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Zesty cranberry cream cheese dip has the perfect zing-to-cream ratio and is sure to be a favorite seasonal appetizer!
Serve this dip with more of our favorite appetizers like Parmesan Crusted Potato Skins, Crock Pot Meatballs, and our festive Veggie Christmas Tree.
A Festive Seasonal Dip!
We love including dips in our appetizer spreads. They are perfect for grazing as you wait for the main event.
This tart and tangy cranberry cream cheese dip has the perfect contrast of flavors and textures and is perfect for the holidays.
Why we love it:
- Easy! This dip is made in minutes, but does need to chill.
- Tasty. The tart of the cranberries mixed with the cool tangy cream cheese is perfection!
- Appetizer perfection. It would look and taste beautiful on a Thanksgiving or Christmas Charcuterie Board.
It would be a welcome addition to our traditional New Year’s appetizer party (or any Christmas gathering for that matter).
Ingredients
- fresh cranberries – Cranberries are baked whole, so there is no need to chop, pulse, or blend. Use fresh or frozen whole cranberries to make the sweet cranberry sauce. Do not use dried or canned cranberries.
- white sugar
- apricot jam
- chopped pecans – or walnuts
- cream cheese – Try brie, goat cheese, or Havarti. Be sure the cheese you use is soft enough to spread on crackers.
Ready in about 30 minutes!
- PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- CRANBERRY SAUCE. In an 8×8 baking dish, add cranberries and sugar and mix to combine. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove from oven and stir in jam and pecans.
- CHILL. Refrigerate overnight to blend flavors.
- SERVE. When ready to serve, pour the cranberry mixture over a block of cream cheese and serve with crackers and pretzels.
Alternative Serving Suggestions!
You can even use the cranberry sauce to spread in a Baked Brie Pastry, Cranberry Brie Bites, or Brie Phyllo Tarts. This dip also makes the perfect spread for sandwiches – like this Cranberry Turkey Sandwich.
Recipe Tips
This cranberry with cream cheese dip can be served with your favorite dippables, or even made spicy for a bit of an extra zing!
- Serve it alongside different types of savory crackers, pretzels, pita chips, and bread slices or on sweeter items like graham crackers or apple slices.
- Variations.
- For added spice mix diced jalapenos into the sauce.
- Garnish it with green onions or top it with fresh cilantro or mint leaves.
- Serving dish. Place the cranberry cream cheese dip on a large serving platter and surround it with crackers and other dippables, or serve it on its own smaller plate.
Storing Info
- Make ahead of time. The cranberry sauce is best when the flavors have time to blend together. Make the sauce up to 2 days ahead of time and keep it in an airtight container in the fridge.
- STORE. Place the cranberry cream cheese dip recipe into an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for 1-2 days.
- FREEZE. Once the sauce has baked, allow it to cool before placing it in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Thaw in the refrigerator. Stir to recombine the ingredients and pour over the cream cheese.
For more Holiday Perfect Dips:
Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (12-ounce) package fresh cranberries
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 cup apricot jam
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In an 8×8 baking dish, add cranberries and sugar and mix to combine. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove from oven and stir in jam and pecans.
- Refrigerate overnight to blend flavors.
- When ready to serve, pour over a block of cheese and serve with crackers and pretzels.
Notes
- Make ahead of time. The cranberry sauce is best when the flavors have time to blend together. Make the sauce up to 2 days ahead of time and keep it in an airtight container in the fridge.
- STORE. Place the cranberry cream cheese dip recipe into an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for 1-2 days.
- FREEZE. Once the sauce has baked, allow it to cool before placing it in a freezer-safe container. Free
- Thaw in the refrigerator. Stir to recombine the ingredients and pour over the cream cheese.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip is a crowd-pleaser! It’s so simple, this tasty dip disappeared fast at our family gathering.
This is one of my go-to game day recipes! So rich and flavorful! Highly recommended!
So easy and so pretty! I am making this again tomorrow for a party and again for Christmas Eve! It’s THAT yummy!