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Cranberry dip with cream cheese and fresh jalapenos. AKA the easiest holiday appetizer you’ll ever make! The tart cranberry sauce pairs well with the cream cheese. And the jalapenos give it a fresh and spicy flavor that makes it really pop. You can assemble this in no time!

A quick holiday appetizer made with cream cheese, cranberries, and jalapenos, with crackers.

This is a festive take on the Southern classic pepper jelly appetizer. We like to take a jar of homemade pepper jelly, dump it on a block of cream cheese, and eat it with crackers. I decided to try it with some jammy homemade cranberry sauce and fresh jalapenos.

It’s absolutely delicious! It’s creamy, tangy, sweet, and just a little spicy. The jalapenos have their seeds removed, so it’s not too hot. And they add a nice, fresh crunch.

I’ve made it at home and brought it to many holiday gatherings. It always disappears! If you have cranberry sauce on hand, this cranberry dip with cream cheese only takes a couple minutes to assemble. It’s a perfect festive appetizer during the busy holiday season!

Pro-tip: I recommend making a few batches of homemade cranberry sauce during the fall and winter. You can freeze it and have it ready to add to dishes during the holidays. I always have some on hand!

Ingredients

A bowl of cranberry sauce with a whole jalapeno pepper and a block of cream cheese.

Cream cheese provides a creamy base.
Homemade whole-berry cranberry sauce is sweet, tart, and packs a ton of flavor. My cranberry sauce with orange & walnuts is the best! You can substitute a can of whole-berry cranberry sauce in a pinch.
Fresh jalapenos add a little spice and crunch. Removing all the seeds from the jalapenos ensures this isn’t too spicy for folks with a sensitive palate.

How to make it cranberry cream cheese dip

A block of cream cheese on a granite slab.

First, remove the seeds from the jalapenos and finely dice them. Then, open up the cream cheese and lay it on your serving plate.

Homemade whole berry cranberry jam on a block of cream cheese.

Cranberry sauce and diced jalapeno peppers on a block of cream cheese.

Now, dump the cranberry sauce on top. Then, sprinkle the jalapenos on.

That’s it. Whew, what a doozy. 😀

How to serve cranberry dip

Serve this cranberry cream cheese dip on a plate with crackers. Or make a batch of homemade crostini to serve with it.
It’s a perfect appetizer during fall and winter when cranberries are in season.
Make it for holiday parties and gatherings during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve.

More awesome cranberry recipes

Did you make this beautiful cranberry jalapeno dip? Tag @mandiofthemountains on Instagram with your creations!