Easy Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip is the perfect festive holiday appetizer. Full of sweet and tart flavors with a hint of heat, served over rich cream cheese. Perfect for spreading on your favorite cracker!

Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip

This quick and easy cranberry dip will save you so much time during the holidays.

Why You Will Love This Recipe!

Sweet, tart, and a little spicy
Easy to throw together in less than 10 minutes
No cooking required!
Great way to use leftover cranberry sauce
Perfect colors, flavors, and textures for all the upcoming holiday parties

Serve it as an appetizer during your holiday party, along with a roasted turkey, this cheesy green bean casserole, and some pumpkin pie.

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Read my disclosure policy.

ingredients for cranberry cream cheese dip

Ingredients Needed

Cranberries – Mid to late October, fresh cranberries start appearing in my grocery store so grab a few bags! Fresh or frozen cranberries work best for this recipe. Canned cranberry sauce will not work in this recipe.

Sugar – Use plain white granulated sugar for this recipe. You can also use honey in a pinch if you need to.

Cilantro – Fresh is best!

Green Onions – I love these sliced thin in the salsa and then sprinkled on top for a garnish.

Ginger – Fresh ginger is best for this! You can find a knob in the produce department. Store it wrapped in a paper towel or in a brown paper bag in the refrigerator. Then grate on a zester when ready to use.

Jalapeno – I like the kick of heat this gives the salsa. Take out the seeds and remove the ribs to keep the heat in check. You can also leave them out altogether if you don’t like the spice.

Cream Cheese – You can use full fat, reduced fat, or fat free cream cheese. You can also substitute goat cheese, Boursin cheese spread, or even baked brie.

For more insider tips & tricks, and a candid behind the scenes look follow me on social media! Check use out on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter (yes, people still use Twitter, LOL!)

cranberries in a processor — add cranberries to processor

bowl of minced cranberries — add cranberries to processor

How to Make Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip

First: Prepare the fresh cranberry salsa by rinsing and draining cranberries. Place cranberries in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped.

cranberry salsa in a bowl — add to cranberries

Second: In a medium sized bowl, mix together chopped cranberries, sliced green onions, diced jalapenos, chopped cilantro and grated ginger. Add lemon juice and sugar and mix.

Third: Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate to let the flavors develop.

cranberry salsa on cream cheese — pour in sugar

Fourth: When ready to serve, place block of cream cheese on a serving platter and spread out if desired. Top with cranberry salsa and garnish with more sliced green onions. Add toasted pecans if desired. Serve with crackers!

For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

What do I serve with it?

Wheat Thins are everyone’s favorite with it
Ritz or any buttery Club cracker
Sliced apples
Crostini
Tortilla chips
Rye crackers
Bagel chips

Can I make it ahead of time?

You can prep the cranberry salsa a few days ahead of time. The flavor actually deepens the longer it sits. The cream cheese just needs to be softened for 10 minutes before spreading and serving.

How long does it last?

The salsa will last for up 1 week. Once assembled with the cream cheese, it will last for 3 days if stored tightly wrapped in the refrigerator.

You might need to pour off any water that might accumulate on the serving dish.

Can I freeze it?

Due to the fresh cranberries and dairy in the cream cheese, I do not recommend freezing this dip.

Can I use canned cranberry sauce?

If you don’t want to make the fresh cranberry salsa, I would use canned WHOLE cranberry sauce as it has larger pieces of cranberries. You can mix it with the minced jalapeno, lemon juice, and cilantro.

Tapas Tips & Tricks

Don’t have or want to use cream cheese? You can switch it up for goat cheese or baked brie!
You can spread the softened cream cheese into a single layer in the dish instead of leaving it in a block in the middle.
Make the cranberry salsa a day ahead of time to let the flavors intensify.
Just cover any leftovers tightly with plastic wrap and the dip will keep for a few days! It’s great on a bagel the next morning.
The salsa is delicious on it’s own but better served with cream cheese.
Sprinkle on some toasted pecans for some crunch!
Serve it alongside this Cranberry Fluff for more festive dishes!

If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a five-star review in the comment section below (or on Pinterest with the “tried it” button – you can now add pictures into reviews, too!), and be sure to help me share on facebook!

cranberry cream cheese dip with text "spread"

When doing your holiday shopping, grab an extra bag or two and whip up this cranberry cream cheese dip. To help with holiday stress you can make it ahead of time and serve when ready!