Description
Spicy-sweet jalapeno and cranberry cream cheese bites deliver a festive flavor explosion that dances between heat and holiday comfort. Creamy, zesty appetizers promise to elevate gatherings with their irresistible blend of tangy and bold ingredients you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese and Dairy:
- 1 pack (8 ounces / 226 grams) cream cheese, softened
Vegetables and Peppers:
- 1 pack mini bell peppers or any variety of small peppers, sliced into bite-sized pieces
- 1–2 jalapenos, seeded and finely chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Fruits and Nuts:
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) fresh cranberries, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) honey
Instructions
- Combine cream cheese with finely diced cranberries, minced jalapenos, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt in a mixing bowl, ensuring thorough incorporation.
- Drizzle honey into the mixture, adjusting to personal taste preference, and blend until achieving a uniform, creamy consistency.
- For added texture and depth, gently fold chopped pecans or walnuts into the cream cheese blend.
- Carefully spread the prepared mixture atop mini bell pepper slices, creating elegant bite-sized appetizers.
- For optimal flavor development, chill the prepared bites in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes before serving, allowing ingredients to harmonize and intensify their taste profile.
Notes
- Balance the heat by removing seeds from jalapenos for a milder bite or keeping them for extra spiciness.
- Swap dairy cream cheese with vegan alternatives like cashew or almond-based cream cheese for plant-based guests.
- Toast chopped nuts briefly to enhance their nutty flavor and add a deeper crunch to the appetizer.
- Prep ingredients ahead of time and assemble just before serving to maintain the crisp texture of mini bell peppers.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg