CRANBERRY CREAM CHEESE DIP is a hit every time I serve it. Sweet, tart, spicy, tangy…it has all the best flavors going on and it’s perfect over a brick of soft cream cheese.
You guys, I have the best news!
Or maybe the worst news. I’m not sure.
You see…my daughter has finally decided she loves salsa!
This is good because now I have a buddy that enjoys going out for Mexican just as much as I do, but bad because now when I make my restaurant style salsa, she steals it all!
Either way, she’s obsessed and it’s my duty as her mother to introduce her to as many salsa recipes as possible.
Enter this cranberry salsa! It’s so sweet, tangy, and vibrant.
We pour this cranberry salsa over soft cream cheese and then attack it all with crackers. Absolute heaven, you guys!
Table of Contents
How to make easy Cranberry Salsa
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To get started, add some cranberries to your food processor. <— This is the one I use and it’s amazing. We use it daily.
Anyway, after a quick chop, add the rest of your ingredients except the cream cheese.
Chop them again in your amazing food processor, then chill.
After it cools in the fridge for a bit, it’ll get a bit more juicy and that juice is basically liquid gold.
Pour it all over some room temp cream cheese and get ready to dip!
Dipping options for cranberry cream cheese dip
- Ritz Crackers
- Saltines
- Tortilla Chips
- Celery
Recipe substitution options
These items can be increased or decreased to your personal taste:
- Jalapeno – Add a second pepper if you want a little more spice
- Green onions – I’ve left these out to keep the husband happy.
- Sugar – Fee free to use your favorite sugar substitute to make this more low carb, but don’t just omit the sugar. This recipe needs it!
If you make other changes to your cranberry cream cheese dip and love it, leave me a comment below!
Want to have a dip party? Here are some unique dips to try!
Pumpkin Pie dip is crazy delicious.
Go for Butterfinger Fruit Dip with a pile of sliced apples.
Cold corn dip pairs great with tortilla chips just like the cranberry dip does.
Olive cheese dip is an awesome warm salty dip option.
And if you want something that’s always a hit for your dip party, how about our easy slow cooker sloppy joe dip?
Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fresh cranberries
- 5 green onions chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 1 jalapeno pepper seeded and finely diced
- 3/4 cup sugar more or less, to taste
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 16 ounces cream cheese room temperature
Instructions
- Place the cranberries in the bowl of your food processor or blender. Pulse to give them a rough chop. Add the green onions, cilantro, jalapeno, sugar, cumin, lemon juice, and salt. Pulse until well combined and finely chopped, but not pureed. Refrigerate for 4 hours (longer if desired, up 24 hours).
- Spread the cream cheese on a serving plate or pie plate in an even layer. Top with the cranberry mixture.
- Serve with crackers or tortilla chips.
Nutrition Information:
This recipe was originally published in December 21012. It was updated with new photos in October 2019.
kathysimm says
I have made this quite a few times for gatherings. It’s always been a big hit. The flavors all go so well with each other. Made exactly as recipe states. No changes needed!
Karly says
Thanks, Kathy! So glad you love the recipe!
Mindy says
Looks like I found a new recipe to serve at our Thanksgiving Celebration this year. I love cranberries, and cream cheese, and crackers, and….
Felicity Woodruffe says
I am looking forward to trying this recipe when I return home
I will try it with torte we dolcelatte cheese and crusty bread .It is not easy to get fresh cranberries in the United kingdom .I saw a post by a homesteading couple who pick red olive berries that grow wild and wondered if they are similar to cranberries in taste ?
Karly says
Hi Felicity! I’ve never tried the berries you’re talking about so I’m really not sure.
Twila Pickrell says
I think this would awesome over warm Brie as well!
Adding to my grocery list now ….
Thanks!
Karly says
Yum!!
naureen says
I have been making this during the holidays for two years now and no matter the type of crowd, every single person just absolutely loves it! I have been asked for this recipe more than any other! Thank you for this wonderful creation!!
Karly says
So glad you enjoy it!
Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen says
I am a big cranberry lover and experiment with new cranberry sauce & relishes each year. I can’t wait to try this. Not only is it pretty, I bet it tastes delicious too with the jalapeno and cilantro. It’s funny because I was searching for a recipe with cranberries and cilantro just the other day. We must be on the same wave length.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Sam
Christina says
I decided I had to have this dip at a recent party. Much to my dismay fresh cranberries are only available for the holiday season and silly me forgot to stash a few bags in the freezer this year. I made the recipe with a can of whole berry cranberry sauce about a handful of dried cranberries and less sugar. It was delish and a huge hit! Thanks for the inspiration and a new go-to entertaining recipe.
Angel says
Fresh or canned cranberries?
Karly says
Fresh!
Mel says
So this recipe is delicious (so glad you liked it) – but recently, I’ve made it without serving the cranberry salsa on top of the cream cheese and just scooping with tortilla chips. Um, yum. And also, as a last note, you make me laugh! Ok, bye for now.
Karly says
Yes! Loved it! I even tried getting my husband to eat it after you had such success with yours, but…no. His pickiness knows no bounds.
I bet it would be good without the cream cheese too, but it’s against my religion to remove cream cheese from a recipe. Or were you saying you left out the cranberry part and dipped chips directly in cream cheese? Because I could get behind that. 😉