Home Appetizer Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip

Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip

by Jamie

 Thanksgiving will be comin’ round the mountain in just a few days now you know, folks. I just can’t wait. It’s always such an enjoyable day. I love enjoyable days. Days spent eating delicious food, and visiting with wonderful family members. Looking forward to it!

 
Today for me, was one of “those” days. You know about them, don’t you? Not the really enjoyable kind.  The kind you just try and plow through while you wonder how many things are going to go wrong!
A few months ago my cute TeenNephewJayDee told me, “Aunt Jamie, everything you cook is like perfect, and everybody like LOVES everything you make because it is like ALWAYS so good.”
Wow. What a cute and thoughtful boy. I wonder what he would think if he were to have witnessed the “like” perfection going on in my kitchen this morning.
This morning my goal was to make and photo this fabulous Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip….just for you all.
 
Ten minutes into the project, I had burned both of my hands on some hot and fiery jalapeno pepper seeds.

Then….I filled my blender up with cranberries. (While running to the sink every 30 seconds to pour water over my burned hands) Trying to get the cranberries to break up in the bottom of the blender, I stuck a wooden spoon down into the cranberries and chopped the thing to bits. At this point I spent a good 5 minutes contemplating the pros and cons of inflicting wood poisoning on my family. My blender can grind things up pretty fine you know.

Then…. I poured the CranberryWoodChipDelight down the disposal.

 
My sink wasn’t that impressed with the concoction and chose to get all clogged, and plunger needy. Nice.
Right at that same moment….
another form of plumbing….
in a separate room…..(white porcelain piece of work with a lid)
got all plunger needy.
Don’t hold that picture in your mind for  too long…this is a food blog you know. 
It was a plunger happy, hands on fire, wood chips in my teeth kind of morning. And right on a day I was going to not drink any Diet Coke, too. Let me just say, Diet Coke doesn’t taste that great if you’ve got wood chips in your teeth. Perfect. Just perfect.

But lucky for us….this Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip is super fabulous! My TeenNephewJayDee would give it the “like” perfect thumbs up. It’s got a little bit of a spicy kick to it. If spicy-kick isn’t your cup of tea, no worries. Just leave the jalapeno out.  Then you would also most definitely not burn your hands with it’s venomous seeds. Double bonus!

 
  
1. Put your cranberries in a food processor. I used my mini chopper (one batch of CranberryWoodChipDelight was enough for me. The blender and I aren’t speaking to each other at this point….) You could also, just chop them up.
 
  
2. Chop up your green onion, cilantro, and jalapeno pepper into small pieces. Careful of the seeds now. Throw on a pair of rubber gloves or something, please. The seeds are the hot part of the pepper. If you don’t like a lot of heat on the old pallet, just leave the jalapeno out.
3. Add all ingredients (but the cream cheese and the wheat thins) into a bowl. Mix them all together, cover and store in the fridge for at least 4 hours. The sugar needs some time to soak in to the cranberries and break up their bitter taste.  
 
4. When you are ready to serve, place your cream cheese bricks on a plate.
 
5. Spread the cream cheese out as evenly as you can.
 
6. Pour your cranberry mixture over the cream cheese.
 
7. Spread it all around.
8. Serve immediately with Wheat Thins, Ritz Crackers or Tortilla Chips.

 

cranberry-cream-cheese-jalapeno-dip-from-jamie-cooks-it-up

Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip

Serves: 15 servings Prep Time:
Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat
Rating: 4.7/5
( 3 voted )

Ingredients

  • 1  12 oz package fresh cranberries
  • 1/4 C green onion, chopped
  • 1/4 C cilantro, chopped
  • 1 small jalapeno pepper
  • 1 1/4 C sugar
  • 1/4 t cumin
  • 2 T lemon juice
  • dash salt
  • 2  8 oz packages cream cheese
  •  

Instructions

1. Put your cranberries in a food processor. I used my mini chopper. You could also, just chop them up.
2. Chop up your green onion, cilantro, and jalapeno pepper into small pieces. Careful of the seeds now. Throw on a pair of rubber gloves or something, please. The seeds are the hot part of the pepper. If you don't like a lot of heat on the old pallet, just leave the jalapeno out.
3. Add all ingredients (but the cream cheese and the wheat thins) into a bowl. Mix them all together, cover and store in the fridge for at least 4 hours. The sugar needs some time to soak in to the cranberries and break up their bitter taste.  
4. When you are ready to serve, place your cream cheese bricks on a plate.
5. Spread the cream cheese out as evenly as you can.
6. Pour your cranberry mixture over the cream cheese.
7. Spread it all around.
8. Serve immediately with Wheat Thins, Ritz Crackers or Tortilla Chips.

Recipe from Heather Peterson

Leave a Reply to Colette Cancel Reply

191 comments

Colette November 21, 2018 - 10:49 pm

I’m making this for Thanksgiving and doubling it… do I add 2-1/4 cups of sugar (equally a half cup) or 2 & 1/2 cups sugar?

Reply
64 Cranberry Recipes - Joy Pea Health | Food. Drink. Happiness. Wellness. November 25, 2018 - 8:34 pm

[…] From: JamieCooksItUp […]

Reply
Shelly December 2, 2018 - 2:02 pm

Hey I love this dip! Just wondered how long you can keep it in the fridge?
Thanks for sharing all of your yummy recipes!

Reply
Ann Pierson December 14, 2018 - 4:03 pm

I have made this for 2 yrs now at this time of year. It keeps a long time…the cheese will turn a little red after awhile, but who cares? I keep eating it for days! Yum. I used 2 jalapenos and discarded seeds. BTW I drain before covering cr cheese.

Reply
Kelley November 18, 2020 - 4:05 pm

I have been making this years and love it! If I put the cranberry salsa in jars without the cream cheese, how long do you think it will keep?

Reply
14 Holiday Appetizers: - Heaven Bee December 3, 2018 - 11:52 am

[…] From: JamieCooksItUp […]

Reply
Sandy December 14, 2018 - 3:47 pm

Loved it! The only downside was mine was pretty watery. I may possibly cut back on sugar or drain the liquid before pouring it on the cream cheese.

Reply
Donna L Lampke December 22, 2021 - 9:08 am

I make mine a day ahead and let it sit for a few hours, then in a strainer overnight in the fridge. Suspend the strainer over a bowl to catch the juice. This way it’s not so juicy

Reply
Lisa Eberhardt November 11, 2019 - 3:53 pm

excited to try this new recipe.

Reply
A Real Moms Thanksgiving Day Menu- Recipes - Real Mom's Cry November 21, 2019 - 12:58 pm

[…] Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip […]

Reply
Jennifer Greggs November 22, 2019 - 6:06 am

I have made this recipe for the past 3 thanksgivings. Always a huge hit! The cranberry mixture definitely needs some juice strained off before putting on the cream cheese.
***One thing I now do is, make the cranberry portion the night before so everything marinates well. The next day I set out my cream cheese blocks, let them soften in a mixing bowl. When I strain some of the cranberry juice off, I save some and add to the cream cheese in the mixing bowl, and mix. This helps soften the cheese and gives it a softer, spread-like texture.
Then I spread the cream cheese on my serving platter / plate, and pour the cranberry part, on top.
When you scoop with a cracker, your cracker doesn’t break because the cream cheese has a nice softness to it!

Reply
Olive December 19, 2019 - 8:46 am

Brilliant suggestions! Thank you!

Reply
Maggie Moore November 25, 2019 - 12:47 pm

My side of the family always requests that I bring this to Thanksgiving. As mentioned above, it does get pretty watery. I’ve dealt with his by put it in a strainer (and the strainer into a huge bowl) for the couple hours of chilling time. Easy, no fuss! Great recipe!

Reply
Flo Alexander December 11, 2019 - 3:03 pm

You mention letting the sugar soak into the cranberries, I don’t see sugar in the recipe. Thanks looks great

Reply
Darlene W. December 31, 2019 - 6:09 am

Tried pinning this but it won’t pin because it doesn’t come up with a picture. 🙁

Reply
Celtic Aeval December 12, 2020 - 6:10 pm

Made this for Thanksgiving and my step brother (the chef) couldn’t stop eating it. He was immediately in love with how fresh it was, especially the herbs. Obviously it will be a repeat over the next couple of week. I wish I could post a pic. I did the juice infusion method with the cream cheese and it was amazing.

Reply
My Favorite Cranberry Jalapeno Dip with Cream Cheese December 21, 2020 - 8:48 pm

[…] an appetizer to a party.  I wish I knew who to credit with the original recipe my best guess is Jamie Cooks it Up or Sparrows and Lilly  It’s a good one! I hope you […]

Reply
Karen December 23, 2020 - 11:34 am

Merry Christmas. I made this for Christmas Eve. Family loved it.
I use to make one with jello instead of sugar which made it more jellied on a cracker.
Either way it is absolutely delicious.
I also thought about trying it all mixed together right before serving? Anyone done this?
Thanks for another great dip.

Reply
Miles Smith December 25, 2020 - 12:46 pm

hank you so much for this. I was into this issue and tired to tinker around to check if its poss https://vidmate.onl/ ible but couldnt get it done. Now that i have seen the way you did it, thanks guys
with
regards

Reply
Diana A November 18, 2021 - 6:00 pm

I come back to this recipe every year since 2016. It’s SO GOOD! Thank you!

Reply
Christina I November 21, 2021 - 1:20 pm

This is delicious and both my kids love it

Reply
Linda Seagle December 1, 2021 - 6:33 pm

Best new recipe I have tried in a long time.

Reply
Colleen November 9, 2022 - 2:45 pm

Do you Cook the cranberries first?

Reply
Jamie November 18, 2022 - 9:07 am

Colleen,
Thanks for your question. No need to cook the cranberries. They are added fresh or frozen.
Best of luck,
~Jamie

Reply
Beatrice Davila November 25, 2022 - 12:41 pm

Thank you very much! Just delicious!

Reply
JoAnn Christensen December 8, 2023 - 9:30 am

Your recipe sounds and looks delicious! Can you make cheese balls with it and if not, what could be done to make cheese balls with this recipe? Thank you and I look forward to your response.

Reply
Jamie December 12, 2023 - 6:26 pm

JoAnn,
What a great idea. I’ve never thought of how that might work. I would have to test it to see for sure, but I imagine you could mix a small amount of the cranberry sauce with cream cheese, and then perhaps roll it in sliced almonds. Hmmmm. You have peaked my curiosity. I will add it to my list of recipe ideas to try.
Thank you!
Best,
~Jamie

Reply
1 2 3 4

Adblock Detected

Please support us by disabling your AdBlocker extension from your browsers for our website.