If you need an easy appetizer for the holidays, this Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip will do the trick! Just three ingredients including cream cheese, cranberry sauce and sugar.
"Made this for Thanksgiving this year and was asked to make it again at Christmas time! :-)"-Leah, Pinterest User
I'm going to keep this post light and fluffy, kind of like this easy Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip! The reality is that a lot of us aren't in charge of getting a Thanksgiving meal on the table. If you're like me, your Mom still keeps a firm hold on the Thanksgiving festivities. I will typically contribute, either a side dish or an appetizer.
If we're smoking a turkey, my husband will help out. But, I'm not complaining that the days of prep needed for a Thanksgiving meal aren't on me! My busy season at work typically runs from August until the week before Thanksgiving, and I would really struggle to put together the full meal for our big family.
Last year, I decided that we needed something sweet on the appetizer bar, and I threw together this Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip! It was a total gamble, but I love sweet cream cheese dips, and I figured that the ingredients were so inexpensive that it was worth a shot. There are just THREE ingredients in this easy dip; softened cream cheese, sugar, and cranberry sauce! I used whole canned cranberry sauce, but YES, please use your leftover or excess homemade cranberry sauce. It will be great! One of my personal favorite homemade sauce is my blogging friend Derek's Cranberry Mango Sauce. So yummy!
If you have Cool Whip on hand, throw a few spoonful's in. It will add some extra airiness to the dip! If not, no sweat, you will still have a deliciously sweet and creamy dip on your hands! I serve this dip with cut fruit, ginger snaps, and graham crackers. There are some graham cracker dipping sticks made now that are PERFECT because they won't break like your traditional, thin grahams.
I hope you all have a relaxing Thanksgiving with your family and friends! If you do make this Easy Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip, let me know what you think. My family LOVES it!
If you love this sweet cream cheese dip, I think you'll also enjoy:
- Cream Cheese Peppermint Brownies
- Cajun Crab Dip
- Cranberry Barbecue Meatballs
- Turkey Cranberry Sliders
Easy Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip
Ingredients
- 2 8-ounce packages of cream cheese, softened*
- ½ cup sugar**
- 7 ounces whole berry cranberry sauce***
- optional: ½ cup cool whip
Instructions
- Add all ingredients into a medium-sized mixing bowl. Mix for 2-3 minutes until well blended and creamy.
- Cover and allow to chill in the refrigerator for a minimum of 20 minutes.
- Serve with fruit or sweet crackers and cookies.
Notes
- * I allow to soften for 45 minutes to an hour on the counter before using.
- ** Start with ⅓ cup, taste, add more if desired.
- *** Canned or homemade
Michelle says
This sounds like such a great starter for the appetizer table! LOVE it!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
Oh, that would be the first thing I would go for on the buffet table!
Amy Stafford says
This sounds amazing and it is so pretty!
Amanda | The Chunky Chef says
What a unique and yummy dip idea!!
carrie @ frugal foodie mama says
I just love how easy this is to whip up! 🙂 I have a feeling it would be a hit at our family's Thanksgiving dinner.
Brandy | Nutmeg Nanny says
I could totally state my day like this!
Jessica | The Novice Chef says
My household LOVES bagels! This spread would be a great addition!
Linda Pelles says
Could you use the jellied cranberry sauce instead of the whole berry?
Michelle says
Yes, I think that'd be fine! It's pretty well blended so it won't make a huge difference!