Fresh Cranberry Salsa Recipe-Sweet and Spicy (2024)

This 5 minute cranberry salsa recipe is made with cranberries, cilantro, granny smith apples, jalapeño, and sugar for a sweet and spicy combination.

Dip it with tortilla chips or serve it over cream cheese with Ritz crackers for an easy holiday appetizer.

The unique flavors also compliment chicken or fish tacos.

It is that time of year for cranberry season and those pretty, bright little cranberries are perfect to make salsa with!

My recipe is a little different from the traditional salsa recipes. The simple ingredients create a salsa that is a little sweet, a little tart, a little spicy, and a lot of GOOD!

Make it for your next holiday party. Your guests will love this easy appetizer!

Watch how to make

Ingredients

You will need the following fresh ingredients to make homemade cranberry jalapeno salsa.

• fresh whole cranberries
• sugar-I use white sugar. You can substitute with honey.
• green onions
• fresh lime juice
• jalapeños- I like fresh jalapeño peppers but you can substitute with the pickled jalapeños.
• fresh orange juice-Adds a citrus sweet flavor without adding more tartness or additional sugar.
• fresh cilantro
• Granny Smith Apple-Traditional recipes use a full cup of sugar. I use less sugar and add the Granny Smith Apple for extra sweetness. It also adds a nice texture. You can substitute with your favorite apple.
• Fresh Garlic-The garlic balances some of the sweetness and adds a bit of savory to the salsa. I recommend fresh garlic, but you can substitute with garlic powder.

(*Full recipe with ingredient measurements is located at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.)

Steps

The best thing about the Cranberry Salsa (other than it tastes so darn good) is it is made in literally 5 minutes. Follow these easy steps to make this tasty fruit salsa.

1. Juice lime and orange. Core and quarter Granny Smith Apple.
2. In a food processor, add all of the ingredients. Pulse until finely chopped. Salt to taste.

You can serve it immediately, but it is best to let it set in the refrigerator for a couple of hours to allow the flavors to build.

Do you like it hot or mild?

Note: This is a spicy cranberry salsa. For hot salsa, follow the recipe as written. For a milder salsa, use less jalapeños and remove the seed.

How do you store it?

Cranberry salsa can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 7 days.

Cream cheese appetizer

This festive cranberry salsa is delicious by itself, but it is also nice on top of a block of cream cheese. Serving it over cream cheese also makes it a great addition for your holiday entertaining.

It is also delicious served over goat cheese and brie.

With all the preparations for the holiday season going on, isn't it nice to have an easy recipe to have on hand? You are welcome! xoxo

For Moreof my Favorite Holiday Appetizer Recipes, Try:

• Marinated Cheese Tray
• Port Wine Cheese Ball
• Italian Marinated Mushrooms
• Asparagus Roll Ups
• Bacon Crackers
• Pimento Olive Cheese Spread
• Fire and Ice Pickles

When you make this recipe, tell me what you think in the comment section!I would love to hear back! My readers will too.

Also post your picture of your cranberry salsa onInstagramorFacebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags!I will share with my followers! xoxo!

Recipe

More Appetizer Recipes