Cranberry Jalapeno Dip Recipe

Are you looking for the perfect holiday appetizer? This Cranberry Jalapeno Dip Recipe is just what you need. It's a simple way to put a fresh spin on party snacks in a way that everyone will love. It is an easy unique appetizer idea with just 3 ingredients!

We love dips. All types of dips, from sweet dips to savory dips and everything in between. The fun part about making dips homemade is that you ultimately control the outcome. Take this cranberry-jalapeno cream cheese dip, for example. It is easy to customize the heat level.

Dips are a great way to feed a crowd or have a fast bite to eat when everyone is running around the house on a busy weeknight. Since this simple dip has the main focus on cranberries, it's easy to transition it to a holiday dip that will warm bellies throughout the end of the year. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve - all a go.

Speaking of dips, be sure to check out my Elote Dip Recipe and Corn Dip with Cream Cheese as well. You can never have too many dip offerings on the table to enjoy. 

Ingredients 

• Cream cheese - Softened cream cheese works best for this dip to be smooth and creamy. 
• Cranberry sauce  - You can make your own cranberry sauce easily per the directions below. 
• Jalapeno pepper - You can add raw or sautee and add. 
• Salt and pepper - To taste. 
• Cranberries - Fresh cranberries or frozen cranberries will work just fine if you don't mind taking an extra few minutes to make homemade sauce. If you prefer you can use canned whole-berry sauce. You can also use leftover cranberry sauce in this cranberry jalapeno dip recipe. 
• Sugar - Helps to add sweetness and also cook down the cranberries. 

See quantities in recipe card.

 How to Make Cranberry Jalapeno Dip
This simple recipe has so many flavors that it's going to be your new favorite dip without a doubt. 

Optional: Lightly saute the jalapeño peppers with 1 teaspoon of the oil of your choice. You can use raw jalapeños if you want.

Step One: Stir together all the ingredients in a bowl or the skillet you sauteed the peppers in.

Step Two: Transfer the cranberry-jalapeno mixture to a serving bowl. Serve the Cranberry Jalapeño Dip at room temperature with crackers. 

Variations

• Add a splash of juice - A little bit of orange juice (a tiny amount!) or orange zest adds a fun pop of citrus flavor. Just add and stir. Lime juice is another great option, but again, don't add too much, or you'll have a ton of excess liquid.
• Add green onions - You can also add onions to the mixture, but be careful with this. Green onions are subtle enough that they won't overpower. 
• Add toppings - Fresh cilantro would be wonderful with this dish. Just add a thin or even layer on top before serving.  

Storage

You need to keep this dip stored in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve. Keeping it cold and chilled is a must due to the cream cheese that makes up most of the dish.

Cover the dish with plastic wrap or have it in an airtight container so that you keep it as fresh as possible for as long as possible. Always make sure that you use a clean spoon if you're going to scoop some out of it, and don't let people double dip.

You can also make this in advance. Make sure that you keep it stored in the fridge and have it covered tightly to keep out the air. 

Common Question

What do you serve with this cranberry jalapeño cream cheese dip?

This cranberry mixture is excellent with crackers, pretzel crisps, cubes or slices of bread, celery, carrots, and even sliced bell peppers. Try it as a spread on a turkey sandwich or wrap.

Do I need to use a hand mixer or food processor to make this dip?

You don't. Just make sure to sure warm ingredients so it mixes easily. I also think that this is the preferred way to make it because it doesn't break down the whole or chopped cranberries anymore. 

Recipe

Originally Published November 3, 2022. Revised and Republished December 5, 2025.