This cranberry jalapeño dip is a fabulous make-ahead appetizer, perfect for holiday parties or entertaining. It’s easy to prepare and pairs well with a variety of dippers, such as veggies and crackers.

Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip

This Cranberry Jalapeño Dip is hands down one of my favorite go-to appetizers, especially during the holiday season. What sets it apart from other recipes is the perfect balance of flavors. It is sweet, spicy, and creamy all in one bite! Trust me, once you make it, you’ll never look back at those overly sweet or bland cranberry dips floating around the internet!

Ingredients and Estimated Cost:

Recipe Cost: $8.80

Per Serving Cost: $0.74

• 12 oz bag fresh cranberries: $2.98
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro: $0.48
• 2 Jalapeños: $0.54
• ¼ of a small red onion: $0.38 
• 1 cup granulated sugar: $0.54
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice: $0.10
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt: $0.02
• 2 (8 oz) bricks of low-fat cream cheese or Neufchâtel cheese: $3.76

NOTE: The recipe prices are calculated by using grocery store websites. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what ingredients you already have.

How To Make Cranberry Jalapeno Dip

***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card below.

Make the Cranberry Mixture

• Pulse cranberries, cilantro, jalapeños, and red onion in a food processor until finely chopped.
• Transfer to a bowl, mix in sugar, lemon juice, and salt. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Prep the Cream Cheese

• Whip softened cream cheese until fluffy.
• Spread in a 9×9-inch dish.

Assemble the Dip

• Strain the cranberry mixture. 
• Spread it on top of the cream cheese.

Serve

• Refrigerate until serving.
• Serve with crackers, veggies, or chips.

***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card below.

Recipe FAQs

How spicy is this dip?

This is a relatively moderate dip in terms of heat level. If you want it to be less spicy, remove one of the jalapenos. If you want to take the heat up a notch, leave the seeds in the jalapeno when adding them to the dip.

Can I use frozen cranberries?

I prefer fresh cranberries, but you can use frozen if needed. Just be sure to let the frozen cranberries thaw before adding them to the food processor.

What can I serve with this dip?

Some of my favorite dippers include crackers such as wheat thins or triscuits. Pita chips and tortilla chips are also delicious options. And don’t forget about the veggies: cucumber slices, bell peppers, carrot sticks, and celery sticks.

More Appetizers

• Easy Mango Shrimp Ceviche Recipe
• Goat Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe
• Flavored Greek Yogurt with Marinated Tomatoes

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Cranberry Jalapeno Dip

This cranberry jalapeño dip is a fabulous make-ahead appetizer, perfect for holiday parties or entertaining. It’s easy to prepare and pairs well with a variety of dippers like veggies and crackers.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Keyword cranberry, dip recipes

Prep Time 25 minutes minutes

Chill Time 10 hours hours

Total Time 10 hours hours 25 minutes minutes

Servings 15 people

Calories 124kcal

Author Jillian

Cost $8.80

Equipment

• food processor
• Medium bowl
• Strainer
• Whisk or hand mixer
• 9×9 dish
• spatula

Ingredients

INGREDIENTS:

• 12 oz bag fresh cranberries
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro
• 2 Jalapeños deseeded
• ¼ of a small red onion
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• 16 oz bricks of low-fat cream cheese or Neufchâtel cheese

DIPPERS:

• Crackers
• Carrots
• Celery

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Add in the cranberries, cilantro, jalapeños, and red onion into a food processor and pulse until everything is small chopped.
• Transfer the cranberry mixture to a medium bowl.
• Add to the cranberry mixture the sugar, lemon juice, and salt, mix until combined.
• Cover the cranberry mixture with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Remove the cranberry mixture from the refrigerator and strain the liquid into another bowl.
• While the cranberry mixture is straining, whip the softened cream cheese until light and fluffy.
• Add the whipped cream cheese to a 9×9 dish and spread on the bottom of the dish.
• Pour and evenly spread the strained cranberry mixture on top of the cream cheese.
• Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve and use veggies and crackers of your choosing, to dip.
• Serve and Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25cup | Calories: 124kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 182mg | Potassium: 102mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 233IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 0.2mg

Posh Plate - Healthy Feel-Good Recipes

This list of 30 essential cooking terms will empower you to cook with confidence and create delicious meals for your family.

30 Essential Cooking Terms

When I first started cooking, I quickly realized how important it is to understand basic cooking terms. It used to be that if I read words like “blanch,” “sauté,” or “julienne,” I would cringe and skip the recipe. But once I learned what they meant, everything in the kitchen became much easier. Knowing these terms gave me the confidence to tackle new recipes, make smart swaps for healthier ingredients, and adjust meals to fit my family’s preferences.

It’s incredible how a little knowledge can make cooking feel less like a chore and more like an opportunity. For me, cooking at home is an opportunity to create something delicious and nourishing for the people I love, not just something I must do every day.

Cutting Techniques

Understanding different cutting techniques is fundamental to any cook. From the quick and easy ‘roughly chopped’ for hearty stews to the elegant ‘tourner’ often seen in fine dining, mastering these cuts will enhance your presentation and impact the flavor and texture of your dishes. Let’s explore some essential cutting techniques that every home cook should know.

• Roughly Chopped: This term refers to cutting ingredients into large, uneven pieces, typically about an inch in size. The focus here is speed rather than precision, making it ideal for soups, stews, or recipes where the presentation of the cut isn’t critical.
• Roundelles (Rounds): Rondelles are uniform, circular slices of a cylindrical vegetable, such as carrots or zucchini. To create rondelles, place the vegetable flat on a cutting board and make even, straight cuts to produce clean, round slices.
• Cut Into Diagonals: This technique results in elongated or oval-shaped slices. Like rondelles, it involves cutting cylindrical vegetables, but the knife is held at an angle to achieve a distinct oval shape. This cut is great for stir-fries and adds visual interest to your dish.
• Chiffonade: Chiffonade is a technique for finely slicing leafy greens or herbs. Stack several leaves, roll them tightly, and slice across the roll with a sharp knife to create delicate, thin ribbons. It’s perfect for garnishing.
• Oblique Cut: The oblique, or roll cut, creates wedge-shaped pieces with two angled sides. Hold the vegetable at a 45-degree angle for the first cut, then rotate it halfway for the next cut. This method is often used for root vegetables in soups and stews to ensure even cooking and a rustic look.
• Butterfly: Butterflying is a slicing technique where you cut horizontally through meat, poultry, or fish, stopping just before the other side. This creates two equal halves that are still connected, resembling a butterfly. It’s commonly used for even cooking or stuffing.
• Julienne: This involves cutting food into thin, matchstick-like strips, typically ⅛ inches wide and 2 inches long. Vegetables like carrots or bell peppers are often cut this way to create an elegant presentation or to help ingredients cook evenly.
• Dice: Dicing refers to cutting food into cube-shaped pieces. The dice size depends on the recipe, ensuring even cooking and a uniform look.
• Small Dice: Uniform cubes measuring ¼ inch on each side.
• Medium Dice: Slightly larger cubes, ½ inch on each side.
• Large Dice: Larger cubes measuring ¾ inch on each side.
• Mince: This means chopping an ingredient into very fine pieces. It’s commonly used for garlic, shallots, and herbs to release their flavors evenly throughout a dish.
• Tourner: This French term means “to turn” and involves carving vegetables into a football-like shape with seven equal sides and flat ends. This technique is often used for elegant plating and even cooking.

Preparation Techniques

Proper preparation is key to ensuring smooth and stress-free cooking. This section outlines foundational techniques to set you up for success in the kitchen.

• Mise en Place: Organize and prepare all ingredients before cooking. This includes measuring, chopping, and arranging items in advance.
• Preheat the Oven: Always preheat your oven before starting a recipe to ensure even cooking. Begin this step before preparing ingredients.
• Plus Additional for Greasing the Pan: Use butter or oil to grease pans, ensuring easy release and preventing sticking.
• Set Aside: Temporarily place prepared ingredients in a designated spot, often covered or refrigerated.

Cooking Techniques

Mastering these methods will help you handle a variety of dishes with ease, from stirring to sautéing.

• Stir: Use a spoon to mix ingredients, especially in nonstick pans, to ensure even distribution and prevent burning.
• Whisk: Use a whisk to mix or aerate ingredients; use a thin whisk for saucepans and a balloon whisk for bowls.
• Sauté: A dry-heat cooking method that uses minimal fat to transfer heat from a pan to food.
• Heat a Skillet, Pot, or Saucepan: Preheat pans to enhance caramelization and flavor. Add oil only when ready to cook to avoid overheating.

Cooking Cues

These terms guide you through critical points in the cooking process, ensuring perfect results every time.

• Stirring Occasionally: Periodically stir dishes like stews to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
• Until Aromatic: Heat spices and herbs until fragrant, releasing their full flavor.
• Until Lightly Browned, Golden, or Dark Brown: Monitor color closely to achieve desired flavors and textures.
• Coats the Back of a Spoon: Test thickened sauces or custards by checking if a finger-drawn line on the back of a spoon stays.

Specialized Techniques

These unique methods bring flair and specificity to your cooking repertoire.

• Fluff with a Fork: Gently separate grains or mashed potatoes to retain a light texture.
• Until Uniform: Ensure consistency in size and shape for even cooking and visual appeal.
• Until Softened: Cook ingredients like onions or celery until they become translucent and soft.
• Mop: Generously slather barbecue sauce onto the meat during grilling using a mop brush for even application.

Posh Plate - Healthy Feel-Good Recipes