Fresh cranberry salsa is a delicious sweet & spicy dip to eat with chips and crackers, add to turkey or pour over cream cheese. An easy 5 minute holiday appetizer recipe for Christmas and Thanksgiving!
Fresh Cranberry Salsa | 5 Minute Holiday Appetizer Recipe
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When making appetizers for the holidays, I’m all for easy and fast but also something that is festive too!
My mother in law has made this cranberry salsa for several of our holiday gatherings and it is SO yummy. It always gets gobbled up quickly and is a pretty appetizer for Christmas too. It’s the perfect mix of sweet and spicy, with delicious bold flavors to enjoy on top of smooth cream cheese or salty crackers.
I like to take recipes and alter small changes here or there that I know my family and friends will enjoy. I adapted the cranberry salsa recipe from a few different recipes after making a few trial and error rounds.
The first try was way too sweet for me, I was told by my mother in law that she cuts out some of the sugar but the first try I wanted to see what full sugar tasted like. I felt it needed more punch, so I added a little more cilantro, red onion, cumin, salt, jalepeno for my final round. After that it was perfect!! (In case you watch the video – it’s before I made these tweaks.)
The recipe card below has my full step by step instructions and ingredients lists after perfecting the recipe. You’ll definitely want to make this cranberry salsa for your next holiday event – it’s so delicious and the perfect festive Christmas appetizer!
Easy Christmas Appetizer
Cranberry Salsa Over Cream Cheese
Cranberry Salsa Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup sugar
- juice of 2 limes
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 12 oz bag cranberries
- 1/4 cup chopped green onion
- 1 medium red onion peeled and chopped
- 1 bunch of cilantro
- 2 jalepeno peppers seeded and chopped (add in seeds for more spice)
- 1 red apple peeled cored and chopped
How to Make Cranberry Salsa?
- In a bowl, mix together first 6 ingredients: sugar, lime juice, cumin, salt, garlic powder and pepper
- Add the above mixture to a food processor. Then add remaining ingredients to food processor: cranberries, green onion, red onion, jalepeno peppers, red apple.
- Blend mixture in food processor to desired consistency.
- Chill in refrigerator for 1-2 hours before serving.
Tips, Suggestions and Alterations:
- For more spice: Add more jalepeno peppers or seeds for more spice, or omit for less
- For less sugar: Use 1/2 cup applesauce and 1/4 cup sugar
- Pulse slowly for more chunky salsa, blend longer and faster speed for more blended consistency
- Serving Ideas: Pour cranberry salsa over cream cheese, eat with Thanksgiving turkey, leftover turkey sliders, or with chips and crackers
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Additional Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
Fresh cranberry salsa is a delicious sweet & spicy dip to eat with chips and crackers, add to turkey or pour over cream cheese. An easy 5 minute appetizer for Christmas and Thanksgiving!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup sugar
- juice of 2 limes
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 12 oz bag of cranberries
- 1/4 cup green onion, chopped
- 1 medium red onion, peeled and chopped
- 1 bunch of cilantro
- 2 jalepeno peppers, seeded and chopped
- 1 red apple, peeled cored and chopped
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together first 6 ingredients: sugar, lime juice, cumin, salt, garlic powder and pepper
- Add the above mixture to a food processor. Then add remaining ingredients to food processor: cranberries, green onion, red onion, jalepeno peppers, red apple.
- Blend mixture in food processor to desired consistency.
- Chill in refrigerator for 1-2 hours before serving.
Alterations:
For more spice: Add more jalepeno peppers or seeds for more spice, or omit for less
For less sugar: Use 1/2 cup applesauce and 1/4 cup sugar
Pulse slowly for more chunky salsa, blend longer and faster speed for more blended consistency
Serving Ideas:
Pour cranberry salsa over cream cheese, with Thanksgiving turkey, leftover turkey sliders, or with chips and crackers
Notes
Recipes adapted from my Mother-in-law Kathy, Mel's Kitchen Cafe and Your Home Based Mom.
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Did you make this recipe?
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And today I’m joining some of my blogging friends who are also sharing their Holiday Appetizer recipes with you! Just click on the links below the pictures to be taken to their full recipe.
Baked Brie, Fig, and Walnut Phyllo Cups at The Happy Housie
Classic Cheese Ball Recipe at A Pretty Life
Cheesy Butternut Squash Bites at Jenna Kate at Home
Fresh Cranberry Salsa at We’re the Joneses
Easy Holiday Party Appetizer at a Rooms FOR Rent
Baked Goat Cheese Bites at Modern Glam
Smoked Turkey with Cranberry Orange Muffins at My 100 Year Old Home
Caprese Salad Skewers at Cherished Bliss
Easy Cranberry Brie Tarts at The DIY Mommy
Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board at Cassie Bustamante
Carmelized Onion and Goat Cheese Tarts at Life is a Party
Swiss Cheese Bacon and Beer Dip at Clean & Scentsible
Snowman White Cheese Ball at Tatertots and Jello
3 Ingredient Stuffed Mushrooms at My Sweet Savannah
Easy Christmas Pinwheels Festive Holiday Appetizer at This is Our Bliss
Festive Bacon Wrapped Chestnut Holiday Appetizer at Kim Power Style
Red Pepper Jelly and Cream Cheese Appetizer at She Gave it a Go
I hope you enjoyed these delicious holiday appetizer recipes! So many festive holiday bites to bring to your next Christmas party or hosting a family holiday gathering at your home. If you have any questions about the instructions or ingredients let me know in the comments!
