to this mixture than just cranberries and jalapeños: you’ll also be using green onions, fresh cilantro, granulated sugar, fresh lemon juice, and salt to give this recipe the ultimate punch of flavors. Once you’ve mixed all these ingredients together in a food processor, you’ll let them sit in the fridge overnight so they can get even more flavorful. Then, when you’re ready to serve your dip, you can simply spread softened cream cheese onto a dish, top it with your sweet, spicy, tart mixture, and then get out your favorite crackers. Voilà!
Is Cranberry-Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip Healthy?
Though this recipe contains some fruits and vegetables that are healthy, like the cranberries, jalapeños, green onions, cilantro and lemon juice, there are other ingredients that likely pose concerns for others. Mainly, the use of granulated sugar and cream cheese. The added fat from the cream cheese and the 3/4 cup of sugar couldn’t be considered healthy, but I especially like to serve this recipe around the holidays, when indulgence is rampant. Still, holidays or not, balanced eating means indulging from time to time—use your discretion to determine if this recipe fits into your diet or not. You can always reduce the amount of sugar, but keep in mind this will leave you with a more tart end result.
To Deseed Or Not To Deseed
This dip calls for one medium-sized jalapeño pepper—you may need to use two small ones, depending on what is available at your grocery store. Furthermore, I recommend removing the seeds, which give jalapeño peppers their spicy impact. But… I’m not meticulous about it. I opt to remove the seeds to keep this dip on the milder side for all palates, but a little spiciness can be good too. So, if a few seeds are clinging onto the peppers, I just roll with it. If you love spiciness, keep the seeds!
How Do I Store Leftovers?
It’s best to store leftovers of the cranberry-jalapeño mixture and the cream cheese separately. The mixture will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 or 4 days. If it becomes runny, simply give it a good stir. This recipe won’t keep well in the freezer, whether separated or not.
Serving Suggestions
This recipe is best served with crisp crackers. My personal favorites are pita or flatbread crackers. I would steer away from serving it with bread, since its soft texture may not be the best vessel to scoop up this soft dip. But, a toasted baguette is always nice, otherwise known as Crostini.
If you have extra fresh cranberries after making this recipe, why not try this Cranberry Salsa or continue the holiday cheer with this Sparkling Holiday Champagne Sangria.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fresh cranberries
- 3 green onions chopped (reserve some for garnish)
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 jalapeño pepper seeded and finely diced
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar plus more to taste
- 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 16 ounces cream cheese softened
- Assorted crackers for dipping
Instructions
- Pulse the cranberries in a food processor until coarsely chopped.
- Add green onions, cilantro, jalapeño, sugar, lemon juice, and salt. Pulse until combined but chunky. Adjust sweetness with more sugar if needed.
- Transfer the mixture into a bowl, cover, and refrigerate overnight to let the flavors meld. Drain excess liquid if needed.
- Spread softened cream cheese on a plate or serving dish. Top with chilled cranberry mixture and sprinkle with extra green onions. Refrigerate for 10 minutes before serving with crackers.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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