Spicy Cranberry Hummus Recipe (2024)

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Spicy Cranberry Hummus Recipe (1)

Last Updated on November 5, 2021 by Anne-Marie

Serve this spicy hummus recipe as a dip at your next party. This vegan hummus recipe can be made in 20 minutes or less.

Spicy Cranberry Hummus Recipe (2)

Why this recipe works

Got leftover cranberry sauce? Then make up some Spicy Cranberry Hummus.

It can be put together in 20 minutes or less from Thanksgiving leftovers and requires no cooking.

Serve this festive spicy hummus dip at your next holiday party.

The color is so pretty and it looks amazing on your holiday table with sliced peppers in various colors.

Best of all, this vegan hummus recipe is gluten free and dairy free, making it the perfect appetizer for just about all your guests.

Spicy Cranberry Hummus Recipe (3)

All the ways you can use spicy hummus

I love that this is a vegan hummus that even non-vegans will enjoy. (Most hummus recipes are vegan, after all.)

It’s also a versatile recipe. You can serve this as a vegan hummus dip.

Or you can use it as a sandwich spread on bread, pitas or a wrap.

Some people like to stir hummus into rice or a vegetable stir fry.

You could thin this easy vegan hummus with vinegar or lemon juice and use it as a vegan salad dressing.

(Looking for more vegan salad dressings? Try my 4 Vegan Salad Dressing Recipes.)

Spicy Cranberry Hummus Recipe (4)

Tips for making vegan hummus

Making spicy cranberry hummus is quick and easy.

Tools: You’ll need a high speed blender or food processor to make the hummus recipe easily and quickly.

Here’s Amazon’s recommendation for the best high speed blenders.

I’m a Blendtec blender gal, especially when my kids broke the jar, Blendtec replaced it no questions asked.

Draining the chickpeas: Save the drained water from the chickpeas! Known as aquafaba, it can be used as a substitute for eggs or egg whites in many vegan recipes.

The stuff is pretty amazing! Here are 20 things you can do with aquafaba.

Spicy Cranberry Hummus Recipe (5)

Leftovers: This cranberry hummus recipe is designed to use leftovers from the Thanksgiving meal prep like shallots and parsley.

It also uses cranberry sauce from your Thanksgiving meal. If you don’t have any, cook up a new batch or buy more from the store.

(Try my Sugar Free Cranberry Sauce recipe to make this a sugar free hummus recipe.)

Tahini: While I love the taste of tahini, you can make the hummus without it if you don’t want to buy a jar just for this easy vegan hummus recipe.

Now that we found out my daughter’s allergic to sesame seeds (crazy, right?), I leave it out when I make hummus.

I miss the tahini – it does add something special – but it’s better than her having an allergic reaction requiring s dose of Benadryl and possibly an epi-pen.

Chipotle peppers: You can find chipotle peppers in adobo sauce in the Hispanic/Latino section of your grocery store.

Spicy Cranberry Hummus Recipe (6)

How spicy? I’m not into super hot things, but my kids love this homemade spicy hummus because it’s fairly hot.

You can make this more or less spicy depending on how many chipotle peppers you use.

Lowering the fat: To make this a low fat hummus, eliminate the tahini and use less olive oil. If you feel the hummus is dry, add more lemon juice or some water.

Olive oil: Can you make this an oil free hummus? Sure! Add water, a little vegetable broth, or some of the saved aquafaba instead of the olive oil.

There is sesame oil in the tahini and usually some type of oil in the adobo sauce.

So you may want to eliminate the tahini and rinse the adobo sauce off the chipotle peppers to go completely oil free.

Lemon juice: You can use fresh or bottled lemon juice. You could also use lime juice if you wish.

Spicy Cranberry Hummus Recipe (7)

Holiday entertaining with cranberry hummus

To make this a completely gluten free appetizer, all you need to do is serve this easy hummus recipe with gluten free crackers.

If you have vegan guests, you’ll need to it with sliced peppers, carrots, and vegan crackers.

Luckily, there are all kinds of terrific gluten free crackers on the market that you can easily find at the grocery store.

I love Good Thins crackers, several varieties which are certified gluten free and vegan. (Just check the box.)

I also like Late July Snacks Chia and Quinoa Tortilla Chips, which are also certified GF and vegan. If you haven’t checked out this brand of chips, please do!

Not only are they tasty, but they’re sturdy enough to stand up to thick dips without breaking.

If you’re tempted to having a selection of regular, non-vegan and GF crackers, please don’t. This way you don’t have to worry about cross-contamination from guests sticking gluten containing or non-vegan crackers into the dip.

Check out the Best Gluten Free Thanksgiving Desserts Recipes and the Best Keto Thanksgiving Recipes for more delicious recipes for your holiday table.

Spicy Cranberry Hummus Recipe (8)

More hummus recipes

Looking for more vegan hummus recipes? Try these:

Avocado Hummus

Easy Edamame Hummus

Yield: 8 SERVINGS

Spicy Cranberry Hummus Recipe

Spicy Cranberry Hummus Recipe (9)

Serve this spicy hummus recipe as a dip at your next party. This vegan hummus recipe can be made in 20 minutes or less.

Prep Time15 minutes

Total Time15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup cranberry sauce
  • 2 tablespoons tahini
  • 1/2 large shallot, minced
  • 1 to 3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 3 large bell peppers, cut into strips for serving

Instructions

  1. Place all ingredients except bell pepper strips, into a high-speed blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy.
  2. Spoon hummus into a bowl and serve with bell pepper strips.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1/4 cup

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 168Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 298mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 4gSugar: 14gProtein: 5g

Nutritional information is automatically calculated per the ingredients list. Serving size may not be accurate. Please double-check with your preferred nutritional app for the most accurate information.

Originally published on November 3, 2015. Updated with new photos and information.

Spicy Cranberry Hummus Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you spice up hummus? ›

Just a sprinkle of fresh herbs can add brightness to a savory spread and the grassy notes pair well with earthy chickpeas and tahini. Our favorites are parsley, cilantro, mint, and basil. Everything Bagel Seasoning tastes great on almost anything, including hummus. Making your own takes less than five minutes.

What is spicy hummus made of? ›

Put chickpeas, garlic, tahini, lemon juice, salt, and cayenne in a food processor. Process until a thick paste forms. Add the oil (streaming it in while the food processor is running seems to work best) and continue to add 1 tbs. of water at a time, until the consistency smooth and spreadable.

Why is my homemade hummus not creamy? ›

You might need more tahini, garlic, lemon and/or salt and very likely more chickpea water. Add a bit of each as you need, the recipe explains. "Blitz the hummus until very smooth, a few minutes at least. Don't worry about the hummus being too loose; it will thicken as it sits."

Why do you put baking soda in hummus? ›

Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves are always superior to garlic powder, and it's especially true in homemade hummus! Baking soda: Adding baking soda to the chickpeas helps make the legume easier to digest, softer, and makes them easy to peel. Don't skip this ingredient!

How can I jazz up hummus? ›

Blend store-bought hummus with your favourite herbs, such as basil, chives, green onion, parsley or tarragon, and avocado. A little extra garlic won't go astray, either. You could even use it as a salad dressing. Make your hummus party-worthy by dressing it up with nuts, seeds and spices.

Why does my homemade hummus taste bland? ›

As I'm sure you're aware, chickpeas don't have a lot of flavour to them, so they need some pretty punchy ingredients to make it what it is. Yes, adding things like cumin or paprika will make it more interesting, but at the end of the day, if there isn't enough salt and lemon (acid), it will taste bland and insipid.

What does hummus do to your body? ›

Hummus is a versatile ingredient and a good source of fiber, along with vitamins and minerals like manganese, copper, folate, and iron. Thanks to its impressive nutrient profile, it may help ease inflammation, promote heart health, and support blood sugar management.

Is hummus considered unhealthy? ›

Hummus is a healthy, versatile snack. It is packed with nutrients and offers protection from various diseases. It's easy to make your own at home, and you can find all kinds of flavors at the grocery store, from black bean, roasted garlic, and coconut curry to red velvet and chocolate mint.

What ethnicity eats hummus? ›

In Mediterranean countries such as Cyprus, Greece, and Turkey, it is considered a meze and served with bread. In Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon, it is a staple food, often eaten every day, not merely a dip but rather a main dish. It can be found served warm, room temperature, or cold.

What can I use instead of tahini in hummus? ›

Peanut Butter – We use peanut butter instead of tahini because it has a similar texture and nuttiness to it. Feel free to swap it out for almond butter, but note that you may need to add more liquid if it is on the denser side. Smooth peanut butter would be preferred, but chunky also works great!

Does homemade hummus taste better than store bought? ›

By using freshly cooked chickpeas, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and top-notch tahini, you're guaranteed a hummus that bursts with flavor. On the other hand, store-bought hummus, while convenient, often lacks the same level of freshness.

Is it better to make hummus with wet or dry chickpeas? ›

Dried chickpeas provide better flavor than canned. Overcooking the chickpeas in water with baking soda makes them easier to blend. Puréeing the chickpeas while they're still hot lets you use a blender instead of a food processor for smoother texture.

What can I add to hummus to make it taste better? ›

Ground cumin and salt: Both improve the flavor of our hummus, and the cumin adds a little extra richness and spice. In our video, I sprinkle Za'atar seasoning on top for serving, which I love!

How long does homemade hummus last? ›

How long does homemade hummus last? It will stay fresh and creamy for up to 1 week in the fridge (but it's best within 4 days). You can prevent it from drying out by storing it in an airtight container with a light layer of extra virgin olive oil on top.

Why do you have to remove chickpea skins from hummus? ›

When we were developing our recipe for Restaurant-Style Hummus (see related content), we discovered that removing the tough skins from the garbanzo beans resulted in a far creamier end product.

How do you make bland hummus better? ›

Stir in Yogurt or Tahini

If your store-bought hummus isn't as creamy as you'd like it, or it's a little bland and could use some added flavor, a spoonful or two of greek yogurt or tahini will do the trick!

What is the best way to eat hummus? ›

7 Exciting Ways To Eat Hummus Every Day
  1. Breakfast. Starting with breakfast, more and more of us are finding our selves at home for breakfast and with more time than we previously had. ...
  2. Salad Dressing. ...
  3. Sandwich Spread. ...
  4. 10 Minute Pasta. ...
  5. Pizza! ...
  6. Hummus or Buddha Bowls. ...
  7. Snack and Go.

What tastes good to dip in hummus? ›

  • The best answer to this is: Get creative! What foods do you normally eat? ...
  • Vegetables. Carrots, celery, green and red bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, you name it – can be dipped. ...
  • Crackers & Chips. Crackers and chips are a great thing to dip in hummus. ...
  • Fruit. ...
  • In Eggs. ...
  • As a Marinade.

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