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Best Baked Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 149 reviews

This Best Baked Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip is a creamy, cheesy appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings or cozy nights. It features a rich blend of cream cheese and sharp cheddar combined with tart cranberry sauce and fresh cranberries, all baked until bubbly and golden. Serve warm with crostini, crackers, or pita chips for a festive and flavorful treat.

Ingredients

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Cream Cheese Dip

  • 2 cups Extra-Sharp White Cheddar cheese, grated (divided)
  • 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature (full fat or Neufchatel)
  • ¼ heaping cup cranberry sauce (canned, leftover, or homemade)
  • ½ cup fresh cranberries (may substitute frozen, do not thaw)
  • ⅛–¼ teaspoon nutmeg (fresh or ground, optional)

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

  • 12 ounces cranberries (fresh or frozen, do not thaw)
  • 1 cup sugar (all natural cane sugar preferred, white sugar acceptable)
  • 3 tablespoons orange juice (fresh squeezed recommended)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice (fresh preferred)
  • ¼ cup water

Instructions

  1. Optional Homemade Cranberry Sauce: Add cranberries, sugar, orange juice, lemon juice, and water to a small saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until cranberries start to burst and the mixture thickens. Leave some cranberries whole for texture. Remove ½ cup of cranberries to use in the dip.
  2. Prepare Baking Dish and Oven: Lightly spray a 1½-quart baking dish with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) or 350°F (175°C) if using a convection oven.
  3. Combine Cream Cheese and Cheddar: In a medium-large bowl, stir together the cream cheese and 1¾ cups of the grated sharp cheddar until smooth and fully combined.
  4. Add Nutmeg (Optional): If desired, grate ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon of fresh nutmeg into the cheese mixture and stir to incorporate for extra warmth and spice flavor.
  5. Stir in Cranberries: Gently fold in the cranberry sauce and ½ cup of reserved fresh cranberries. Spoon this mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
  6. Top with Cheddar and Bake: Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of cheddar cheese over the top. Bake for 18-23 minutes (or 15 minutes if using convection) until the dip is bubbly and edges are slightly golden. Cover with foil if browning too quickly.
  7. Final Cheese Sprinkle and Brown: A few minutes before removing from the oven, sprinkle a little extra cheddar on top and remove the foil to let the cheese brown lightly.
  8. Serve Warm: Serve the dip immediately with crostini, crackers, or pita chips. Optionally, garnish with a little fresh grated nutmeg on top for an aromatic finish.

Notes

  • The homemade cranberry sauce can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
  • You may substitute frozen cranberries without thawing to retain texture in the dip.
  • Yellow cheddar cheese can be used if white cheddar is unavailable; it will tint the dip slightly but tastes the same.
  • If the dip is browning too quickly during baking, cover loosely with foil to prevent burning.
  • Nutmeg is optional but adds a lovely warm spice that pairs well with the tart cranberries and rich cheese.

Keywords: cranberry cream cheese dip, baked cranberry dip, holiday appetizer, cheesy dip, festive dip, cream cheese dip, cranberry sauce dip

Find it online: https://trendytasterecipes.com/best-baked-cranberry-cream-cheese-dip-recipe/