Description
This Baked Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip is a festive, creamy appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. Featuring a rich blend of cream cheese, sour cream, mozzarella, and cheddar topped with sweet, bursting cranberries, it bakes to bubbly perfection and is served warm with crackers or breadsticks for easy dipping.
Ingredients
Scale
Dip Base
- 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded white cheddar cheese
Topping
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)
To Serve
- Crackers, breadsticks, or crostini
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it is properly heated for baking the dip.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, shredded mozzarella, and shredded cheddar cheese. Mix thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and well blended.
- Prepare Cranberries: In a separate bowl, toss fresh cranberries with sugar until they are evenly coated to balance the tartness with sweetness.
- Assemble Dip: Evenly spread the cheese mixture into a baking dish. Then, evenly distribute the sugared cranberries over the top of the cheese layer.
- Bake Dip: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the dip is bubbly and the cranberries begin to burst, releasing their juices.
- Garnish: Remove the dip from the oven and immediately sprinkle freshly chopped parsley on top for a fresh, festive flavor and appearance.
- Serve Warm: Serve the baked dip warm alongside crackers, breadsticks, or toasted crostini for dipping and enjoying.
Notes
- Make sure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature for easy mixing.
- Fresh cranberries give the best texture and tartness; frozen can be used but may release more liquid.
- You can substitute shredded white cheddar with sharp yellow cheddar for extra flavor.
- Serve immediately after baking to enjoy the dip warm and melty.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and gently reheated before serving.
