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Ultra close-up macro food photography of golden round buttery cracker scooping up festive cranberry jalapeno cream cheese dip

Festive Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip

A vibrant, 10-minute no-bake holiday party appetizer featuring sparkling tart cranberry salsa with minced jalapeños, cilantro, and fresh lime spooned over a chilled, velvety block of cream cheese. The ultimate sweet, tart, and mildly spicy crowd-pleaser for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Appetizer, Dip, Holiday Party Food
Cuisine: American, Holiday Entertaining, Vegetarian
Calories: 165
Ingredients Method Nutrition

Ingredients
  

For the Sparkling Tart & Spicy Cranberry Salsa
  • 12 oz fresh cranberries rinsed, picked through, patted dry
  • 2 large jalapeño peppers seeded and finely minced (keep seeds in 1 for extra kick)
  • 4 whole green onions (scallions) finely chopped, white and green parts
  • 0.5 cup fresh cilantro leaves finely chopped
  • 0.75 cup granulated cane sugar or pure organic maple syrup / honey
  • 2 tbsp fresh lime juice about 1 large lime
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger finely grated on microplane
  • 0.25 tsp fine sea salt
For the Velvety Cream Cheese Base & Serving
  • 16 oz brick cream cheese (2 blocks) full-fat, thoroughly chilled for neat slicing
  • 1 box buttery round crackers such as Ritz or Club crackers
  • 1 bag pita chips or crostini crisp artisan dippers
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary for holiday platter garnish

Method
 

Pulse the Cranberry Jalapeño Salsa
  1. Add the fresh cranberries and jalapeños into a food processor. Pulse 8 to 10 times until finely chopped into coarse, uniform ruby pebbles. Avoid running the processor continuously so the cranberries do not turn mushy or watery.
  2. Transfer the pulsed cranberry mixture into a medium glass bowl. Stir in the chopped green onions, fresh cilantro, granulated sugar, fresh lime juice, grated ginger, and fine sea salt until well combined.
  3. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 15 to 30 minutes (or up to overnight). As it chills, the sugar draws out the natural ruby juices and macerates the tart berries into a glossy, jewel-toned salsa.
Assemble & Serve on Platter
  1. Place two blocks of chilled cream cheese side by side (or whipped in a shallow ceramic dish) on an elegant serving platter.
  2. Using a slotted spoon, generously mound the glistening cranberry jalapeño salsa over the top and let the festive ruby juices gently drip down the sides of the white cream cheese.
  3. Surround with buttery Ritz crackers, pita crisps, and sliced artisan sourdough baguette. Garnish with a sprig of fresh rosemary and fresh whole cranberries for holiday flair.

Nutrition

Serving: 2gCalories: 165kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 3gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 145mgPotassium: 85mgFiber: 2gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 420IUVitamin C: 9.5mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 0.6mg

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