Description
Cranberry cream cheese dip brings festive cheer to your holiday table with minimal effort and maximum flavor. Creamy, tangy, and wonderfully simple, this crowd-pleasing appetizer will have guests reaching for more crackers or bread to scoop up every delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 16 ounces full-fat cream cheese
- 12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 cup pecan halves or chopped walnuts
Supporting Ingredients:
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed light or dark brown sugar
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Warm your oven to 350°F and grab an 8×8-inch baking dish, preparing a cozy space for your delectable dip.
- Whip 16 ounces cream cheese with ½ cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon orange zest until your mixture transforms into a silky-smooth canvas.
- Gently spread the cream cheese blend across the bottom of your baking dish, creating an even, creamy foundation.
- Toss 12 ounces cranberries with ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup orange juice, and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon until each berry glistens with a sweet, spiced coating.
- Carefully distribute the cranberry mixture over your cream cheese layer, ensuring a vibrant, even spread.
- Generously sprinkle 1 cup pecan halves across the top, adding a satisfying crunch to your dip.
- Slide the dish into the 350°F oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, watching as cranberries burst and edges turn a tempting golden brown.
- Rescue your dip from the oven and let it rest for 10-15 minutes, allowing flavors to dance and mingle.
- Welcome guests with this warm, inviting appetizer, accompanied by crackers, baguette slices, or crisp fruit for dipping.
Notes
- Cream cheese whips smoothest when softened at room temperature for about 30 minutes before mixing.
- Chop pecans roughly if preferring smaller bits of crunch throughout the dip.
- Fresh cranberries work best, but frozen can substitute if thawed and patted completely dry before using.
- For a lower sugar version, replace granulated sugar with monk fruit sweetener and use sugar-free brown sugar alternative.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 324
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 130 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg