Description

This Baked Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip is a festive and creamy appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings or cozy nights in. Featuring smooth cream cheese blended with mozzarella, aromatic rosemary, and garlic, it’s punctuated by the tart sweetness of cranberry sauce and fresh cranberries, then baked until golden and bubbly. Serve it warm with crackers, bread, or pita chips for an irresistible treat that’s simple to prepare yet impressive to serve.

Ingredients

Scale

Dip Ingredients

2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, room temperature
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
½ teaspoon crushed dried rosemary
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ cup canned whole berry cranberry sauce
⅔ cup fresh cranberries

Instructions

Preheat and prepare dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking dish to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
Mix cream cheese base: Place the room temperature cream cheese in a large mixing bowl and beat until completely smooth, ensuring a creamy base for the dip.
Add cheese and seasonings: Add 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese, crushed dried rosemary, and garlic powder to the cream cheese and mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly combined.
Fold in cranberries: Gently fold in the canned whole berry cranberry sauce along with the fresh cranberries to distribute the fruit evenly without breaking it down too much.
Transfer to baking dish: Spoon the dip mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly.
Top with remaining cheese: Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the dip to create a golden, cheesy crust when baked.
Bake until bubbly: Bake the dip in the preheated oven for 22 to 26 minutes, or until the edges start to brown and the cheese topping is melted and bubbly.
Serve warm: Remove from the oven and serve immediately while hot with crackers, bread, or pita chips for dipping.

Notes

Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature for easy mixing and a smooth texture.
You can substitute fresh rosemary if preferred, but crushed dried rosemary provides a more concentrated flavor in this recipe.
For a milder garlic flavor, use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic to evenly disperse the taste.
Fresh cranberries add a nice tart pop and texture contrast—don’t skip them.
This dip can be kept warm in a low oven setting if preparing ahead of time.
Leftovers can be refrigerated and gently reheated prior to serving.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Baked Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip, Holiday Dip, Party Dip, Cream Cheese Appetizer, Cranberry Recipe, Mozzarella Dip