This sweet, spicy, and creamy cranberry jalapeno dip with cream cheese is a quick and easy appetizer everyone will love. Fresh cranberries, jalapeno peppers, green onion, and cilantro are tossed with a touch of sugar and lime then spread over cream cheese for a tasty and vibrant party favorite.

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If you like to entertain, dips are a MUST to master in your kitchen.
This sweet and spicy cranberry jalapeno dip with cream cheese is one of my favorite go-to's and I have multiple requests for it around the holidays!
But don't wait until Christmas to whip up a batch. This quick and easy appetizer is perfect for any time of year and is especially delicious while watching the big game.
Serve it up with some assorted crackers or even some celery and cucumber and watch as your guests devour it!
If you love the combination of sweet and spicy, then you definitely need to try this pineapple habanero salsa.
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Ingredients for Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip
My favorite thing about this recipe is that the majority of it is fresh produce, which makes it light and refreshing...a great choice if you want a lighter, cleaner dip.
To make cranberry jalapeno dip with cream cheese, you will need:

- Fresh Cranberries: Fresh cranberries are the perfect balance of sweet and tart. They're really excellent paired with the heat of jalapeno and smooth cream cheese. Fresh is best and buy local if you can.
- Jalapeno: The second star of the recipe. They add just the right amount of heat to this holiday appetizer and add a touch of smoky, herbaceous flavor to the background. Use gloves when handling peppers to avoid burning skin and eyes.
- Green onion: Fresh green onion is the ingredient that really keeps you coming back for another bite. It's subtle in this recipe but adds a nice layer of flavor in the background and keeps you coming back for more!
- Cilantro: Cilantro has a light, clean, and slightly citrus flavor that plays really well with the other flavors in the dip. Use fresh, and discard any super stalky stems.
- Lime: A hint of lime juice really brings everything together. It adds an aromatic element to the dip and really rounds out the flavor. The finishing touch to this delicious dip!
- Granulated Sugar: Just a bit of sugar is all you need to cut through the tart cranberries and really let their flavor shine.
- Salt: This finishing touch!
- Cream Cheese: For dips, I always use full-fat cream cheese! This will be the base of our recipe. Make sure it's softened to room temperature for easy whipping and smooth and creamy dipping. You could also purchase pre-whipped cream cheese to skip a step but you will probably want to buy two containers.
See the recipe card for the full ingredient list and quantities for each item.
Substitutions
If you need to make adjustments to the recipe, the following substitutions can be made.
- Cranberries: Fresh cranberries are best! In a pinch, you can use thawed frozen cranberries. Please note that this will add moisture to the cranberry mixture part of the dip and extra straining may be needed.
- Jalapeno: While jalapenos are the star of the dip, you can replace them or combine them with whatever your favorite pepper is. Be advised this will change the spiciness and flavor of the dip and other ingredients may need to be adjusted to fit your taste.
- Cilantro: Cilantro pairs so perfectly with cranberry and jalapeno! But if you are not a fan, parsley can be used instead.
- Sugar: Sugar really balanced out the tart cranberries, but it can be omitted if you are watching your sugar intake. Alternatively, a sugar replacer or honey can be used.
Equipment
Ready to make this creamy jalapeno cranberry dip? You will need these kitchen tools for a no-fuss prep.
- Cutting boards and knives to prepare the food for the processor.
- Food Processor: You can also use a blender on the chop setting or if you are skilled with a knife you could finely chop things on your own.
- Bowl and electric mixer: To whip up the cream cheese and make it more smooth and creamy.
- For serving, you will need a shallow plate or dish. I often use a round plate, a pie dish, or as you can see in the pictures, a shallow serving platter.
How to Make Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip
Now that you have all your ingredients ready, it's time to get started!
TOP TIP: Before starting, jalapenos should be sliced and the membranes and seeds should be removed. This will help ensure the proper amount of heat is brought into the dip.
- Start by placing the cranberries, jalapenos, green onions, and cilantro in a food processor. If you don't have a food processor, you can use a blender with a chop setting.
- Press the pulse or chop button a few times until the mixture is fully incorporated and finely chopped.
NOTE: You can chop things to your preferred size. I like to make mine pretty small so it is super scoopable on a chip.


- Once everything is chopped to your desired size, transfer it to a small bowl and add the sugar, lime, and salt.
- Stir until everything is well mixed. If you want to taste test, now is the time! Set this mixture aside to meld a little bit while you prepare the cream cheese.

- To prepare the cream cheese, it's important to start at room temperature. Use an electric mixer on low and mix until creamy and smooth.

TOP TIP: You can add a tablespoon of the chopped cranberry mixture to the cream cheese. This will add a subtle flavor to the cream cheese base while still keeping the cream cheese as the main flavor.
- Use a spatula to spread the cream cheese over a shallow platter.

- Top the cream cheese with the cranberry mixture. Spoon it out evenly, leaving a little peek at the cream cheese underneath so your guests know what flavor to anticipate.

Variations
Once you have mastered the original recipe, it's time to make it your own!
- Spice it up: Kick up the heat by adding extra jalapenos or a variety of peppers.
- Mix it up: Don't like your dip layered? Mix it up and serve it in a bowl for a dip with a beautiful pink color!
- Make it chunky: Skip the food processor and run a knife through the cranberries, jalapenos, green onions, and cilantro for a chunky topping that is absolutely mouth-watering!
- Make it saucy: Hit the puree button a few extra times for a smoother, salsa-like consistency. You could even put it on the stovetop for a couple of minutes to really soften things up. Just remember to cool it before putting it on top of the cream cheese.

Serving Suggestions
I love this dip with a nice mix of crackers. Butter crackers, saltines, wheat crackers, and flavored crackers are all great choices!
It is equally good on tortilla chips and great with celery and cucumber slices, too!
Tips for Making in Advance
To make this dip in advance, keep the cranberry mixture separate from the cream cheese.
About 30 minutes before serving, pull the cream cheese out to soften. When ready, spread it in the bottom of the serving dish and top it with the prepared cranberry mixture.
TOP TIP: I like to spread the cream cheese on the serving platter and store it in the fridge, covered. Not only does this save a step, but it softens quicker this way!
Storage
Leftovers: Store in an airtight container or wrap it up really well on the serving platter. Store it in the fridge for up to four days. Do not freeze.
Expert Tips and FAQS
That's everything you need to know to make your new favorite dip. If you are ready for everyone to beg for the recipe, remember these tips before you make your first batch of jalapeno cranberry dip.
- Use fresh ingredients.
- Use softened cream cheese for easy spreading and dipping.
- Use gloves when handling the jalapeno peppers.
Mostly fresh ingredients. Fresh cranberries, jalapenos, green onion, cilantro, lime, sugar, salt, and cream cheese are in this recipe.
Yes, this recipe can be made in advance and kept for up to 4 days in the fridge. See the tips above in the post for making in advance.
It's a perfect blend of sweet and spicy with an addictive flavor that will keep you dipping all night! The cream cheese really balances out the spicy and tart flavors and adds a decadent, creamy finish.
Add a few extra peppers or even a few pepper varieties. This recipe is very forgiving and can be adapted to suit your taste.
The cranberry mixture does contain liquid from both the berries and the lime. I like a little bit of juice in my dip as it's super flavorful and tasty, but if you want to avoid this in your dip you can drain the cranberry mixture in a strainer before adding to the cream cheese.

More Cranberry Recipes
Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card right below! You can also write a review in the comment section further down the page I always appreciate your feedback. And don’t forget to tag me @freshcoasteats in your photos on social media, I'd love to see your results!

Cranberry Jalapeno Dip with Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fresh cranberries whole
- 2 jalapenos seeded and sliced
- 2 green onions sliced
- ¼ cup cilantro
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 16 ounces cream cheese softened
Instructions
- In a food processor, combine the cranberries, jalapenos, green onions and cilantro. Use the chop setting and pulse until the mixture is finely chopped and evenly distributed.
- Place the mixture in a small bow and add sugar and lime juice. Stir until well combined. Set aside.
- In a second bowl, use an electric mixer on low speed to mix the cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add 1-2 Tablespoons of the cranberry mixture and beat again until combined.
- Spread cream cheese on a shallow dish.
- Carefully spoon the cranberry mixture over the cream cheese.
- Serve with crackers and enjoy!
Notes
- Use fresh ingredients.
- Use softened cream cheese for easy spreading and dipping.
- Use gloves when handling the jalapeno peppers.
- Store in an airtight container or wrap it up really well on the serving platter. Store it in the fridge for up to four days. Do not freeze.
Lisa says
This dip featured at both of our Christmas parties over the festive season - and no leftovers in sight! I made it in advance and then assembled just prior to serving. We served with pita chips, and it's absolutely delicious.
My daughter also tried it with dried cranberries and said it turned out so well also!