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Crowd-Pleasing Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip

Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip - featured image
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A quick and easy holiday appetizer featuring a sweet-tart cranberry jalapeño topping over creamy cream cheese. Perfect for parties, it comes together in about 20 minutes with simple ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries (about 3 cups)
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 medium jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely diced (leave half the seeds for medium heat)
  • Zest of 1 lime
  • Juice of 1/2 lime
  • Pinch of salt
  • 16 ounces cream cheese (two 8-ounce blocks), softened
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (optional garnish)
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional garnish)
  • Crackers, crostini, or fresh vegetables for serving

Instructions

  1. Let the cream cheese come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before starting.
  2. Wash and dice the jalapeño. For less heat, remove all seeds and membranes; for medium heat, leave about half the seeds.
  3. Zest and juice the lime. Set aside.
  4. In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar, and water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat (about 3-4 minutes).
  5. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cranberries burst and mixture thickens to a loose jam consistency.
  6. Remove from heat. Stir in diced jalapeño, lime zest, lime juice, and a pinch of salt. Adjust sweetness or heat to taste.
  7. Let the cranberry mixture cool for 5-10 minutes until warm but not piping hot.
  8. Arrange the softened cream cheese on a serving plate and spread into an even layer about 1/2 inch thick.
  9. Spoon the warm cranberry mixture evenly over the cream cheese, spreading gently to the edges.
  10. Garnish with cilantro and nuts if desired. Serve immediately with crackers, crostini, or vegetable sticks.

Notes

For best results, assemble the dip just before serving to maintain the warm-cranberry-meets-cool-cream-cheese contrast. The cranberry topping can be made up to 3 days in advance and reheated gently. If the dip becomes too spicy, stir in an extra tablespoon of sugar to balance the heat.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry jalapeño cream cheese dip, holiday appetizer, easy dip, cranberry dip, jalapeño dip, party appetizer

Find it online: https://goldensimmer.com/crowd-pleasing-cranberry-jalape-n-o-cream-cheese-dip-is-the-perfect-holiday-appetizer/