Baked Orange Cranberry Dip
A warm, creamy, tangy‑sweet dip combining orange zest, cranberry sauce, cream cheese, and sharp cheddar—baked until bubbly and golden. Perfect for holiday gatherings or cozy snack times.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 cups sharp or extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (divided)
- 3/4 cup cranberry sauce (whole or jellied, divided)
- 1/4 cup fresh cranberries
- Zest of 1 orange
- Optional: extra cranberry sauce for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 175 °C (350 °F). Grease a 9×13‑inch or similar oven-safe baking dish.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until light and fluffy.
- Zest the orange and stir the zest into the cream cheese.
- Fold in 1 cup of the shredded cheddar and about 1/2 cup of the cranberry sauce. Mix until evenly combined.
- Gently fold in the fresh cranberries.
- Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish and smooth the top.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese over the top. Add dollops or swirls of the remaining cranberry sauce.
- Bake uncovered for 25 minutes until bubbly around the edges.
- Optional: Broil for 1–2 minutes to achieve a golden, bubbly top.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Use sharp or extra-sharp cheddar for more flavor depth.Assemble ahead and bake right before serving.Serve with crackers, sliced baguette, crudités, or apple slices.Omit fresh cranberries for a smoother dip texture.Not ideal for freezing—best served fresh or reheated from fridge.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 290mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Find it online: https://cookibly.com/baked-orange-cranberry-dip/
