Name: Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 255 min
Yield: 10 servings
Ingredients: 12 ounces fresh cranberries (rinsed and drained); 4 green onions or scallions (finely minced); 1/4 cup cilantro or parsley (finely chopped ); 1 jalapeno pepper (with seeds and ribs removed, finely minced); 1 cup granulated sugar; 1/2 tsp cumin; 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice; 1/8 tsp salt; 16 oz cream cheese (softened)

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It’s my favorite time of year and I want to celebrate the holiday season by sharing my absolute all-time favorite party appetizer, Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip.

You have to try this scrumptious appetizer. The red and green colors of the Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip are perfect for the holidays and you won’t believe how good this Christmas treat is. I can’t help myself from grabbing a spoonful of the cranberry mixture every time I walk by the refrigerator, it’s that good! I also plan to replace my usual cooked cranberry sauce with this delicious raw cranberry mixture which is like a cranberry relish or cranberry salsa for our Christmas dinner. It is delicious with either turkey or ham.

You might be skeptical and wonder how tart fresh cranberries and spicy jalapenos can work together, but trust me, they do, and once you add the cream cheese you will become a believer! I’ve even stocked up on cranberries and am storing them in the freezer so I can make this delicious dip with cream cheese year round. This dip will remind you a little of the cream cheese and green pepper jelly dip that is a Christmas classic in the South.

The inspiration for this recipe came from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe blog. Mel has some great recipes, so when you have time, check out her blog.

IF YOU LIKE CRANBERRIES, YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE THESE DELICIOUS RECIPES:

CRANBERRY SAUCE WITH APPLES, ORANGES, AND PECANS

EASY TURKEY SKILLET FOR FOUR WITH SWEET POTATOES AND CRANBERRIES

SWEET POTATO BISCUITS WITH CRANBERRY AIOLI

CRANBERRY INFUSED VODKA

How to make Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip

The ingredients for Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip include fresh cranberries, green onions, cilantro, jalapeno pepper, sugar, cumin, lemon juice, kosher salt and cream cheese. You will also need crackers for serving. Choose a sturdy variety because the cream cheese can be pretty stiff.

To get started, rinse the cranberries and drain well. Put the cranberries in the food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add minced green onions, chopped cilantro and a jalapeno pepper that you have seeded and finely minced.

Add the sugar, cumin, lemon juice and salt. Pulse the ingredients until everything has been well mixed and your ingredients are finely chopped. Don’t over process, you still want some texture and you want to still be able to see flecks of the jalapeno and cilantro. Transfer the cranberry mixture to a bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours to allow your flavors to come together.

When you are ready to serve this delicious appetizer, either soften your cream cheese, spread in a pie plate and spread the cranberry mixture evenly over the top, or simply put a block of cream cheese on a plate and spoon the cranberry mixture on top. Either way, serve with crackers.

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