Cranberry Jalapeño Dip CostCo Copycat Recipe
This Cranberry Jalapeño Dip is a vibrant and flavorful appetizer inspired by the popular Costco recipe. It features a chunky cranberry salsa with a perfect balance of sweet, tart, and spicy flavors, paired with creamy softened cream cheese. Ideal as a festive party dip served with crackers, tortilla chips, or crostini, this easy-to-make recipe can be prepared ahead, making it a great crowd-pleaser for holiday gatherings and casual get-togethers.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes (including chilling)
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cranberry-Jalapeño Salsa
- 12 oz fresh cranberries (1 bag)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 small bunch green onions (about 5), chopped
- 1–2 jalapeños, seeded and chopped
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For Assembly
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- Optional garnish: extra cilantro or lime zest
- Crackers, tortilla chips, or crostini for serving
Instructions
- Prep the Cranberry Salsa: Add the cranberries, granulated sugar, chopped green onions, seeded and chopped jalapeños, fresh cilantro, lime juice, and salt into a food processor. Pulse the mixture carefully until it is finely chopped but not pureed, maintaining a chunky texture.
- Chill the Mixture: Transfer the pulsed cranberry salsa into a bowl, cover it, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight to allow the flavors to meld and mellow.
- Soften and Spread the Cream Cheese: Place the block of cream cheese on a serving plate and allow it to soften at room temperature. Once softened, gently spread the cream cheese evenly or leave it in a block form for spooning the salsa over.
- Top with the Salsa: Spoon the chilled cranberry jalapeño salsa evenly over the softened cream cheese layer. Let the assembled dip sit at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes before serving, allowing the flavors to come together.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish the dip with extra chopped cilantro or lime zest if desired. Serve immediately with your choice of crackers, tortilla chips, or toasted baguette slices for dipping.
Notes
- Pulse the salsa mixture instead of pureeing to keep a chunky texture rather than a smooth sauce.
- Use gloves when handling jalapeños to avoid skin irritation and accidental transfer of heat to eyes or sensitive areas.
- Allow the salsa to chill for at least 2 hours so the flavors can develop and balance.
- Softened cream cheese spreads more smoothly and blends better with the salsa topping.
- Drain excess juice from the salsa before spooning it onto the cream cheese to prevent sogginess.
- Make the cranberry salsa up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate to save time on the day of serving.
- Assemble the full dip up to 8 hours in advance and keep covered and chilled.
- Store leftover salsa in an airtight container for up to 4 days; do not freeze to maintain texture quality.
- Leftover salsa is great as a topping for turkey sandwiches, grilled meats, or served with brie cheese.
Keywords: cranberry jalapeño dip, cranberry salsa, Costco copycat recipe, holiday appetizer, spicy cranberry cream cheese dip
