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

How long does homemade cranberry salsa last? ›

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.

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.

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.

How do you enjoy fresh cranberries? ›

Toss a little extra flavor and texture atop your oatmeal or cold cereal in the morning, or grab a handful of cranberries for a quick snack! Cranberries and Cookies? Absolutely!

Why won't my cranberry sauce set? ›

One possibility is that you may not have used enough sugar: Sugar helps the sauce firm up, so be sure to use the full amount called for in a recipe. Another possibility is that the cranberries need to boil for longer, releasing their pectin and ensuring a jelly consistency.

Can I freeze homemade cranberry sauce? ›

Yes, you can freeze homemade cranberry sauce—and it works well. It's best to store it in the freezer for up to 3 months; the taste may be affected due to its water content if frozen longer. Keep this in mind when putting away your leftover sauce and use it during this optimal period as part of an easy weeknight dinner.

Why is cranberry sauce so expensive? ›

But that's not the case for prepared cranberry sauces, where prices are up. Lochner pointed out that processors set those prices, not growers, and that there are higher input costs unrelated to berries — like “processing the fruit and getting it to market.”

Can you eat raw cranberries? ›

Cranberries are more than just the makings of a sweet sauce. You can add them to smoothies or salads, or eat them whole. Eating raw cranberries is safe and easy, though their sharp, bitter flavor isn't for everyone. Be sure to clean and sort them thoroughly.

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.

Do you need to cook fresh cranberries before baking? ›

Do you need to cook fresh cranberries before baking? While cranberries should not be eaten as is (they are unpleasantly tart), they do not need to be cooked before they are used in baked goods.

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.

Are fresh or dried cranberries better for baking? ›

Yes, dried cranberries work well in baked goods; however there is a ¼ cup difference in measurement. If a recipe calls for one cup of fresh or frozen cranberries, use ¾ cup of sweetened dried cranberries. You can also rehydrate dried cranberries using water or cranberry juice for a more plump texture.

Why should cranberries not be eaten raw? ›

Yes, raw cranberries are safe to consume raw, but you probably don't want to eat them that way. "Cranberries are safe to eat raw. However, usually they are cooked and have sugar added because of the bitter and sharp taste they have when raw," says Kelly West Keyser, a registered dietitian in Alabama.

Why does my homemade cranberry sauce taste bitter? ›

Dear Evelyn: I had the same problem when I first started making my own cranberry sauce. I found out that you should cook them just until they pop. Further cooking will make them bitter, and once that happens, you need to start again.

How to take the bitterness out of fresh cranberries? ›

Anything from a drizzle of honey to agave, maple syrup, or molasses will also fare well. After a few minutes of maceration, the sour fruit juices will mix with the sugar and alleviate some of the cranberries' natural tartness.

How long can you keep cranberry salsa 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.

How long can I keep homemade cranberry sauce in the fridge? ›

Properly stored, homemade cranberry sauce will keep in the refrigerator for 10 to 14 days. If you'd like to keep it for longer than that, pour the sauce into covered airtight containers or freezer-safe bags and freeze.

How long can you preserve homemade salsa? ›

Or, make your FAMOUS salsa and store it in the refrigerator for up to one week or freeze it for up to one year. Freezing will certainly affect the texture of your fresh salsa, so test out a small portion first to see if you like it.

How long does fresh homemade salsa last? ›

Shelf Life of Salsas:

Homemade salsa generally lasts for 3-7 days in the fridge. Store-bought salsa lasts up to 2 weeks after opening if refrigerated properly. An unopened jar of store-bought salsa can last up to a year without refrigeration.

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