Description
A quick, festive, and crowd-pleasing appetizer, this Creamy Cranberry Pepper Jelly Cream Cheese Dip combines tangy cranberry sauce, sweet-spicy pepper jelly, and smooth cream cheese. It’s creamy, zesty, and perfect with crackers or pretzels for any gathering.
Ingredients
1 block (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 cup red pepper jelly (about 1 jar)
1/2 can cranberry sauce (whole or jellied)
Pretzels, for serving
Crackers, for serving
Instructions
- Spread softened cream cheese evenly onto a small serving dish to form a smooth base.
- In a separate bowl, combine red pepper jelly and cranberry sauce. Stir until fully blended, leaving some cranberry chunks if desired.
- Spoon the cranberry-pepper jelly mixture over the cream cheese layer and spread gently to cover.
- Arrange pretzels and crackers around the dish for serving. Serve at room temperature for easy scooping.
Notes
Use whipped cream cheese for a lighter texture or goat cheese for a tangier twist.
Top with chopped pecans or green onions for extra color and crunch.
Add orange zest or swap cranberry sauce for raspberry preserves for variation.
Serve with a mix of crackers, crostini, or vegetable sticks.
Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; do not freeze.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 recipe
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 32 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
