Tangy, creamy, and a little bit spicy, this Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip is an irresistible mix of sweet cranberry sauce, creamy light cream cheese, and a kick of jalapeño heat.
It’s perfect for holiday parties, cozy game nights, or potlucks where you want one dish that stands out. The sweet-savory contrast of smooth cream cheese, bright green onion and shallot, warm jalapeño spice, and sweet cranberry topping makes this dip a crowd-pleaser.
Great with crackers, toasted baguette slices, pita chips, or even veggies, this dip brings festive flavor without complicated prep.
Why You’ll Love This Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip
This dip brings together creamy richness, sweet-tart fruitiness, and spicy warmth in one easy-to-assemble dish. Using light cream cheese keeps it a bit lighter than full-fat versions, while finely chopped jalapeño (or candied jalapeños) gives just the right amount of heat. The topping of whole-berry cranberry sauce adds festive color and a burst of sweetness that pairs beautifully with the savory base. It’s effortless, no baking needed, and ideal for holiday spreads or casual get-togethers. You’ll just layer it up in a shallow dish (I used a mini cast iron), serve with your choice of dipper (crackers, crostini, or veggies work great), and enjoy!
Tips for Best Results
- Use room-temperature cream cheese so it blends smoothly with no lumps.
- Dice your shallot, green onion, and jalapeño finely for even distribution and easy scooping.
- Taste and adjust seasoning before adding cranberry sauce; a little extra salt, pepper, or garlic powder can balance the sweetness.
- If you like more heat, leave a few jalapeño seeds in (if using fresh), or add extra diced jalapeño. I prefer candied jalapeños because I like the sweet tanginess they add, but fresh or canned jalapeño work great here as well.
- For a slightly lighter twist, you can swirl half the cranberry sauce into the cream cheese mixture instead of layering it all on top.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature. Either way the flavors meld beautifully after 15–20 minutes.
For more savory dip ideas that are sure to be crowd pleasers, try my Healthy Pickle Dip, Jalapeno Cheddar Dip, Everything Bagel Dip, Healthy Spinach Artichoke Dip, or Creamy Smoked Salmon Dip.
Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Shallow Dish or mini cast iron
Ingredients
- 8 oz light cream cheese softened to room temperature
- ¼ cup candied jalapeños finely diced (or substitute 1 fresh jalapeño, seeds and stems removed, finely diced)
- 1 tablespoon shallot finely diced
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ cup green onion finely chopped plus extra for garnish
- ½ 14 oz can whole-berry cranberry sauce
Instructions
- Allow the cream cheese to soften at room temperature until smooth and easy to stir.
- Finely dice the shallot, green onion, and jalapeño (or candied jalapeños).
- In a mixing bowl, stir together the softened cream cheese, diced shallot, green onion, jalapeño, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Transfer the mixture into a shallow serving dish and smooth the top.
- Spoon the whole-berry cranberry sauce over the top of the cream cheese layer, spreading evenly. Garnish with additional chopped green onion if desired.
- Serve with crackers, toasted baguette slices, pita chips, or sliced veggies. Enjoy!
