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Cranberry Cream Cheese Spread

Cranberry cream cheese spread with a jewel-red cranberry salsa, bright lime, and a gentle jalapeno kick. Chill the finely chopped cranberries to let the flavors meld, then layer over softened cream cheese for an easy snack board staple.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
chilling 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Calories: 240
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

cranberry base
  • 12 oz fresh cranberries
  • 0.5 cup sugar
  • 2 green onions, sliced
  • 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
  • 0.25 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 0.25 tsp salt
cream cheese layer
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
to serve
  • 1 crackers for serving

Equipment

  • 1 food processor

Method
 

Make the cranberry salsa
  1. Pulse fresh cranberries in a food processor until finely chopped, stopping to scrape down if needed. Visual cue: the mixture should look finely chopped rather than whole berries.
  2. Transfer the cranberries to a bowl and stir in sugar, green onions, jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice, and salt. Visual cue: the salsa should be evenly colored and glossy.
  3. Cover and chill the cranberry mixture at 40°F for at least 1 hour. Visual cue: it will thicken slightly and the flavors will look more unified.
Assemble and serve
  1. Spread the softened cream cheese onto a serving plate in an even layer. Visual cue: keep the surface smooth and level.
  2. Spoon the cranberry mixture over the top just before serving. Visual cue: the spread should be topped with a jewel-red layer.
  3. Serve with crackers. Visual cue: arrange crackers around the plate for easy scooping.

Notes

Pro tip: seed and mince the jalapeno finely so the heat distributes evenly without sharp bites. Store the cranberry mixture covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; keep the cream cheese separate and assemble the day you serve for best texture. Freezing isn’t recommended for the salsa (it can become watery), but you can freeze extra cream cheese layer if needed. For a lighter option, use reduced-fat cream cheese and reduce sugar to 1/3 cup while keeping the same chilling time.