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Sometimes we all need a little cheat recipe that tastes amazing but isn’t time-consuming when you’re hosting guests!
This Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip is one of them! This appetizer or snack is perfect to serve guests when you’re cooking a huge feast and just need something to tide them over while you prepare the rest of the dinner.
I usually do a huge feast!! Our Thanksgivings are buffet style and since we celebrate my wedding anniversary, birthday and my husband’s birthday, we always go all out! As much I’d love to make every single dish with lots of fine details and make it a bit more intricate, I physically don’t have the capacity to.
What I love about this specific dip is that it is really simple to prepare, less mess as well as not as filling! You definitely do not want your guests too full while you’ve been slaving away all day cooking!
Do you have an easy go-to recipe you make? I’d love to know in the comments!
PIN Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip FOR LATER:
Since I make all the food and drinks over years, I’ve just gotten so tired! I had to find a way to take shortcuts and now instead of baking fresh bread, I buy some and some for pies for the most part! No one even notices and it shaves time off my preparation!
My household loves cream cheese and we have it often! We love the savoury and creaminess that adding cream cheese provides.
Do you like cream cheese dips? Let me know below!
HERE IS HOW TO MAKE CRANBERRY CREAM CHEESE DIP:
WHERE CAN I FIND THESE INGREDIENTS?
The ingredients to make this super easy Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip is available at most grocery stores. I used canned cranberry sauce but of course, fresh is better! I always use canned cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving because I cook a huge feast and simply do not have the time!
I love cranberry sauce and have it with regular roast chicken dinners throughout the year so it’s extremely handy for me to be able to get it when cranberries aren’t in season!
Aside from the cranberry sauce, this recipe uses cream cheese which can be found in the dairy aisle, raspberry jam, pecans, walnuts, cinnamon and nutmeg which can all be found in the pantry section of your local grocery store.
WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS?
The ingredients to make this cranberry cream cheese dip are:
INGREDIENTS
Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip
- Cranberry Sauce
- Cream Cheese
- Raspberry Jam
- Pecans
- Walnuts
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
WHAT TYPE OF CRANBERRY SAUCE SHOULD I USE?
For this cranberry cream cheese dip, I used canned whole berry cranberry sauce. I have made fresh cranberry sauce before but honestly, it’s just additional work on Thanksgiving that I’ve given up!
Cranberry sauce is generally just cranberries and sugar so it’s quite easy but I do a whole feast for over 10 people most Thanksgivings and got lazy with the cranberry sauce!
Either fresh or canned works perfect for this Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip!
WHAT IS THE TIME BREAKDOWN TO MAKE THIS RECIPE?
The time breakdown to make this easy Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip is really only about 10-15 minutes. You’ll need to open the cream cheese first to soften a bit. The entire time to make this dip includes:
To Prepare– this includes opening a block of cream cheese and letting it soften and measuring out all the ingredients
Time: 5 Minutes
To Cook– this includes cooking the cranberry sauce, jam, pecans, walnuts, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small saucepot and pouring it over the cream cheese block
Time: 10 Minutes
Total time from start to finish: 15 Minutes
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED?
The equipment needed to make this cranberry cream cheese is very minimal. All you need is a small saucepot to simmer all of the ingredients to make the warm cranberry sauce as well as a platter to place the cream cheese in.
WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO PREPARE?
The steps to make this easy Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip are:
- Prepare – all the ingredients and take out the cream cheese to soften
- Cook & Combine – all the ingredients in a sauce pot to make and simmer the warm cranberry sauce
- Plate and Serve – and enjoy!
CAN I SUB/ADD ANYTHING OUT?
Yes, you can definitely sub some ingredients in this cranberry cream cheese dip out! If you want to make this recipe vegan, you can use vegan cream cheese instead. If you don’t like raspberry jam, you can always use orange, apricot or strawberry jam too!
If you don’t like nuts, you can definitely omit these but the crunch adds texture to this creamy and fruity dip! The only two seasonings in this recipe are cinnamon and nutmeg so I would keep it unless you have an allergy then you can omit it!
WHAT DOES IT TASTE LIKE?
This Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip is very creamy and savoury from the block of cream cheese and very rich and fruity from the cranberry sauce. The cinnamon and nutmeg are perfect to compliment the sweetness. The pecans and walnuts add the best crunch to the overall texture!
HOW LONG DOES IT KEEP FOR?
If you’re serving it to guests for a party, I suggest not keeping it at all unless you store it in the fridge early. As it is cream cheese and does contain dairy, you don’t want to have it sitting then store it in the fridge to eat it at the end of the night for the next day.
If you only keep it out for a little bit as an appetizer and serve dinner shortly after, you can definitely store this in the fridge!
WHAT GOES WITH THIS CRANBERRY CREAM CHEESE DIP ?
This easy Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip is perfect for someone who loves cranberry sauce during Thanksgiving dinner as well as a savoury cream cheese! This appetizer is incredibly delicious to make and share with guests before dinner. Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip is great:
- With An Assortment Of Crackers– to dip and scoop up
- With Fresh Bread or Rolls – on the side
- With Fresh Fall Fruit – like apples or pears
- To bring to a potluck or dinner party – prepared to share with others!
WHAT ARE OTHER VARIATIONS OF CRANBERRY CREAM CHEESE DIP?
Some other variations of Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip that I would love to try making are:
- Cranberry Jalapeno Dip
- Baked Cranberry & White Cheddar Dip
- Bacon Cranberry Walnut Dip
- Pecan Cranberry Goat Cheese Spread
- Cranberry Caramelized Onion Cheese Spread
MORE CREAM CHEESE DIP RECIPES?
I found so many delicious cream cheese dip recipes that are awesome to serve to guests! Some other cream cheese dip recipes that are delicious are:
- Bacon Cheddar Cream Cheese Dip
- BLT Dip
- Chili Cheese Dip
- Ranch Chicken Cheese Dip
- Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Dip
INSPIRATIONS FOR THIS DISH?
This inspiration to make this cranberry cream cheese dip comes from my love of cream cheese and cranberry sauce! I’ve seen this recipe done a few times but never attempted it this recently! I shared it with my family and they enjoyed it!
Thanksgiving for me is all about food so there have to be multiple courses and food options throughout the night!
HOW CAN I MEAL PREP THIS RECIPE?
I wouldn’t really recommend meal prepping this cranberry cream cheese dip as it should be eaten while the cranberry sauce is warm over top of the cream cheese but if you don’t mind it cold, you could whip both the cream cheese and the cranberry sauce together and store it in individual containers and bring your own side of crackers for lunch every day!
COST OF THIS CRANBERRY CREAM CHEESE DIP?
This Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip uses ingredients that you may already have at home. Cranberry cream cheese dip uses very common ingredients so you can find it anywhere!
Based on my groceries in CAD, if you were buying EVERYTHING from scratch:
Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip
- Plain Cream Cheese Brick (250g) – $4.28
- Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce (348ml) – $2.25
- Raspberry Jam (250ml) – $3.80
- Chopped Pecans (100g) – $4.15
- Chopped Walnuts (100g) – $3.25
- Cinnamon (150g) – $2.70
- Nutmeg (125g) – $3.60
Total: $24.03 (not all the ingredients were used and leftovers can be used for other recipes)
As all of these ingredients are new, if you just priced out the actual ingredients used in this cranberry cream cheese dip, it would come up to about $10.25.
ANY OTHER NOTES?
Not many notes for this one! You have the option of just leaving the cream cheese block or cut it up if you wish.
Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip
Ingredients
- 1 Can Whole Cranberry Sauce 348ml
- 1 Brick Cream Cheese 250g
- 1/2 Cup Raspberry Jam
- 1/4 Cup Chopped Pecans & Walnuts
- 1 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1/8 Tsp Nutmeg
Instructions
- On a serving plate, place your cream cheese and set aside.
- In a small sauce pot, add in your cranberry sauce, raspberry jam, chopped pecans and walnuts, cinnamon and nutme and let simmer.
- Once the cranberry sauce is all warm, pour over the block of cream cheese.
- Plate with an assortment of crackers, serve and enjyo!
I hope you enjoyed reading how to make this super easy Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip!
This is a great and easy appetizer to make for any Fall gathering! If you make really big feasts and go all out for Thanksgiving, appetizers or just a starting plate is one thing you can skimp out on a little bit!
Would you try making this Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip?! Let me know below in the comments!
Xo,
Lynn
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This recipe looks amazing. I love that it doesn’t take a lot of time to prepare. It seems like the perfect snack, both savoury and sweet! I would love to try this with fresh bread!