Description
Creamy cranberry jalapeño cream cheese dip delivers a spicy-sweet sensation that dances across taste buds. Zingy jalapeños and tart cranberries mingle with smooth cream cheese, creating an irresistible appetizer you won’t be able to stop enjoying.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 2 jalapeno peppers
Herbs and Seasonings:
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
Binding and Sweetening Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp honey
Instructions
- Soften cream cheese at room temperature for about 30 minutes, ensuring a smooth, spreadable consistency.
- Finely dice jalapeno peppers, removing seeds for a milder heat or keeping them for extra spiciness.
- Pulse fresh cranberries in a food processor until coarsely chopped, creating a vibrant, textured base.
- In a separate bowl, combine chopped cranberries with sugar, allowing the mixture to macerate and develop a sweet-tart flavor profile.
- Add lime juice and honey to the cranberry mixture, stirring until sugar dissolves and creates a glossy, syrupy texture.
- Incorporate finely chopped cilantro into the cranberry mixture, infusing the dip with a fresh, herbaceous note.
- Sprinkle salt and black pepper into the mixture, balancing the sweetness with a subtle kick of seasoning.
- Spread the softened cream cheese evenly across a serving dish, creating a smooth, creamy foundation.
- Carefully layer the cranberry-jalapeno mixture over the cream cheese, ensuring an even distribution of flavors.
- Refrigerate the dip for at least 1 hour before serving, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify.
- Garnish with additional cilantro leaves just before serving for a pop of color and fresh aroma.
- Serve chilled with crackers, tortilla chips, or fresh vegetable sticks for a delightful appetizer.
Notes
- Soften cream cheese completely to guarantee a silky, spreadable base that blends seamlessly with other ingredients.
- Remove jalapeno seeds strategically to control spice levels, catering to different heat tolerances without compromising flavor complexity.
- Macerate cranberries with sugar at least 15 minutes before mixing, releasing natural juices and creating a deeper, more balanced sweet-tart profile.
- Prep ingredients ahead of time and refrigerate for enhanced flavor development, allowing the dip to reach maximum taste potential before serving.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 130 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg