Cranberry Dip
This is the bowl I put out when people are already in the kitchen and I want something warm that is not a full meal. Cream cheese, a little yogurt, and chopped cranberries bake until the top spots gold. Whole cranberries and a rosemary sprig go on after the oven, which is the look in the photo: creamy surface, red berries, green herb in the center. Crackers or apple slices on the side.
Use fresh or frozen cranberries. Canned sauce makes the dip sweet and pink all the way through, which is a different bowl. A pinch of orange zest keeps it from tasting only like cheese and sugar. Do not bake it covered. The top needs the open heat to color. Pull it when the edges bubble and the center still looks soft. It sets as it cools for 5 minutes.
It feeds eight as a starter. It is best warm. Leftovers keep, and they firm up in the fridge. A few minutes in a low oven brings the spoonable texture back.
Why You'll Love This
- Ready in 25 minutes.
- Looks like the photo: gold top, whole cranberries, rosemary.
- Warm, not a cold cheese ball.
- Works with crackers, apple, or pita.
Anti-Inflammatory & Mediterranean Recipes
Cranberry Dip
- Prep10 min
- Cook15 min
- Total25 min
- Servings8 servings
- Calories130 kcal
Ingredients
- Dip
- Top
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 375 F (190 C).
- Mix the cream cheese, yogurt, chopped cranberries, honey, zest, chopped rosemary, and salt until combined. It will look rustic, not smooth.
- Spread into a small baking dish. Bake 15 minutes, until the edges bubble and the top is spotted gold.
- Rest 5 minutes. Scatter the whole cranberries on top and set the rosemary sprig in the center.
- Serve warm, with crackers or apple.
Notes & Tips
- Soften the cream cheese. Cold cream cheese lumps and will not bake evenly.
- Chop the cranberries for the mix. Whole ones in the base stay hard and burst.
- Open bake. A cover steams the top and it stays pale.
- Rest before you add the garnish. Hot dip melts the berries into the surface.
- Nutrition: Per serving (1/8 of the dish, no crackers). Estimate.
- Nutrition: Net carbohydrates: 7g
- Nutrition: WW estimate: 4 points on the current plan (cream cheese carries the points)
- Fridge: 3 days, covered. Reheat in a 325 F oven for 10 minutes. The microwave works in short bursts.
- Do not freeze it. Cream cheese goes grainy after a thaw.
- Nutrition is an estimate from cream cheese, yogurt, cranberries, and honey. Crackers on the side are extra.
- ## The Secret to a Gold Top
- Bake it open, in a shallow dish, not a deep bowl. A deep dish keeps the center pale while the edge browns. A wide, low dish lets the surface color in 15 minutes, which is the spotted top in the photo. If it is still pale at 15 and the edge is bubbling, give it 3 more minutes. Do not cover it to speed the center.
Variations & serving ideas
- No yogurt: use all cream cheese. The dip will be thicker.
- No honey: the cranberries are tart enough for some people. Taste the mix before you bake.
- No rosemary: use thyme. Same amount.
- Lighter: use light cream cheese and keep the yogurt. The top will brown a little less.
- Dairy-free is not this bowl. A white-bean mash with cranberry is a different dip.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving · makes 8 servings
| Nutrient | Amount per serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 130 kcal |
| Total fat | 10 g |
| Sodium | 120 mg |
| Total carbohydrate | 8 g |
| Fibre | 1 g |
| Protein | 3 g |
Nutrition values are approximate and vary with brands and portion sizes.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use canned cranberry sauce?
You can, but use half a cup and skip the honey. The dip will be sweeter and smoother. Fresh or frozen cranberries are what give the tart bites in the photo.
Can I make it ahead?
Mix it up to a day ahead and keep it cold. Bake it when guests are close. Add the whole cranberries and rosemary after it comes out of the oven.
What do I serve it with?
Plain crackers, apple slices, or toasted pita. Cucumber works if you want it lighter. The dip is rich, so a crisp, not-sweet cracker is the better match.
More questions about this recipe
How long does it take to make Cranberry Dip?
About 25 minutes in total: 10 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking.
What ingredients do I need for Cranberry Dip?
The key ingredients include cream cheese, or frozen cranberries, orange zest, cranberries, rosemary and plain greek yogurt. The recipe card lists every ingredient with exact amounts.
How many calories are in one serving?
According to the recipe's nutrition information, one serving has about 130 calories, 3 g protein, 8 g carbohydrates and 10 g fat.
How do you make Cranberry Dip?
In short: heat the oven to 375 F (190 C); mix the cream cheese, yogurt, chopped cranberries, honey, zest, chopped rosemary, and; spread into a small baking dish; rest 5 minutes. The full method is in the recipe card above.
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