Cranberry dip with white cheddar, cream cheese, homemade cranberry sauce, and fresh cranberries. It’s salty, sweet, and so festive. Plus those cranberries bursting in your mouth is pure heaven!
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This cranberry dip is salty, sweet, and so festive. It’s made with white cheddar cheese, cream cheese, homemade cranberry sauce, and fresh cranberries.
It’s really easy to put together and is always such a crowd-pleaser! Serve it with homemade toast crisps or crackers of choice.
Ingredients for White Cheddar and Cranberry Dip
- White Cheddar Cheese: You’ll need extra-sharp white cheddar for this recipe. It’s going to be tangy with deep flavors. Buy a block and shred it yourself. It tastes 10X better!
- Cream Cheese: Regular block of cream cheese. I do not recommend Neufchatel cheese.
- Cranberry Sauce: I included a really easy cranberry sauce recipe below. It makes enough for this dip, plus extra for later.
- Cranberries: I recommend fresh cranberries for this recipe.
How to Make White Cheddar and Cranberry Dip – Step by Step
In a large bowl, mix together the white cheddar and cream cheese. Fold in the cranberry sauce and fresh cranberries.
Next, transfer the mixture into a prepared baking dish. Bake in a 375F oven for 18-23 minutes or until heated through and bubbly.
Lastly, sprinkle the reserved cheddar cheese on top and place it under a broiler for a few minutes or until the cheese is melted. Keep an eye on it as the cheese burns easily.
Extra Tips for Making Cranberry Dip
- You can prepare the cranberry sauce in advance (I would say a good week out) and store covered in the refrigerator.
- Use good quality white cheddar cheese. Buy a block and shred it yourself.
- Keep an eye on the dip, especially after you add the cheddar on top as it burns really easily.
- This dip is best when served immediately.
More Cranberry Recipes to Try:
- Dark Chocolate Cranberry Biscotti
- Butternut Squash and Cranberry Quinoa Salad
- Asparagus with Cranberry Honey Vinaigrette
- Brussel Sprouts with Cranberries and Prosciutto
White Cheddar and Cranberry Dip
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Total Time: 50 mins
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Description
White cheddar cranberry dip with homemade cranberry sauce and fresh cranberries. It’s salty, sweet, and so festive.
Ingredients
- 2 cups Extra-Sharp White Cheddar cheese, freshly shredded (2 Tbsp. reserved)
- 8 oz. block cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup cranberry sauce (recipe below)
- 1/2 cup fresh cranberries
Cranberry Sauce
- 1 (12 oz.) bag fresh cranberries, rinsed
- 1 cup + 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
- 3 Tbsp. orange juice
- 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly coat 1 – 1 1/2 quart oven-safe baking dish with non-stick spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix together the white cheddar and cream cheese. Fold in the cranberry sauce and fresh cranberries.
- Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish and bake 18-23 minutes or until heated through and bubbly.
- Sprinkle the reserved 2 tablespoons of cheddar cheese on top and place under a broiler for few minutes or until the cheese is melted. Keep an eye on it as the cheese burns easily.
- Best served immediately with crostini, pita crisps, or grainy crackers.
Cranberry Sauce
- Add all ingredients into a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the cranberries burst, about 15-20 minutes.
Notes
- Make Ahead: Cranberry sauce can be made up to 1 week in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator. The dip can be mixed and transferred to a baking dish without baking up to 1 day in advance. Keep covered in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
- Cranberry Sauce: Cranberry sauce recipe makes enough for this dip plus extra for another batch.
- Recipe adapted with slight changes from Cooking Stoned
Keywords: cream cheese dip, cheese cranberry dip, holiday, Thanksgiving
Shelly says
We love this dip. I make it every year for Christmas. The cranberry sauce makes enough so I freeze the other half and use it for New years. Great recipe
★★★★★
Katya says
That’s great! Thank you Shelly. So happy you’re enjoying the dip.
Julie Emery says
Hello! I saw in the note it says you will have more cranberry sauce than what the dip calls for. How much sauce do you use for the dip? Thank you!
Katya says
You need 1/4 cup cranberry sauce for the dip.
Darcy says
Made this for Christmas day. I added a jalapeno. It was amazing, without being to spicy. Husband and very picky daughter LOVED it!!! Definitely will make again.
★★★★★
Katya says
Jalapeno sounds amazing! I bet it was such a nice contrast of flavor to the creamy cheese.
Susan says
The measurements are all wrong. Each ingredient MUST be doubled or fistfights will erupt when the dip is gone. I have been making this (doubled) recipe for a few years and it is always the most popular item on the menu. SO GOOD!! I just made a (double) batch to split between Christmas Eve wine & cheese night and celebrating with the kids (if it lasts).
★★★★★
Katya says
Thank you Susan! So glad you’re enjoying this dip.
Laura says
Making this for the second year. It’s so amazing that we made it again for Christmas last year, too. I think I can only make this for the holidays, or I would eat so much of it year-round. The recipe says that it’s best served immediately, but I’m here to tell you that it’s just as good warmed up in the microwave the next day!
★★★★★
Katya says
Thank you for feedback Laura! So happy to hear you love this dip.
Julie craig says
What would you dip into this? Making it Thanksgiving! Can’t wait
Katya says
Crostini or some type of grainy crackers/crispbread that hold their shape well
Curiously yours says
Does anyone have input as to whether I could put this in a dip crock pot (the small crock pots) to keep warm? I’m supposed to make an app for a teachers appreciation lunch and this looks amazing. I would want to try and keep it warm if I could!
Katya says
It’s hard to say for sure but it might turn oily a little since it has cheese in it. If you do try it, please let me know how it turns out for you.
Melissa says
I was wondering if I made this in the morning, but put the dish in a crockpot that is raised up with foil and brought to my in-laws for our holiday gathering if it would stay warm since oven space is not an option!
Katya says
Hi Melissa: to be honest, I’m not so sure how it would do in a crockpot. I’ve never made it in a crockpot so I can’t answer with certainty.
Jackie says
This looks great and want to try! What size baking dish works best?
Katya says
Hi Jackie: I would say 1-2 quart baking dish would work great.
Sofia says
I can’t even descbribe what this is. How it tastes. And how beautiful it is, too. I think the best way is saying that I tried it for Valentine’s Day and two days later I was making it again, for a family meeting. And tomorrow here I go again, so… Yes. D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S. The softness of the cheese, the light acidity of the cranberries, the sweetness of the sauce… It’s perfect. It will become (it already did, I guess) a staple in our house! <3
★★★★★
Katya says
Thank you Sofia! I so appreciate your feedback. So glad to hear you love this cheddar and cranberry dip.
Barry Fisher says
Excellent!
★★★★★
Katya says
Thank you! I appreciate it.
Samantha says
I was a little skeptical of this but it was amazing! I will definitely make this again!
★★★★★
Katya says
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for your feedback.
Victoria says
Maybe a silly question, what kind of crackers would recommend serving this dip with?
Katya says
I would use something that can hold up to a hot dip. Trader Joe’s has pita bite crackers and they would work great. You can make your own bread crisps by slicing a baguette really thin, brushing with olive oil, and baking until crisp.
Victoria says
Thank you so much for the advice
Angie says
This dip is amazing! Wondering if it can be frozen? Wanting to prep and get ahead for the holidays.
★★★★★
Katya says
Hi Angie: to be honest, I’m not so sure that it would. It’s best served fresh.
Ann Marie says
One of my favorites!!! I could eat this all day. Some of this, on sourdough bread with turkey to make a grilled cheese the next day = perfection! You will NOT Be disappointed!
★★★★★
Katya says
Thank you!
Brooke says
When you indicate fresh cranberries in addition to the sauce does this mean real whole uncooked cranberries or dried cranberries? Also- is this better served warm or room temp?
★★★★★
Katya says
Yes, you need additional fresh cranberries (not dried). It’s better served warm. HOpe you enjoy it 🙂
Jen says
This looks delicious! Been looking for a yummy and unique appetizer to contribute on Thanksgiving and I think this will be it! I am travelling about 40 minutes away and don’t want to ask the host to use their oven. Do you think I could bake it at home, and reheat in the microwave at my destination? Thanks!
★★★★★
Katya says
Hi Jen, I don’t think it will reheat very well. In my experience, it gets oily on top even though it still tastes fine but doesn’t look too appetizing. It’s best if served immediately after baking. Sorry…probably not the answer you wanted!
Jen says
No worries, thank you for your honesty. Maybe I’ll just save this one for Christmas! 🙂
Amy says
So excited to try! Any other dipping suggestions besides the baguette?…as backup in case I burn the bread 🙂
Katya says
You can always use crackers as a back up but hopefully you wont have to 🙂
Becca says
I told my mom I’d make cranberry sauce and a dip this year for thanksgiving. So glad I stumbled across this recipe! I just have one question: what size bowl should I use? I might have to buy one and want to get the right size. Thanks!
Katya says
You’ll need approx 1 pint size dish. You can go even a little bigger. I hope you enjoy this recipe! Let me know how it turns out for you.
Rebecca says
Thank you so much! 🙂
Rebecca says
It was a hit and so easy! Both my dad and my picky fiancé asked me to make it again 🙂
Katya says
That’s so awesome Rebecca! So glad everyone enjoyed it. Thanks so much for coming back and leaving me feedback 🙂
Ashley Buzzard says
I know this is an older post, but I found your recipe on Pinterest and thought I would ‘test it out’ before the holidays. OH MY Yum! It is so good ! Turned out perfect 🙂 only sub was I added a dash of ground clove to the cranberry sauce (just a personal preference). Thanks for the recipe! This will be a go to quick recipe for holiday get togethers.
Katya says
Glad you got a chance to try it out ! Thanks so much for your feedback Ashley.
Nancy says
I’m trying this way before Thanksgiving. Sounds delicious! Thanks!
Katya says
Thank you! Hope you enjoy Nancy.
Sarah Glogowski says
After you make the cranberry sauce how long can you keep it in the fridge?
Katya says
Hi Sarah: it should be fine for about a week! Thanks.
Kathy says
Added pickled sweet jalapeños for extra kick! Delicious.
Katya says
That sounds awesome Kathy! Glad you enjoyed the dip!
Kelsi says
Can this be made in the crockpot?
Katya says
I can’t really answer that as I’ve never made it in a crockpot. Most likely you can but like I said I would not know the cook+prep times.
Annie @Maebells says
Wow!! I am loving this! I love blurring the line between sweet and savory and this is the perfect dish for that! Such a fun appetizer for the holidays!
★★★★★
Katya says
Thanks Annie! It’s definitely a nice combo of sweet and savory, esp with that sharp white cheddar.
Valya of valyastasteofhome.com says
This dip looks absolutely delicious! Perfect for Thanksgiving dinner Katya!
★★★★★
Katya says
Thanks Valya! I agree. It’s super easy and super tasty.
Julia says
Heck to the yes, homemade cranberry sauce for the win! I never liked cranberry sauce as a kid because my parents always used the canned stuff… le eww! This dip looks absolutely fabulous! Since Thanksgiving is only 4 weeks away, I had better start “testing” the dip now, right?!
Katya says
I don’t think I’ve ever tried the canned stuff but I can only imagine! I think you better start testing now too 🙂 Thanks Julia!