Description
This easy Cranberry Jalapeno Dip offers a perfect blend of sweet and heat, with a gorgeous ruby-red color and creamy texture. It’s ideal for holiday gatherings, game nights, or any party, simple to make yet gourmet-tasting.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fresh cranberries
- 2–3 large jalapeno peppers, or to taste
- 0.5 cup granulated sugar
- 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 0.25 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 0.5 teaspoon orange zest (optional)
- 0.25 teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
Instructions
- Prep Produce: Wash the cranberries and jalapenos thoroughly. Carefully remove the seeds and membranes from the jalapenos for less heat (leave some for more kick).
- Pulse Ingredients: In a food processor, combine the cranberries, prepared jalapenos, and granulated sugar. Pulse in short bursts until the mixture is finely chopped but still has some texture, not pureed (about 10-15 pulses).
- Mix Dip: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese with the cranberry-jalapeno mixture, fresh chopped cilantro, and lime juice. Mix gently with a spatula until everything is well combined and the dip looks uniformly creamy (about 2-3 minutes). If it seems a little too thick, add an extra splash of lime juice to loosen it.
- Chill Dip: Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow all the amazing flavors to meld and deepen. For best results, chill overnight.
- Serve and Enjoy: Transfer the chilled dip to a pretty serving bowl. Garnish with a few extra whole cranberries, some thinly sliced jalapeno, or a sprinkle of fresh cilantro for an appealing presentation. Serve with sturdy crackers or crostini.
Notes
For a quicker process, use a food processor for chopping and mixing. This dip tastes even better when made a day or two in advance. For a festive holiday twist, consider adding 0.5 teaspoon of orange zest. The recipe can be doubled for larger gatherings.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 ounces (85g)
- Calories: 185 calories
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 22 mg