A beautiful, jewel toned fresh cranberry salsa sits atop a cool and creamy base of whipped cream cheese and goat cheese to make this delicious dip! The cranberries are combined with fresh ginger, green onions, cilantro, and lime juice for dynamite flavor. This easy recipe can be made mostly ahead of time and is served cold, no oven space needed. Serve with crackers or tortilla chips for a great appetizer.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This bright and festive cranberry jalapeno dip has a cloudlike base of whipped cream cheese and goat cheese that’s topped with a spicy, gingery, cranberry salsa. It’s always a hit when I bring it to gatherings.
Imagine subtly sweet, tart, and spicy meets cool and creamy. A two layer dip of seasonal goodness.
I often find cream cheese dips to be somewhat one dimensional in flavor, so I added a small amount of goat cheese to the base, bringing a subtle savory, tangy element. It’s one of the things that makes this dip deliciously different. (You could always use all cream cheese if you don’t like goat cheese!)
The gorgeous, jewel-toned color of the cranberries shine, and make for the perfect holiday appetizer. Plus, you can make the majority of the recipe ahead of time to make things easy on the day you plan on serving. It’s served cold, so no oven space is needed. And a great gluten-free appetizer recipe.
Cream cheese: whipping cream cheese transforms it into a fluffy, cool and creamy base for the sweet and spicy cranberry mixture.
Goat cheese: brings a tangy, savory element to the cheese base.
Fresh cranberries: tart on their own, but lovely fruit flavor!
Cane sugar: to balance the tartness of raw cranberries.
Cilantro
Jalapeno: the spicy component works so well with cranberries.
Lime juice
Ginger: adds beautiful, warm flavor.
Green onion
How to Make Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip:
Pulse fresh cranberries 12-15 times in the food processor to break them up into smaller pieces, the size of peas. You’re looking to roughly chop them, not puree them.
Pour into a large bowl and combine with other ingredients, stirring quite a bit to evenly disperse and coat the cranberries and help the sugar start to dissolve.
Let this mixture sit for a minimum of 30 minutes to let flavors mingle, even better if you let it sit overnight in the refrigerator. Make-ahead makes it easier!
When ready to serve, add goat cheese and cream cheese to a food processor. Puree for a minute or so, until fluffy and light. Spread onto a plate, creating some cloud-like swoops.
Use a fine mesh strainer to drain the liquid from the cranberry mixture, then generously pile the cranberry salsa on top of the softened cheese. Serve with tortilla chips or crackers.
Health Benefits of Fresh Cranberries:
Besides being delicious, cranberries are a powerhouse of antioxidants and source of protection for urinary tract infections.
The vitamins and minerals they contain boost the body’s digestive health and promote good heart health – potentially improving blood pressure and cholesterol. Cranberries are also high in vitamin C and fiber.
A beautiful, jewel toned cranberry salsa sits atop a cool and creamy base of whipped cream cheese and goat cheese to make this delicious dip! This easy recipe can be made mostly ahead of time. Serve with crackers or tortilla chips for a great appetizer.
1/3cupfinely chopped green onions,white and green parts
1/4cupchopped cilantro
1 1/2teaspoonsminced fresh ginger
juice of half a large limeor juice of one small lime
1/4teaspoonfine sea salt
1jalapeno,finely chopped (if you are sensitive to spiciness, remove the white ribbing inside the jalapeno and the seeds)
13 or 4 ounce log goat cheese, softened
18 ounce package of cream cheese, softened
Prevent your screen from going dark
Instructions
Pulse cranberries 12-15 times in the food processor, to break them up into smaller pieces. You don’t want to go too far and puree them.
Pour into a large bowl and combine with all other ingredients except the cheeses, stir quite a bit to evenly disperse and coat the cranberries and help the sugar start to dissolve. Let sit for a minimum of 30 minutes to let flavors mingle, even better if you let it sit overnight in the refrigerator. Make-ahead makes it easier!
Completely rinse out the food processor bowl and add chèvre and cream cheese. Puree for a minute or so, until fluffy and light. Spread onto a plate, creating some cloud-like swoops. Use a fine mesh strainer to drain the liquid from the cranberry mixture, then generously pile the cranberry salsa on top of the softened cheese. Serve with tortilla chips or crackers.
Notes
Taste the cranberry salsa once done mixing. If you’d like it a bit sweeter, add more sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time until you find the sweetness you like.
I made this dip as an appetizer for Thanksgiving. My family loved it and I have been nominated to bring it to every family function. It was so easy to make and the flavors were so refreshing. I loved the combination of the goat cheese and cream cheese topped with the fresh cranberries.
This cranberry salsa recipe is so great, I have made it three times already! So pretty for the holidays and so fresh and tasty!
Yay, I’m so glad this has become a go-to recipe for you!
I have made this Cranberry Cream Cheese dip three times so far this holiday season, and it has been a huge hit every time! So, so good!
so great to hear that, tammy!
Super yummy and tasty! Love how easy the recipe was too! Thanks!
Could I scoop some of this up using my favorite potato chips? Or any other pairing?
I would recommend pita chips or pretzel crisps rather than potato chips for this dip! The flavors go together better.
This dip was not only delicious but also gorgeous on a grazing table!
This recipe is absolutely delicious! So festive and perfect for this season of entertaining
Amanda you are a master
Delicious and festive! The combination of tart cranberry with fresh salsa flavors and goat cheese was a treat.
I made this dip as an appetizer for Thanksgiving. My family loved it and I have been nominated to bring it to every family function. It was so easy to make and the flavors were so refreshing. I loved the combination of the goat cheese and cream cheese topped with the fresh cranberries.
Yay, so glad to hear it! And love the nomination. :)
It was such a hit the first holiday, we doubled the recipe the second go-around!!
Yay, love to hear it!
I made your cranberry salsa. Yum, yum and yum. Thank you.
Yay, glad you enjoyed it!
This is delicious! Everyone loved it including the kids, and it’s easy to make and beautiful.
Yay, great to hear that it was enjoyed!
So delicious, enjoyed by the whole family!
Yay! Have a great holiday season.