Fresh Cranberry Salsa Recipe - Home. Made. Interest. (2024)

Fresh Cranberry Salsa is an easy holiday appetizer that is a little sweet, and a little spicy. Perfect for serving at holiday parties with crisp tortilla chips or crackers!

Fresh Cranberry Salsa Recipe - Home. Made. Interest. (1)

This fresh cranberry salsa recipe is one of my favorite easy holiday appetizers that can be made ahead of time which really helps when you have a busy holiday schedule.

Game nights are big in our family, and it always involves chips and salsa. During the holidays, we give it a little holiday twist with fresh cranberries and spicy jalapeños.

We like to eat it with tortilla chips, but it’s also great with any variety of crackers and your cheese of choice. We add it to our Cranberry Goat Cheese Log to make a beautiful party appetizer.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

  • Fresh Cranberries– These tart berries are used throughout the holidays, and they are the star of this salsa. You’ll add a little sugar to them to help sweeten them up before mixing with your spicy ingredients.
  • Jalapeños– You can tone down the spiciness of these jalapeno peppers by removing the white ribs and seeds if you don’t’ want it too spicy. They add the perfect amount of heat to the sweetened cranberries.
  • Cilantro & Green Onions– Cilantro is a must for any salsa and paired with the green onions, they add a burst of fresh flavor.
  • Orange & Lime Juice– The addition of citrus brightens the whole dish and brings all the flavors of the salsa together!
  • Chips or Crackers – Pick your favorite for dipping.

Love cranberries as much as we do? Try adding cranberry sweet potato casserole , cranberry buckle , or the always popular cranberry fluff to your holiday spread.

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Instructions

Step 1- Chop cranberries – Add cranberries to your food processor and pulse until they are diced into small pieces. Don’t puree them. You want to have some little pieces of cranberries to maintain that salsa texture.

Step 2 – Sugar cranberries – Sprinkle cranberries with sugar and stir together.

Step 3 – Add remaining ingredients – Add finely diced jalapeños, cilantro, green onions, orange juice, and lime juice. Stir until fully mixed.

Step 4 – Let salsa sit – Cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors combine.

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Can Fresh Cranberries be Eaten Uncooked?

Yes! Uncooked cranberries are very healthy. However, they taste extremely bitter, which is why we dust them with sugar and let them sit for at least half an hour.

How Long Does Cranberry Salsa Last in the Fridge?

If stored properly, cranberry salsa will last 5-7 days in the refrigerator. It may begin to release some extra juices over that time. If it is waterier than you like, you can drain off the excess juice before serving.

What is the Best Way to Freeze Fresh Cranberries?

It can be hard to find fresh cranberries all year long so we often buy several bags of them during the peak season (Mid-September – Mid-November in the US) and freeze them for use other times of the year.

To freeze fresh cranberries start by washing them well and then patting dry to remove any excess water.

Place the cranberries in a gallon freezer bag and spread them out to flatten them as much as possible. Remove as much air from the bag as possible and seal it.

Place the bag in the freezer and freeze your cranberries for up to 6 months.

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Serving Suggestions

We recommend serving this salsa with tortilla chips or wheat or Ritz crackers.

If you want to punch it up a bit, you can also serve it over top of a block of cream cheese.Try adding it to our cranberry goat cheese log for delicious cheese spread for bread and crackers.

This salsa is also a great addition to your Thanksgiving leftovers.We add it to our amazing turkey and cranberry panini the day after Thanksgiving.

Can Cranberry Salsa be Frozen?

Yes! Cranberry salsa can be frozen and thawed out to serve at a later time. Make the salsa according to the instructions and then pour it into a gallon freezer bag and spread out so it is flat.

Place in the freezer and freeze for up to 2 months.

Before using, let the salsa thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours before serving.

How to Store It

Store your salsa in an airtight container in the fridge for 5-7 days.Serve straight out of the fridge.

Store your salsa in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 2 months.Let thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours before serving.

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Looking for More Cranberry Recipes?

  • Cranberry orange bread
  • Cranberry Jello salad
  • White chocolate oatmeal cranberry cookies
  • Cranberry Sweet Potato Casserole
  • Cranberry Buckle
  • Cranberry Goat Cheese Log
  • Creamy Cranberry Salad {Cranberry Fluff}
  • Cranberry Fluff Cheesecake Bites

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Servings: 10

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Resting Time: 30 minutes mins

Fresh Cranberry Salsa

Fresh Cranberry Salsa is an easy holiday appetizer that is a little sweet, and a little spicy. Perfect for serving at holiday parties with crisp tortilla chips!

Fresh Cranberry Salsa Recipe - Home. Made. Interest. (7)

Print Recipe

4.90 from 28 votes

Ingredients

  • 1 bag Mission® Strips Tortilla Chips
  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries, rinsed and drained
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 2 jalapeños, ribs and seeds removed, minced
  • 1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup green onions, finely sliced
  • 1 tablespoon orange juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice, freshly squeezed

Instructions

  • Add cranberries to your food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Do not puree you want to have small pieces of cranberry.

  • Place the chopped cranberries in a bowl and add the sugar, stirring to combine.

  • Add jalapenos, cilantro, green onions, orange juice, and lime juice. Stir to combine.

  • Cover bowl with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors combine.

  • Serve withMission Strips Tortilla Chips and enjoy!

Nutrition Disclaimer: We are not certified nutritionists. Nutrition facts are an estimate and are provided as a courtesy. They are generated by an online API which recognizes ingredient names and amounts and makes calculations based on the serving size. Results may vary.

Author: Kat Jeter & Melinda Caldwell

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cranberry appetizer, cranberry relish, cranberry salsa, holiday appetizer

Fresh Cranberry Salsa Recipe - Home. Made. Interest. (8)
Fresh Cranberry Salsa Recipe - Home. Made. Interest. (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between cranberry sauce and cranberry relish? ›

There is an important difference between cranberry sauce and cranberry relish and that is that cranberry relish is made from raw ingredients blended in a food processor (it's more fresh and tart tasting) and cranberry sauce is cooked and often much sweeter than relish.

Is canned cranberry sauce better than homemade? ›

While there are some editors who prefer homemade cranberry sauce, the canned variety also has quite a following. "There's something so beautifully perfect about the texture of canned cranberry sauce, and none of those homemade mess will ever compete," says Senior Digital Food Editor Kimberly Holland.

How long to soak cranberries before baking? ›

Rehydrate the fruits: Dried fruits can be quite hard and dry, so it's often a good idea to rehydrate them before adding them to your baked goods. To do this, simply soak the dried fruits in warm water or fruit juice for 15-20 minutes until they are plump and tender.

Should cranberry sauce be served warm or chilled? ›

Should cranberry sauce be served warm or cold? You could, of course, serve it straight out of the pot, but I think it's best after it's chilled in the fridge. Chilling it helps it firm up some more in the fridge, plus, serving it this way means you can make it days ahead of a holiday.

What brand is the best cranberry sauce? ›

Best Jellied Cranberry Sauce: Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce. The Ocean Spray brand is pretty much synonymous with all things cranberry, so it's not really a surprise that they have their cranberry sauce dialed in.

How long does homemade cranberry sauce last in a mason jar? ›

Homemade cranberry sauce will last in the fridge for 10 to 14 days. Canned cranberry sauce that has been opened will last up to a week in the fridge.

Why is my homemade cranberry sauce runny? ›

Mistake #2: Your Cranberry Sauce Is Too Runny

You may have added too much liquid to the cranberries. In addition to pectin, cranberries contain water, which means you only need to add a splash of liquid to get the cooking going. Add too much and you'll be stirring at the stove much longer than expected.

Is it worth making homemade cranberry sauce? ›

The homemade cranberry sauce has nearly half the calories, carbohydrates, and sugars compared to the store brand. It also has more fiber as well as potassium! Thankfully, buying cranberry sauce at the store is not the only option. We have the perfect Simple Cranberry Sauce recipe to make for the upcoming holidays!

Can you use Craisins instead of cranberries? ›

Yes, Craisins® Sweetened Dried Cranberries work well in baked goods; however, there is a 1/4 cup (60 mL) difference in measurement. If a recipe calls for one cup of fresh cranberries you should use 3/4 cup (175 mL) of Craisins®.

Do I need to rinse fresh cranberries? ›

Avoid cranberries that look bruised or shriveled. Before use, rinse fresh or frozen cranberries and discard any that are damaged. It is not necessary to rinse before freezing, and there is also no need to clean dried cranberries. When cooking, heat cranberries just until they pop.

Do fresh cranberries need to be cooked before baking? ›

In some recipes, cranberries need to be cooked before adding to the rest of the ingredients to avoid them tasting tart and raw. However, you'll be relieved to know that this isn't the case when using them in baked goods!

How long does fresh cranberry sauce last in the refrigerator? ›

How long does homemade cranberry sauce last in the fridge? Start by storing it in a covered glass or plastic container. Properly stored, homemade cranberry sauce will keep in the refrigerator for 10 to 14 days.

What if I add too much water to cranberry sauce? ›

What to do if the cranberry sauce is too thin or loose. If you inadvertently added too much water, simply bring the cranberry sauce back to the stove top and bring it to a low boil, cooking it down just a bit to help thicken it up.

How do you store fresh cranberry sauce? ›

Whether homemade or from a can, cranberry sauce lasts in the fridge for about two weeks as long as you store it in a covered container.

What is the difference between sauce and relish? ›

Relish can consist of a single type or a combination of vegetables and fruit, which may be coarsely or finely chopped; its texture will vary depending on the slicing style used for these solid ingredients, but generally a relish is not as smooth as a sauce-type condiment such as ketchup.

What is cranberry relish made of? ›

There's no cooking involved, just using a grinder or a food processor to grind up and mix together raw cranberries, tart green apples, a large seedless orange, and sugar. It's amazing how good it is! Great with roast turkey, or for leftovers on turkey sandwiches.

What are the two types of cranberry sauce? ›

Cranberry sauce can be served either as a gooey liquid or as a solid jelly. The jellied version is solid enough to retain the shape of the container in which it's placed whereas the sauce version is much more fluid. The difference between the fluid sauce and the jelly versions comes down to pectin.

Do you eat cranberry relish hot or cold? ›

Either! Some prefer to have it served fresh and warm, straight out of the pot, while others need it completely cooled down to enjoy the flavours. Personally, we prefer cooled sauce.

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