Description
Creamy “baked cream cheese cranberry dip” brings festive cheer to holiday gatherings with its tangy-sweet profile. Warm, inviting flavors meld perfectly, offering guests a delightful appetizer that sparks conversation and celebrates seasonal comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cup (113 grams) dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup (60 grams) chopped pecans
Sweeteners and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Creamy Base Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) sour cream
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) mayonnaise
Instructions
- Prepare a medium-sized ceramic baking dish and preheat the oven to 350F (175C).
- In a spacious mixing bowl, whisk cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon until achieving a silky, uniform consistency.
- Incorporate dried cranberries and chopped pecans, gently folding them into the creamy mixture to distribute evenly.
- Transfer the blended mixture into the prepared baking dish, smoothing the surface with a spatula to ensure an even layer.
- Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, monitoring until the edges become slightly golden and the center appears bubbly and thoroughly heated.
- Remove from the oven and let the dip rest for 2-3 minutes to stabilize its temperature.
- Serve immediately while warm, accompanied by an assortment of crisp crackers, toasted baguette slices, or rustic bread for delightful dipping.
Notes
- Enhance creaminess by letting cream cheese soften at room temperature before mixing to achieve a smoother, more spreadable texture.
- Consider swapping pecans with alternative nuts like almonds or walnuts for different flavor profiles or to accommodate nut allergies.
- Transform this appetizer into a low-carb option by serving with vegetable sticks instead of traditional crackers, maintaining the delicious taste while reducing carbohydrate intake.
- Create a make-ahead friendly version by preparing the dip mixture a day in advance and refrigerating, then baking just before serving to save time during entertaining.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg