This cranberry jalapeno cream cheese spread is full of fresh herb flavor with a bit of spice and some sweet cranberries. The balance is delicious and it is the perfect spread for crackers.
It’s holiday party season! And do you know what that means? Snacks!
Whether it is a starter while the turkey is roasting on Thanksgiving or something to nosh on during the Christmas parties ahead, this cranberry spread will be a nice change to the standard fare.
It has a really fresh flavor from the herbs and lime juice and just enough spice from the jalapeno to make it interesting. I don’t think it would be too hot to upset anyone’s pallet.
I put this out when Chloe and MiMi came to help set up for Kristie’s shower and Chloe LOVED it. When my husband and Little Dude came home, I got some out for them to snack on while I made a pizza for dinner.
We had the whole thing eaten between us by the end of the night! We all thought it was pretty darn tasty and a bit different than anything we had ever tried.
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You could form this mixture into a cheese ball if you would like, but we like the ease of putting it into a bowl. It’s a no muss no fuss way of serving this tasty appetizer, just have plenty of crackers ready!
Can I use something besides cilantro?
Yes. If you don’t like cilantro you can just leave it out or substitute in more green onion, chives or parsley.
Storage
Keep any leftover cracker spread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a few days. The herbs will start to wilt and oxidize if it is stored much longer than that.
Cranberry Cream Cheese Spread
Ingredients
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup loosely packed cilantro
- ¼ cup green onions
- 1 jalapeno
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Tablespoon lime juice
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Roughly chop the ½ cup dried cranberries, ½ cup loosely packed cilantro, and ¼ cup green onions
- Remove the seeds from the 1 jalapeno and finely dice.
- Put the 8 oz cream cheese in a medium bowl and add the ½ teaspoon garlic powder, 1 Tablespoon lime juice, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Add the cranberries, herbs, and jalapeno. Stir until uniform.
- You can serve immediately, but it is good to cover it and refrigerate it for at least an hour to let all of the flavors come together.
- Serve with crackers or toasted bagel chips or baguette slices.
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Hi!
I’m planning to make this for my book club this Friday evening.can I make it a day ahead? Thanks!
Yes, it will be just fine for a couple of days. Just keep it in the refrigerator.
@Carlee, Thank you! It looks delicious. I can’t wait to make it. 😊
How many will this approximately feed?
It depends what all you are serving alongside it. I would say about 6 if this is the only appetizer and closer to 12 if there are other snacks around.
This sounds amazing!! What are your thoughts on using fresh chopped cranberries instead of dried craisins?
That would be fun to try! It would definitely be more tart and less sweet and savory. I think it would still be delicious though. I would give it a taste and add just a bit of sugar if needed to balance out the flavors.
Amazing dip! The second time I made it I added some fresh grated ginger, it added another yummy twist!
That sounds amazing! I am going to try that next time!
What a festive snack!
Thank you!
This sounds and looks great! Can't wait to give a try this season. Thank you for sharing at Merry Monday!
Thank you!
Dip might as well be a food group for me, I eat it that much 😂 I also love sweet and spicy combinations so I can't wait to try this one!
I don't make dip too often, because once I get started it is hard to stop! But I do love a good dip and I love how simple they usually are to make. I have a feeling I'll be making a few more batches of this one this holiday season!
I think this dip/spread sounds absolutely incredible. I wish I thought of it!
Thank you! It was definitely a fun one!
That looks delicious! Thanks for sharing it on Funtastic Friday Blog Hop!
Thank you, it was definitely a hit!
Love the addition of cilantro and jalapeño to this dip! Can't wait to try it…YUM!
Thank you! It really made for a yummy treat. I hope you love it!