This Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip is a festive, crowd-pleasing appetizer that's perfect for the holidays. With creamy cheese, sweet-spicy cranberries, and crunchy almonds, it's a flavor combination that never fails to impress. Serve it with crackers or fresh fruit and watch it disappear.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
In December, my family celebrates more than just Christmas, we gather for birthdays, name days, and Saint Nicholas on December 6th. That means one thing: lots of opportunities to test recipes.
To be honest, I wasn't sure how this appetizer would go over. Romanians aren't big on sweet-savory combinations. But I was wrong, this dip stole the show. Everyone asked for the recipe, and now it's a regular on our holiday table.
What Is Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip?
It's a layered dip made with seasoned cream cheese and a spiced cranberry topping.
In this version, the cream cheese is mixed with green onions for sharpness, while the cranberry sauce gets a little heat from serrano pepper and depth from holiday spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
A splash of orange juice brings everything together. Almonds add crunch.
Don't Skip the Green Onion
While I'm all for adapting recipes, the green onion here is non-negotiable.
Its brightness cuts through the sweetness and gives the dip balance.
Try it once with and once without, you'll understand why it matters.
Key Ingredients and Substitutions
- Cream Cheese: Use classic cream cheese, or switch it up with goat cheese, brie, or a blend of cream cheese and feta for extra tang.
- Cranberries: Fresh or frozen are best. Skip the canned stuff unless you're in a pinch (but really-make it fresh, it's worth it).
- Serrano Pepper: Adds a gentle kick. Use less or more depending on your heat tolerance.
- Spices: Cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg add warmth. Don't overdo it-this isn't mulled wine.
- Almonds: Use whatever nuts you have-almonds, walnuts, pecans. They add texture and a nutty contrast to the creamy dip.
- Green Onion: Essential. Sharp, fresh, and balances the richness.
How to Make It
1. Cook the Cranberry Sauce: Start by simmering the cranberries with orange juice, sugar, spices, and a bit of finely chopped serrano pepper.
As the mixture heats up, the berries will pop and break down. That's your sign that it's working. Let it cook down until thick and glossy.
Once it's cooled slightly, stir in some sliced almonds for texture.
2. Mix the Cream Cheese Base: Chop up your green onions and fold them into softened cream cheese.
Add a pinch of salt and pepper to taste, it doesn't need much, just enough to keep it from being bland.
3. Assemble the Dip: Spread the cream cheese on a serving plate or shallow bowl. Spoon the cranberry sauce over the top. Sprinkle with extra almonds and a few green onions for color.
That's it. You're done. Serve it up with crackers, apple slices, or even chunks of sharp cheese.
Make It Ahead
The cranberry sauce can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in the fridge. Assemble the dip just before serving for best texture.
What to Serve It With
- Savory crackers (your favorite kind)
- Thin apple slices (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith work well)
- Grapes or fresh berries
- Cheese cubes (sharp Cheddar or Manchego are great options)
Can I Use Canned Cranberry Sauce?
Technically yes-but it's just not the same. Store-bought cranberry sauce often has a metallic aftertaste and lacks the depth you get from simmering your own with spices and fresh orange juice. Plus, homemade takes 10 minutes. Don't rob yourself.
If you have leftover Cranberry Chutney with Apples, you can absolutely use that as a topping too.
More Recipes With Cranberries
Sweet and Savory Cranberry Recipes
Some Other Recipes to Love
- 28 Best Dip Appetizer Recipes To Make All Year Round
- New Year's Eve appetizer
- Smoked Trout Dip With Mayo
- Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Cranberry Custard Pie With Cream Cheese Crust
- Sweet Potato Casserole
📖 Recipe
Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip
Ingredients
Cream Cheese Base:
- 16 ounces cream cheese
- 2-3 medium size green onions chopped finely
- salt and pepper to taste
Cranberry Sauce:
- 12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries 2.5 cups
- 1 serrano pepper seeded and finely chopped
- juice of 1 large orange or 2 smalled oranges
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ cup sliced almonds
- crackers for serving
- a few apples to slice and serve with the dip
Instructions
To prepare the cranberry sauce:
- Rinse the cranberries then add them to a medium sauce pot.
- Remove the stem from the serrano pepper, slice it lengthwise, scrape out the seeds (or not if you like it extra spicy), then finely dice the pepper. Add the diced pepper to the sauce pot.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and allow the pot to come to a boil. You will notice that after about 5 minutes of simmering, the cranberries will burst open creating a thicker sauce. Give it a good stir once in a while and let it simmer for another 5 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
- Allow them to cool, then add part of the sliced almonds to it and mix.
Cream cheese dip:
- Chop the green onions and preserve a teaspoon of them for decoration. Mix the cream cheese with the green onions and add salt and pepper to your taste.
Assemble the cranberry cream cheese dip:
- Place the cream cheese on a medium plate or a shallow bowl. Add the cranberry sauce on top of the cream cheese and decorate with the preserved teaspoon of green onions and more almonds.
Christina's Cucina says
Such a unique and festive dip for the holidays! Sounds like a winner! Thanks for including my Grand Marnier cranberry sauce in your post! 🙂
The Bossy Kitchen says
You are very welcome! I hope you don't mind, I love the recipe and thought it would be nice to share it! 🙂