10-Minute Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip Recipe
Published Nov 18, 2022 Updated Jul 26, 2024
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This 10-minute cranberry jalapeno dip is made with simple ingredients and is bursting with flavor. A creamy, spicy dairy free cream cheese mixture topped with sweet and tangy cranberry sauce. Delicious seasonal flavors make this throw-together appetizer perfect for any occasion.
What Makes This Recipe Great
My newest recipe, Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip is a creamy, sweet, and spicy dairy free dip that is simply out of this world. Dairy free cream cheese (or regular) whipped with green onions, red onions, jalapeño peppers, and lime juice and then smothered in a sweet cranberry mixture. A dip so perfect, you might want to make a double batch!
I love when my family and friends gather together, especially during the holiday season. It’s such a fun, festive season, full of delicious food and so much fun. In my opinion, it’s not a party unless there are amazing, shareable dips that everyone will love.
If you’re looking for the perfect holiday party appetizer, this easy dip recipe is it! With simple ingredients, there’s no need to chop cranberries or caramelize the onions in olive oil. Simply whip the cream cheese mixture, pour over the cranberry sauce, and serve with your favorite bread or crackers!
Ingredient Notes
All you need are a few simple ingredients for this creamy dip. For full ingredient amounts and instructions, see the printable recipe card below!
- Cream Cheese: I used KiteHill dairy free cream cheese, which has a great taste. Let it sit out and get to room temperature as softened cream cheese will work best for this recipe. You can use a block of cream cheese as well if you’re not dairy-free.
- Jalapeños: Remove the seeds and dice finely.
- Garlic Powder
- Salt and Black Pepper: Use this to taste.
- Lime juice: Freshly squeezed lime juice works best for this dip, but a bottle of lime juice will work in a pinch. Substitute for a little bit of lemon juice if you don’t have limes on hand.
- Green Onions & Red Onions: Chop the green onions, plus more for garnish. Dice the red onions finely.
- Canned Cranberry Sauce: Use a can that includes whole berries. See the ingredients photo for the can I used. If you want to make homemade cranberry sauce out of fresh cranberries you can if it’s cranberry season, but a can works just fine.
Recipe Step by Step
1. Bring the cream cheese to room temperature then whip using a handheld mixer, getting a nice whipped cream cheese texture. Next, add the garlic powder, salt, pepper, lime juice, diced jalapeños, and diced green and red onions. Mix until combined.
2. Add the cream cheese mixture to a serving platter or pie plate of choice. Spread it out into an even layer.
3. Pour the cranberry sauce over the top of the cream cheese mixture and spread out using a spoon. This will be the top layer.
4. Garnish the top of the dip with green onions and serve with the crackers of your choice.
Mac’s Pro Tip
Expert Tips
- Dairy: You can also use regular cream cheese if you are not dairy free.
- Gluten-Free: To keep this gluten-free, I love using Simple Mills rosemary or regular sea salt crackers for dipping.
- Food Processor: You can use a food processor instead of a hand mixer if preferred.
- Make Ahead: This cranberry jalapeño dip will keep for 3-4 days in the refrigerator, making it the perfect make-ahead appetizer. Prep the cream cheese mixture a few days before your gathering and store in the fridge. Do not add the cranberry sauce over the top of the cream cheese until you’re ready to serve it.
- Double Batch: For larger crowds at holiday gatherings or holiday parties, double the recipe to make extra. It’ll be gone in no time.
Serving & Storage Tips
Serve this festive appetizer with your favorite crackers, pretzel chips, pita chips, tortilla chips, potato chips, baguettes, and more.
Store leftover dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Here’s my Whole30 and Paleo cranberry sauce recipe if you prefer to make it homemade.
It has a kick, but it’s not too spicy. The cream cheese cuts the spice really well. Removing the seeds from the jalapeno really helps remove some spice as well. If you have a mild tolerance for spice, you can use half of the amount of jalapeno. If you’d like it spicier, use more.
Absolutely. If you don’t need this to be dairy free dip and want to use regular full fat cream cheese, feel free. I always prefer Philadelphia plain cream cheese, but use your favorite brand.
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10-Minute Cranberry Jalapeno Dip
Ingredients
- 2 8 oz containers dairy-free cream cheese I used Kite Hill or regular cream cheese if not DF
- 2 fresh jalapeños seeds removed and finely diced
- 2-3 Tbsp finely diced red onion
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 lime juiced
- 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions plus more for garnish
- 1 14 oz can cranberry sauce with whole berries
Instructions
- Bring the cream cheese to room temperature then whip using a handheld mixer, getting a nice whipped cream cheese texture. Next, add the garlic powder, salt, pepper, lime juice, diced jalapeños, and diced green and red onions. Mix until combined.
- Add the cream cheese mixture to a serving platter of choice. Spread it out into an even layer.
- Pour the cranberry sauce over the top of the cream cheese mixture and spread out using a spoon. This will be the top layer.
- Garnish with green onions and serve with the crackers of your choice.
Notes
Expert Tips
- Dairy: You can also use regular cream cheese if you are not dairy free.
- Gluten-Free: To keep this gluten-free, I love using Simple Mills rosemary or regular sea salt crackers for dipping.
- Food Processor: You can use a food processor instead of a hand mixer if preferred.
- Make Ahead: This cranberry jalapeño dip will keep for 3-4 days in the refrigerator, making it the perfect make-ahead appetizer. Prep the cream cheese mixture a few days before your gathering and store in the fridge. Do not add the cranberry sauce over the top of the cream cheese until you’re ready to serve it.
- Double Batch: For larger crowds at holiday gatherings or holiday parties, double the recipe to make extra. It’ll be gone in no time.
Serving & Storage Tips
Serve this festive appetizer with your favorite crackers, pretzel chips, pita chips, tortilla chips, potato chips, baguettes, and more. Store leftover dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.Equipment
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
So simple so delicious! Made this for girls night and everyone loved it. Added fresh cilantro to the cream cheese mix. Served with triscuits and club crackers. This will be making an encore appearance for NYE 2024.
This was so simple and super tasty. I have never used can cranberry for anything so this was a new thing. Great with townhouse pita sea salt crackers.
Took this as an appetizer for Thanksgiving and several people asked me for the recipe! So easy to prepare ahead and everyone loved it.
I love this dip and so does my family! I made it last year, and again this year at Thanksgiving! And I’m sure will make it again for Christmas munchies! It is very flavorful as well! Thank you Ashley for creating and sharing this!
Hi Ashley, I made your cranberry jalapeno dip for an appetizer on thanksgiving and it was a huge hit. My husband is already asking me to make it again. Thank you for sharing your easy & delicious recipes with us!!!
When my family gets together for holidays we each pick a dish to make and I chose this one and boy let me tell you! My family after this appetizer up so quick I am making it for when I host Christmas. So easy to make and with the cranberry top and scallions, it makes it so festive for the holiday season! Another winning recipe!
Hearing that your family loved it just made my day! Thank you for sharing!
Love this dip! I used low fat cream cheese and it still came out great. Definitely a keep recipe!
So happy to hear this! Thanks Kathy
Made this for a family party and it was devoured!!! Great recipe!! Will make for every occasion!
So happy to hear this! Glad you enjoyed it.
Looks yummy. I am going to try for the Holidays.
My friend made this for our Holiday party last evening and it was a hit! Delicious mix of flavors and so yummy! Highly recommend if you need simple appetizer.
So happy to hear this. Happy Holidays!
2nd time making it this week!! I’m not a cranberry fan so it was a risk. I LOVED it!! (And so did everyone else!)