Fresh and Flavorful
This fresh Cranberry Salsa recipe is another delicious recipe from my mother-in-law and one of my favorite appetizers all year round, but especially as one of my holiday appetizers. Fresh cranberries, jalapeno peppers, cilantro and green onions give this salsa vibrant sweet and spicy flavor. It’s delicious on its own, but we love it served over tangy cream cheese. The gorgeous green and red color make it perfect for Christmas time! Many of our holiday parties feature this delicious appetizer on the buffet table. We scoop it up with anything from tortilla chips to crackers. It’s also really good on meats, like a relish. We served it with our turkey for Thanksgiving and it was a huge hit!
Ingredients in Cranberry Salsa
Fresh whole cranberries Honey Lime juice (for a little more lime flavor also add some lime zest) Jalapeño peppers with seeds removed (or leave in for more spiciness) Cilantro Green onions Cumin Blocks of Cream Cheese
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
Peeled and chopped Granny Smith apple Fresh chopped pineapple Red Onion Sugar or Maple Syrup for added sweetness
Best Chips and Crackers for Dipping
Wheat Thins Triscuits Tortilla Chips Club Crackers Ritz Crackers
Health Benefits of Cranberries
Did you know cranberries can be very good for you? Here are some convincing reasons to eat cranberries all year long, and not just during the holidays:
Suggestions for this Cranberry Salsa Recipe
Make sure to use fresh cranberries and not canned for this recipe. They’ll chop up easily in a food processor and gives the salsa a fresh, tart flavor. Remove the seeds of the jalapeño before tossing in the food processor. The seeds are where the heat lives, so you’ll want to tame that down a little. This recipe is sweetened with honey, which also gives it a beautiful glaze. But if it’s not sweet enough, you could add a teaspoon or so of sugar until it tastes how you like it. If you are using a blender, just do small pulses so you don’t make this into a smoothie! You want the cranberries to be small but not completely blended together. This is a chunky salsa! Make this dairy-free by using a dairy free cream cheese substitute. We love this over cream cheese with crackers but it is also delicious on meats like chicken, turkey, and pork. Also great served in a cute bowl or dish with our Christmas Charcuterie board.
Read Next: Christmas Dinner Ideas
More Cranberry Recipes to Enjoy!
The tart flavor of cranberries complements desserts, breads, and meat. These are some of our favorite ways to use cranberries in our baking and cooking during the holidays.
Cranberry Chicken – This is one of my favorite holiday dinners. The chicken is moist and tender. The pecans and cranberries give the chicken an incredible flavor. Cranberry Almond Bacon Cheese Ball – A delightful twist on a regular cheese ball recipe with a sweet almond crunch. Cranberry Almond Coffee Cake – This delicious coffee cake is perfect for breakfast or brunch. The sweet cake is flavored with cranberry and almond, and then topped with an almond strudel. Orange Cranberry Sauce – This cranberry sauce is made with fresh cranberries and orange juice. It is so much better than canned! Cranberry Sausage Stuffing – Dried cranberries, fresh apples, nuts, and sausage give this stuffing a sweet and savory flavor. Cranberry Almond Bread with Cream Cheese Swirl – This sweet bread is like Christmas in a loaf pan. It is easy to make and so good!
How to Make Cranberry Salsa
Cranberry Chicken
Sausage Stuffing
Cranberry Bread with Cream Cheese Swirl
Orange Cranberry Sauce
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