Description
A stunning, festive appetizer that blends sweet, tart, and spicy flavors with fresh cranberries, jalapeño, cilantro, and green onions atop a creamy cream cheese base. Perfect for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz fresh cranberries
- 4–5 green onions, chopped
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely diced
- 1 cup sugar (more or less to taste)
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon or lime juice
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 (8-oz) packages cream cheese, softened
- Crackers or baguette slices, for serving
Instructions
- Rinse and pat dry cranberries. Pulse in food processor until finely chopped but not pureed. Transfer to bowl.
- Stir in green onions, cilantro, and jalapeño until evenly combined.
- Add sugar, cumin, lemon or lime juice, and salt. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight for flavors to meld and cranberries to release juices.
- Spread softened cream cheese evenly on platter or shallow dish before serving.
- Spoon cranberry mixture (leaving excess liquid behind) over cream cheese. Garnish with extra cilantro or whole cranberries. Serve chilled with crackers or baguette slices.
Notes
Chill cranberry mixture several hours before serving to develop flavor.
Adjust sugar according to cranberry tartness.
Remove jalapeño seeds for mild spice or keep some for more heat.
Use drained topping to avoid watery dip.
Bring cream cheese to room temperature for smooth spreading.
- Prep Time: 20
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook / Assemble
- Cuisine: American / Holiday
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/12 recipe
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 11g
- Sodium: 125mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: cranberry jalapeno dip, christmas appetizer, sweet spicy cream cheese dip, festive holiday dip, cranberry relish spread