1-Getting started with Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip is as easy as gathering your ingredients and following these simple steps. Rinse 6 oz fresh cranberries and add them to a small sauce pot with 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup water, and 1/8 tsp salt. If you want a bit of heat, prepare 1 jalapeño by removing the stem, slicing it lengthwise, scraping out the seeds as you like, dicing it finely, and adding it to the pot.

2-Stir the mixture, cover it, and heat over medium-high until it boils. Then, stir again, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens. Turn off the heat and refrigerate the sauce to cool, which takes about 10 minutes. For a smoother dip, you can blend the cooled sauce if needed, but keeping it chunky adds nice texture.

3-Next, place 8 oz cream cheese on a plate or shallow bowl and use the back of a spoon to make an indentation in the center. Pour the cooled cranberry sauce over the cream cheese and top with sliced green onions from the 3 prepared ones. Finally, serve with 1 box of crackers and slices from 1 apple for a fresh, crunchy contrast. For more ideas on pairing dips, check out our apple oat muffins recipe that complements fruity flavors like this one.