This fresh cranberry salsa is sweet, tangy, and flavorful. Fresh cranberries are whizzed up in a food processor with onions, cilantro, a hit of sugar, jalapeños (if you want) and lime juice. It’s the most gorgeous color. It’s so unique, and everyone loves it! You can serve it with tortilla chips, or my favorite method- spread over cream cheese and eaten on crackers! It’s totally addicting and the hit of every gathering.
Ingredients and Equipment Needed
- Food Processor – This is a very finely chopped salsa. A food processor (this is my absolute favorite) is incredibly helpful for this recipe. If you don’t have one, you can try other chopper methods, including just getting an arm workout and using a good knife!
- Fresh cranberries – Fresh cranberries are only in stores for a short window during this time of year and they’re SO gorgeous that I love finding ways to use them in the kitchen.
- Jalapeños – I’m not a fan of super spicy things, so I tend to cut way back on things that call for jalapeños, but this is an exception. For the amount it makes, and the fact that everything is mellowed by the cream cheese, you can really add quite a bit of jalapeno and still not have it be too spicy. I added 2 whole peppers and it wasn’t spicy at all. And really, like any salsa, you can adjust all of these ingredients to taste.
- Green onions
- Cilantro
- Lime or lemon juice
- Kosher salt
- Granulated sugar
- Cream cheese – Full fat is best, low fat would work but avoid fat-free. It’s important your cream cheese is at room temp, so whipped cream cheese would also work great as it’s naturally softer.
- Cracker of choice, for serving – My favorite are Wheat Thins because they’re strong enough to not break in the cream cheese, and those nice square edges make it really easy to grab the perfect bite. It’s also suuuuper delicious on Ritz crackers, but you’ll want to serve those with a little spreader since the crackers can break.
How To Make Fresh Cranberry Salsa
- Combine all ingredients in a food processor. If you have a large food processor you can pretty much throw everything in there together. If using a smaller one, you can do things in batches.
- Pulse until finely chopped, stopping to scrape down sides.
- Chill for at least a couple of hours to let the berries macerate in the sugar and let all the flavors come together.
- In the mean time, spread some room temperature cream cheese on a pie plate or dish.
- Spread the salsa right over the top. After sitting, some liquid will form and separate. You can use a slotted spoon so you aren’t getting too much extra liquid.
- Serve it with crackers for dipping- having a spreader is helpful!
Storing and Other Tips
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and consume within 3-4 days for best results.
- Salsa can also be frozen. Let it come to room temperature in the fridge.
- This is a great make-ahead dish you can keep in the fridge to pull out when holiday guests arrive. It’s unique, beautiful, and most importantly- tastes awesome. For best presentation, I prefer to store the salsa and cream cheese separately until time to serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will this keep in the fridge?
Leftovers will be best when eaten within 3 days. If you are making it ahead of time, store salsa separately from cream cheese.
Do I have to add jalapenos?
It’s your kitchen, so you make the call! But the jalapeno does add flavor as well as a little kick. The most intense heat comes from the inner membranes and seeds. If you remove those and add just the outer part of the pepper, it won’t be as spicy. You can always add some little by little until you like the flavor as well!
Fresh Cranberry Salsa with Cream Cheese Dip
The perfect sweet & savory holiday appetizer: bright and tangy cranberries combine with spicy jalapenos and are cooled by creamy cream cheese.
Servings people
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese 2 standard blocks at room temperature
- 12 ounce bag fresh cranberries washed
- 2 jalapenos minced (adjust according to taste)
- ½ cup sliced green onions roughly chopped
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro roughly chopped, more if desired
- ½ tablespoon lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup sugar plus more to taste
- Crackers of choice for serving; I prefer Wheat Thins or something sturdy
Instructions
- Make sure to set your cream cheese out at room temperature to soften.
- Place cranberries, jalapeños, green onions cilantro, lime juice, salt, and sugar, in a food processor and process until finely chopped, scraping down sides of food processor as necessary.
- Sample salsa and add more salt and sugar to taste. (I generally find that I like at least 2 tablespoons additional sugar.)
- Chill in fridge for about 2 hours or more. To serve, spread room temperature cream cheese evenly in 2 pie plates or other shallow serving dishes, like an 8×8 pan. Spread salsa on top and serve with crackers.
Notes
- Nutrition information was calculated without crackers.
- Feel free to adjust this basic recipe to taste. I like to be heavy-handed with the onion and cilantro, and if you like a kick, add more jalapeno peppers!
- One recipe makes enough for 2 blocks of cream cheese. Often I’ll just serve it over one block at a time and save the extra salsa for another night.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and consume within 3-4 days for best results.
- This is a great make-ahead dish you can keep in the fridge to pull out when holiday guests arrive. It’s unique, beautiful, and most importantly- tastes awesome. For best presentation, I prefer to store the salsa and cream cheese separately until time to serve.
Nutrition
Calories: 130kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 24mg, Sodium: 124mg, Potassium: 74mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 11g, Vitamin A: 424IU, Vitamin C: 8mg, Calcium: 29mg, Iron: 0.2mg
Calories: 130kcal
Cost: $10
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Questions & Reviews
Try this turkey in a roll up.
Does this ever get too runny? What do you do to get excess juices out?
Put it through a fine sieve (strainer). 🙂 I did this today and it worked great.
Sometimes I don’t strain it and use it more like a relish. I just serve it in a bowl in place of cranberry sauce. My people love it.
I have no words for this recipe…..it left me speechless…..it was that good. I can’t thank you enough for sharing this recipe. I took it to a friends ornament exchange this year and everyone demanded the recipe. Can’t wait to make it again for our Christmas dinner appetizer this year.
This was the hit of Thanksgiving. We will make it again for sure! Thanks for sharing.
Love this recipe! Delicious!
This is sooo yummy! I made it for a Christmas party and everyone loved it. Definitely needs both jalapenos, I think – and next time I will leave more of the ‘ribs’ too. I didn’t measure very closely, but otherwise stuck to the recipe. We had it with wheat thins; seems like you could have it with/without the cream cheese depending on your crowd. Will be making again ASAP!
we make this every year! we eat it with tortilla chips!!
This was delicious and so easy! Everyone loved it. I didn’t take your advice and only added one jalapeno. I should have listened and added 2. Can’t wait to make this again for Christmas. The red and greed were gorgeous.
Can this be made a day ahead or will it break down too much?
We made a salsa just like this but add pomegranate seeds too. I dare you to try it, I promise you will LOVE IT!
Does anyone know how long it will keep and if it can be frozen?
Mmm!! I’ve been making this for the last couple years and it is always a hit! It has become a must have dish for Thanksgiving for me!!
Made this over the weekend….it was a big hit! Definitely making it for thanksgiving =) Thank you!!
i’m going to make this, but does anyone have ideas for an alternative to the cream cheese for those who don’t do cows’ milk dairy? (sheep or goat is fine.) thanks!
I’m going to try it with tofuti
It’s “cream cheese” non-dairy, made with tofu, its great by itself so I’m sure it’ll be great with either salsa or cranberry salsa
Yes, use the vegan version. Just as good.
Try it with Whipped feta!!
Oh my gosh need to try!
I made this last night for a Women’s Party & I got so many compliments on it.
Most people who loved it said that they normally didn’t even like cranberries! I’ll be making it again next week for thanksgiving. YUM
Does anyone know if this tastes good with triscuits?
I made this for a family feast last night and it was a hit! I’ll definitely be making it for Thanksgiving. I’m really excited to spread it on leftover rolls loaded with leftover turkey. Mmmm.
That is one of my FAVORITE recipes! I’ve never done it over cream cheese, though!
Great recipe for leftover cranberry sauce too.
Hoping you’ll start adding the option to your recipes and facebook posts that would allow us to directly add to pinterest pages.
You shared very yummy recipe. I am really impressed with cranberries salsa & cream cheese dip recipe. Keep up sharing such nice recipes with us.
This looks amazing! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
I was given this recipe when I got married 13 years ago. It is a holiday staple in my house now. We don’t even serve it with the cream cheese anymore as it is perfect with tortilla chips – just like regular salsa. But it is great with crackers too. If you freeze your cranberries it makes great Super Bowl party food. Thanks for sharing this great recipe!
This sounds just scrumptious! I wonder if it would also be good in a wrapped brie?
I’m sorry, I see you answered this in the recipe notes. Looks good and seems easy enough to halve if you only needed that much.
Can not tell by the perspective of the photos, so I thought I would ask if the salsa ratio to the cream cheese is even or if there is a lot of salsa left?
Thanks!
My mom is famous for her cranberry salsa, but we add green peppers, carrots, and celery too along with a few more spices and a secret pepper vinegar to splash over. We eat it all winter with tortilla chips. I am going to have to try spreading it over cream cheese now too!
Where has this been all my life?
Y’all FINALLY published this recipe that I suggested to you 2 years ago! HOORAY!!!! I love the picture of the deep red against the white cream cheese and the pretty plate – absolutely stunning! This salsa is addictive, beware! It’s also good with lemon juice and canned jalapenos. I keep a bag or two of frozen cranberries in my freezer just so I can make this in the summer when I have a craving for it. Love it!!!!!
My mom’s THING on Christmas Eve was salsa over cream cheese and it was my favorite thing in the world. I’m so trying this!!