Description
A vibrant and addictive holiday appetizer featuring tangy fresh cranberries, gentle jalapeño heat, and a creamy whipped cream cheese base, perfect for festive gatherings.
Ingredients
12 oz fresh cranberries (1 bag)
2 green onions, green and white parts
2 jalapeños, seeds and membranes removed
¼ cup fresh mint leaves, packed
Juice of 1 large lime (3–4 tablespoons)
¾ cup granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cardamom (optional)
16 oz cream cheese, softened (2 blocks)
Crackers or baguette slices, for serving
Instructions
- Set cream cheese out to soften at room temperature.
- Add cranberries to a food processor.
- Roughly chop green onions and jalapeños and add them to the processor.
- Add mint leaves, lime juice, sugar, salt, cinnamon, and cardamom.
- Pulse in short bursts until finely chopped but still chunky, like a salsa.
- Refrigerate cranberry mixture for a few hours to let flavors meld, if time allows.
- Whip softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Strain the cranberry mixture, reserving the liquid.
- Beat 2 tablespoons of the reserved cranberry liquid into the cream cheese to loosen.
- Spread cream cheese onto a serving plate.
- Stir remaining liquid back into cranberries and spoon mixture over the cream cheese.
- Serve chilled with crackers or toasted baguette slices.
Notes
Removing jalapeño seeds keeps the heat mild.
Dip tastes even better when made a day ahead.
Straining prevents the cream cheese from becoming watery.
Mint can be swapped for cilantro for a savory twist.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
