Cranberry Jalapeño Dip Recipe
This Cranberry Jalapeño Dip is a vibrant, zesty appetizer perfect for holiday parties or anytime you want a flavorful crowd-pleaser. Combining fresh cranberries, spicy jalapeños, zesty lime, and crunchy green onions, this dip delivers a balance of sweet, tart, and heat. Layered over a smooth cream cheese base and served with crackers, it’s easy to prepare using a food processor to achieve a relish-like texture, making it a fresh and colorful starter everyone will love.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes (including chilling time)
- Yield: About 12 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dip Ingredients
- 1 12-ounce bag cranberries, fresh or frozen
- ¼ cup cilantro, roughly chopped
- ½ cup green onions, roughly chopped (about 6 green onions or 1 regular bunch)
- 1–2 jalapeño peppers, minced (include seeds for more heat)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (juice of 1 lime)
- ⅓ cup white granulated sugar
- 1 pinch salt
Cream Cheese Layer
- 1 8-ounce block cream cheese, softened (optional)
To Serve
- Ritz crackers or crackers of choice
Instructions
- Make the Cranberry Mixture: In a food processor fitted with a medium blade, combine 12 ounces of fresh or frozen cranberries, ¼ cup chopped cilantro, ½ cup chopped green onions, and 1-2 minced jalapeño peppers. Add 2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice, ⅓ cup white sugar, and a pinch of salt.
- Pulse to Desired Consistency: Pulse the mixture 8-10 times until it reaches a medium, relish-like texture. Be careful not to over-process, as you want some texture rather than a smooth puree.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste the dip and adjust as needed—add more sugar for sweetness, more jalapeño for extra heat, or additional lime juice for brightness.
- Spread Cream Cheese: Evenly spread the softened 8-ounce block of cream cheese in a layer on a serving plate or a 9-inch pie dish.
- Top with Cranberry Mixture: Spread the prepared cranberry-jalapeño mixture evenly over the cream cheese layer.
- Chill: Refrigerate the dip for up to 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld. For best flavor and texture, remove from the refrigerator 20-30 minutes before serving to let it come to room temperature.
- Serve: Arrange crackers around the dip and serve at room temperature for optimal taste and texture.
Notes
- For a milder dip, remove the seeds from the jalapeño peppers before mincing.
- Adjust the amount of sugar based on your taste preference, especially if cranberries are very tart.
- The cream cheese layer is optional but adds a creamy contrast to the tart and spicy topping.
- Using a food processor helps achieve the ideal relish-like texture without making the dip too smooth.
- Letting the dip sit for a while before serving enhances the melding of flavors.
Keywords: cranberry dip, jalapeño dip, cream cheese dip, holiday appetizer, easy party dip, spicy cranberry relish
Find it online: https://miarosetti.com/cranberry-jalapeno-dip-recipe/
