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5.0 from 18 votes

Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip

Prepped in minutes, this is the ultimate cranberry jalapeno dip, a sweet, spicy, and tart blend of flavors! A copycat of Costco's cranberry jalapeño dip! Make it two ways: as a layered dip or combined.

Prep Time
15 mins
Additional Time
30 mins
Total Time
45 mins
Servings: 10 -16 servings
Calories: 120 kcal
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 8 - 12 ounces fresh cranberries rinsed and mushy cranberries picked out
  • 3 - 4 green onions rough chopped
  • 2 - 3 tablespoons cilantro rough chopped
  • 1 - 2 jalapeños seeded and rough chopped
  • ¼ - ¾ cups sugar I used ½ cup, based on sweetness
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice about one medium lime
  • 2-3 tablespoons orange juice fresh squeezed is best
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 16 ounces cream cheese room temperature and whipped (2 - 8 ounce packages)
  • ¼ cup hot & sweet jalapenos optional, but adds amazing flavor! See notes for other brands.
  • Crackers and veggies for serving

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Remove cream cheese from refrigerator and bring to room temperature an hour before making.
  2. Rinse and sort cranberries, pulling out soft or shrivled cranberries.
  3. Add cranberries to the bowl of a food processor, add chopped green onions (3-4), cilantro (2-3 tablespoons, chopped), jalapenos (1-2 rough chopped). Pulse until desired consistency. You don’t want it pulverized, scrape the sides and the bottom a couple of times.
  4. If you don’t have a food processor, you can mix in small batches in a good blender, or you may hand chop as well if desired. A food chopper will also do the job.
  5. Pour into a medium bowl and then add, sugar (¼-¾ cups), lime juice (2 tablespoons), orange juice (2-3 tablespoons) and salt (¼ teaspoon). Take a taste and ensure it’s sweet and hot enough for your taste, adjusting the ingredients as needed, but keep in mind it will taste better the longer it sits.
  6. Place in a bowl and set in the fridge for a minimum of 30 minutes, preferably 4-24 hours. This allows the flavors to marry!
  7. Strain the liquid from the cranberry jalapeno relish by placing a fine mesh strainer over a bowl and spooning the relish into the sieve.
Serving Option #1 | Costco Cranberry Jalapeno Dip
  1. Place the softened cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer or use a hand mixer and whip until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Add a few teaspoons of the hot and sweet jalapeno juice if desired. Add the jalapeno cranberry salsa and mix until combined. Serve with your favorite dippers.
Serving Option #2 | Layered Cranberry Jalapeno Dip
  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer or with a hand mixer, whip the cream cheese until light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes. If desired, add a teaspoon or two of the candied jalapeno juice. Spread onto a large plate or platter. You want it to be about ½ inch thick.
  2. Spoon the salsa/relish evenly over the cream cheese mixture and provide crackers and vegetables for dipping and scooping. I like carrot chips, cucumber slices and celery sticks for those who are low-carb and gluten-free, a Ritz type butter cracker is a great compliment to the spicy sweet dip as well as a gluten-free cracker and pretzel thins.

Notes

  • Fresh Tip:
  • This recipe makes a large amount of jalapeno cranberry relish, pull out a cup to enjoy by itself or make a large amount of relish. 
  • Make Ahead Tips:
  • Make the jalapeno cranberry salsa up to 2 days ahead of time and keep covered in the refrigerator. Whip the cream cheese up to 2 days ahead of time, spread on platter, cover and refrigerate. Bring cream cheese to room temperature before assembling the dip, about an hour.
  • Storage Tips
  • Store leftovers in fridge, covered in an airtight container for up to one week and may be frozen, up to 2 months when stored well. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, give it a good stir before serving.
  • Variations & Substitutions
  • This recipe makes a large amount of jalapeno cranberry relish, pull out a cup to enjoy by itself or make a large amount of relish. 
  • The above is also a great way to use any leftovers you may have, just scoop it all into a mixing bowl and combine.
  • If there are ingredients you don’t like leave them out, if there are ones you love add more!
  • Add a ½ teaspoon of cumin for an even more Mexican-flavored holiday appetizer.
  • Swap lemon juice for the lime juice, I personally liked the lime juice better, but lemon juice still tasted great. Omit the orange juice if desired.
  • This recipe easily halves for smaller parties.
  • I love the addition of sweet hot jalapenos; Trader Joe's has my favorite, but try these or these too!
  • Try adding a little juice from the spicy-sweet jalapenos! 

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving Calories 120kcal (6%) Carbohydrates 7g (2%) Protein 2g (4%) Fat 10g (15%) Saturated Fat 6g (30%) Polyunsaturated Fat 0.4g Monounsaturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 29mg (10%) Sodium 142mg (6%) Potassium 64mg (2%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 436IU (9%) Vitamin C 4mg (4%) Calcium 31mg (3%) Iron 0.1mg (1%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 10-16 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 120

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving
Calories 120kcal 6%
Carbohydrates 7g 2%
Protein 2g 4%
Fat 10g 15%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.4g 2%
Monounsaturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 29mg 10%
Sodium 142mg 6%
Potassium 64mg 1%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 5g 10%
Vitamin A 436IU 9%
Vitamin C 4mg 4%
Calcium 31mg 3%
Iron 0.1mg 1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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