Best Cranberry Jalapeno Dip Recipe

Prepped in minutes, this is the ultimate cranberry jalapeno dip recipe. A sweet, spicy, and tart blend of flavors! A copycat of Costco’s cranberry jalapeño dip! Make it two ways, a layered jalapeno cranberry cream cheese dip or all mixed together

I have always loved fresh cranberry relish; sweet and tart, and it takes minutes to make. Last year, I added jalapeño and spooned it over cream cheese, like that cranberry pepper jam dip. Then I mixed the leftovers together and after trying Costco’s version, I knew it was spot on.

Try these other popular recipes at your holiday parties; Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip, this Cranberry Christmas Cake and these 3-ingredient Cranberry Meatballs. 

I enjoy giving precise details in my recipe posts to lead my readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, use the Jump to Recipe to head straight there!

What do you serve at your holiday gatherings? This is the perfect holiday appetizer! A few years ago, I bought cranberry jalapeno dip from Costco. Our family was hooked, and it was my mission to recreate it and guess what, I’ll show you how!

Simple Ingredients Jalapeño Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip

• Cranberries: This recipe is best with fresh cranberries. I haven’t tested it with frozen berries, but I’m pretty sure they will get mushy.
• Onions | Green onions add flavor and color!
• Cilantro | Fresh cilantro compliments the hot jalapeno oh-so-well.
• Jalapenos | Use seeded jalapeno peppers to cut some of the heat. Or, leave them in if you’re ready for a challenge! Also, I like to add ¼ cup of Trader Joe’s jalapeños or these hot and sweet jalapenos, if desired.
• Sugar | Sugar helps balance the heat of the jalapenos and neutralizes some of the tartness of the cranberries.
• Citrus Juice | Brighten the flavor with fresh lime juice and orange juice; feel free to add some orange zest, too!
• Salt | Add a dash of kosher salt to bring out the savory notes.
• Cream cheese | Room temperature cream cheese is important in this dip. Set it out an hour before you plan on using it.
• Dippers | I love it with salty crackers, pretzel chips, gluten-free crackers, toasted baguette slices, and fresh veggies for serving.

Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.

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How to Make Cranberry Jalapeño Dip Costco

Step 1 | Prep your ingredients

Before starting the recipe, remove the cream cheese from the fridge to bring it to room temperature. This may take around one hour. Then, rinse and sort the tart cranberries, tossing out the soft ones.

Step 2 | Make cranberry jalapeno relish

Add the cranberries, green onions, cilantro, jalapeño peppers, sugar, salt, and fresh juice to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the ingredients are evenly combined and the texture is how you like it. Stop before the cranberry mixture is completely pulverized, scraping the bottom and sides several times.

Step 3 | Make cranberry jalapeno relish

Pour the cranberry jalapeno relish into a medium bowl, then add the sugar, citrus juice, and zest, stirring to combine.

Next, taste the cranberry relish to check how sweet and hot it is, adjusting the ingredients until the flavor reaches your preference. The recipe will taste better as it sits and the flavors meld.

Place the recipe in a bowl or container in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes; even better if this festive dip sits for several hours or overnight. 

Step 4 | Add cream cheese and serve!

There are two different ways to serve this delicious dip. You can choose which you want to try this time and save the other for another day!

Option 1 | Layered Jalapeno Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip

Remove the excess liquid from the cranberry jalapeño relish using a fine mesh strainer or slotted spoon.

Whip the softened cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer or with a hand mixer and a large bowl. After about three or four minutes, the cream cheese should be light and fluffy. Add a teaspoon of candied jalapeno juice for extra heat and flavor!

Next, spread the cream cheese mixture to about half an inch thick on a platter, large plate, or a festive pie plate. Scoop and gently spread it on top of the cream cheese and surround the layered dip with crackers, vegetables, and more delicious dippers!

Option 2 – Cranberry Jalapeno Dip Costco Recipe

This is my favorite!! The flavors mingle and marry and make an AMAZING dip! My family went nuts over this for Thanksgiving. Place the softened cream cheese in the bowl to whip for a few minutes until it’s light and fluffy.

Then, mix in the jalapeno cranberry salsa until the two are well combined, transfer to a serving bowl, cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for 30 minutes up to 3 days. Then enjoy with your favorite dippers. 

Make Ahead Tips

This holiday season, get ahead of the party prep by making jalapeno cranberry relish a day or two in advance. Combine the ingredients as directed and store the relish in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

Then, whip the cream cheese, spread it onto a platter, cover with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge. Before serving, set the cream cheese out for about an hour to come to room temperature, then assemble and serve!

Craving more easy dip recipes perfect for hosting a holiday party? Some more crowd-pleasers are this Cowboy Crack Dip, or this Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip and this best Best Crudite Dip Recipe for Veggie Platters.

Variations & Substitutions

Add Mexican Flavor: Add a pinch of cumin to the creamy dip for a Mexican-inspired flavor.

Switch the Juice: Swap the lemon juice for the lime juice if preferred. I liked the lime juice better, and you can also omit the orange juice if desired. 

Omit Ingredients: If you’re not a fan of all the ingredients in this easy appetizer, keep out the ones you dislike. It tastes delicious no matter what! 

Hot Cream Cheese Dip: If you’d like, heat the dip in the oven and stir in some sharp cheddar cheese. Try this baked Cranberry Dip for an excellent hot alternative. 

Sugar-Free Cream Cheese Dip

If you prefer, replace the sugar with a good sugar replacement, I love, Lakanto golden monk fruit.

Dairy-Free Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip

For a vegan or dairy-free use a plant-based cream cheese and double check the rest of your simple ingredients. 

Warm Spicy Jalapeño Dip

As written with only cream cheese, I wouldn’t recommend warming this dip, but stir in a cup or two of sharp white cheddar, asiago, gruyere or even goat cheese and then bake in a 350° F (175° C) oven for 20 minutes until hot and bubbly.

Recommended Tools

• A food processor is helpful when making this recipe!

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What ingredients does Costco LaTerra Fina dip contain?

Costco’s Cranberry & Jalapeno Dip and Spread has a few more ingredients than mine, but I believe mine tastes just as good, if not better. 

Cream cheese, salt, stabilizers (guar gum, carob bean gum and xanthan gum), Sour Cream, Onions, Asiago Cheese,  Sweetened Cranberries, Jalapenos, Cane Sugar, Less than 2% of: Cranberry Juice Concentrate, Corn Starch, Cultured Sugar, Citric Acid. My recipe is much simpler and healthier.

Storage Tips

Refrigerate – Leftover dip will be kept in the fridge 3-4 days when tightly covered and stored in an airtight container. However, it’s lasted a week easily for me!

How to Freeze Cream Cheese Dip – Place in an airtight container and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw the recipe in the refrigerator overnight before serving the next day. The consistency will be a little different, but it’s better than throwing it out. 

Best Party Drinks to Serve with Holiday Cranberry Dip

Try these and more to sip while you dip! Best Pink Lemonade Vodka Cocktail Recipe (+ Mocktail), or this Pomegranate Moscow Mule Cocktail or these fun Cranberry Mimosas. Be sure to browse all of my holiday drinks.

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Best appetizers to serve with jalapeno cranberry cream cheese dip

While this recipe is fabulous, make it a party and add some of my favorite holiday appetizers to your spread! I love this Cowboy crack dip, these Charcuterie cups and my favorite, cranberry cream cheese dip.

Best Baked Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip Recipe

This easy baked Cranberry Cream Cheese dip is perfect for the holiday season. 4 ingredients to this cheesy, sweet-tart, salty, and savory hot dip.

Use homemade or leftover cranberry sauce.

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Charcuterie Cups

These individual charcuterie cups are everything you love about charcuterie boards but loads more fun! I'll show you how to pack a charcuterie board to go. These tasty single–serve treats are easy to make, portable, and perfect for gatherings large and small.

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Cowboy Crack Dip Recipe (Hot or Cold)

Not your average Philadelphia cream cheese dip recipe. Cowboy Crack Dip is cheesy, creamy, savory, and fresh — the perfect appetizer. This Crack Dip recipe is a classic appetizer ideal for your next party; like the big game, holiday get-togethers, a clear party favorite!

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More Festive Cranberry Recipes

• Fresh Cranberry Relish
• Easy Cranberry Christmas Cake Recipe with Butter Sauce
• Easy 3-Ingredient Cranberry Meatballs (Crockpot)
• Best Cranberry Nantucket Pie Recipe
• Cranberry Walnut Bread (No Knead)

I hope you loved this Jalapeno Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip — if you did, would you share your creation on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest? And be sure to comment below!

Cranberry Jalapeno 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.

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Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes

Chill Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 10 -16 servings

Calories: 120kcal

Author: Kathleen Pope

Equipment

• ▢
  Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor, Brushed Stainless Steel

Ingredients

US Customary – Metric

• ▢ 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 jalapenos 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

• Remove cream cheese from refrigerator and bring to room temperature an hour before making.
• Rinse and sort cranberries, pulling out soft or shrivled cranberries.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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!
• 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

• 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

• 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.
• 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.

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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. 
• The above is also a great way to use any leftovers you may have, just scoop it all into a mixing bowl and combine.

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

• 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

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

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