Set out this Cranberry Jalapeño Salsa Dip at your next party; it’s quick to make and full of delicious, bold, and spicy flavors. This fresh salsa is simply amazing served over cream cheese for an incredibly easy party appetizer.
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This dip is also my favorite appetizer for the holidays. It’s super festive, and everyone loves it. Plus, it only needs simple ingredients. You can enjoy this spicy salsa with your favorite crackers or sliced bread. And trust me, it’s just as delicious with some slices of ham or scooped up with salty tortilla chips.
Why You Will Love This Homemade Salsa
- 7-Ingredients for a colorful and tasty dip for a great holiday appetizer.
- I gotta mention the color again; this salsa is bursting with beautiful red cranberries, jalapenos, green onions, and cilantro for an amazing green color. There is just so much flavor going on in this salsa.
- This dip lasts for days, which is a great make-ahead recipe.
- You can serve this dip any time of the year, but this salsa and cream cheese dip is always served for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and game days! It’s kind of a tradition now.
- Mixing a little bit of the salsa with a bit of the cream cheese makes a great holiday spread for your bread. Just add some sliced ham or turkey for a delicious sandwich.
- Use this for more than just a dip; pair it with meats, cheeses, and toppings.
Cranberry Salsa Ingredients
for the best dip ever
Fresh Ingredients to make a delicious dip
- Cranberries -take advantage of cranberry season and use fresh but thawed frozen cranberries will work.
- Sugar -granulated white sugar to offset the tart cranberries
- Green onions – the tops of the onions provide great flavor and color.
- Fresh cilantro – this adds some distinct citrusy flavor.
- Fresh ginger – this adds a sweet, peppery flavor.
- Fresh lime – add a splash of citrus for flavor; you can even add lime zest.
- Fresh jalapeno peppers – these wonderful peppers add a delicious spiciness that pairs well with the tart cranberries.
- Cream cheese (optional) – Use a brick of cream cheese.
Helpful tips for these ingredients
For the cilantro – make sure to wash this because it can be sandy.
Grab the cilantro by the stems and bunch them together on a cutting board. With a sharp chef’s knife, start chopping the leaves down to the top of the stems. When you get to just the stems, you can discard them.
At this point, you will have a rough chop, if you want, continue to chop the cilantro to a finer chop.
For the jalapeño peppers – Lay the jalapeno on a cutting board and cut the stem off. Next, slice the jalapeno in half and remove the seeds and the white pith. Cut each half of the jalapeno into long slices, then gather the slices together and cut those into small dice.
Check out my Jalapeno Popper Roll-Ups post for more great tips for handling and cutting jalapenos.
Bake this Cheesy Iron Skillet Cornbread with jalapenos, and if you love a good dip, make this Jalapeno Popper Dip with Bacon, it’s a game day favorite appetizer.
How To Make Fresh Cranberry Salsa
Step 1. Add the berries to a food chopper or bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely chopped; it just takes a few times. Don’t go crazy here, you don’t want the cranberries too small or mushy.
Step 2. Wash the cilantro, jalapenos, and green onions. Using a large cutting board and a chef’s knife, chop the cilantro and jalapenos. Thinly slice both the white and green parts of the green onions, and with a grater, grate the ginger.
Step 3. In a medium-sized bowl, add the chopped berries, sliced green onions, jalapenos, cilantro, and ginger.
Step 4. Mix the cranberry mixture, then add the lime juice and sugar, and mix again.
Step 5. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours before serving. This allows the flavors to blend together for some amazing flavor.
Step 6. Store the salsa in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Because cranberries are tart, taste the salsa before serving, and if you prefer something sweeter, add a little sugar to taste. Just be prepared for a spicy cranberry salsa with loads of flavor.
Serving options
For an easy appetizer, pour the salsa over the top of a block of cream cheese set in a serving dish and set out for game days and holiday parties.
Serve with crackers like Wheat Thins, slices of fresh or toasted bread, pita bread, or pretzel crisps.
“Salsa tip
Sometimes the salsa can release some juices in the bottom of the bowl, so make sure to drain the liquid off before pouring it on top of the cream cheese.
This salsa is also wonderful served with tortilla chips for dipping.
Or…
Pair this salsa with ham, sausages, pork chops, or chicken and turkey.
Salsa FAQ’s
You can, but when the salsa defrosts the texture will be softer and liquidy, which just needs to be poured off before using.
Besides using a dip, serve it as a relish with meats and cheese.
There are a lot of flavors going on in this recipe, but the dip is sweet, tart, savory, and spicy.
Variations
Because it’s fun to change things up a bit
- For a milder flavor, just use fewer jalapenos which will change the heat level.
- For a bolder flavor, add some of the jalapeno seeds; they contain heat.
- If you don’t have lime juice, try using lemon juice.
- Instead of sliced green onions, use a red onion.
- I know cilantro is iffy for some, but it’s one of my favorite herbs. You can leave it out. Maybe add parsley for the pretty green color.
- Instead of a block of cream cheese, use whipped cream cheese.
- Goat cheese and brie are also delicious with this salsa.
I have some great cranberry and jalapeno recipes for you to try
- Instead of making pie, make this easy Apple Cranberry Galette for dessert.
- These Jalapeno Popper Roll-Up are always a hit at a party; make a double batch because they disappear fast.
- Try this 4-ingredient Orange Cranberry Sauce it’s delicious with ham or turkey, we even spoon it over yogurt.
- This Winter Fruit Salad is so refreshing, with apples, oranges, pomegranate seeds, and fresh cranberries mixed in a honey mint dressing.
- Baked Sweet Potato Slices are a favorite fall and holiday side dish to serve with Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.
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Cranberry Jalapeno Dip
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 ounces Cranberries using fresh is best
- ½ cup Granulated sugar
- ¼ cup Green onion this should be about 3 onions
- ¼ cup Cilantro chopped
- 1 tablespoon Fresh ginger grated
- 1 Lime
- 2 Jalapenos seeded and finely diced
- 8 ounces Cream cheese option to serve as a dip
Instructions
- Place the cranberries in a large strainer and rinse them under cold water, then pick out any berries that look old or wilted. Add the cranberries to the bowl of a food processor and pulse on and off until the berries are chopped. Be careful to not process the cranberries.Place the cranberries in a large mixing bowl.
- Wash and dry the cilantro and the green onions. On a large cutting board gather a small bunch of cilantro and finely chop the leaves. For the green onions line them up side by side on the cutting board and thinly slice the white and most of the green part of the onion. Add these ingredients to the cranberries.
- Wash and dry the jalapenos and place them on the cutting board. Cut off the top, then slice the jalapenos in half. Remove the with pith and the seeds. Cut each half of the jalpapeno into long strips then gather the strips together and cut them into small dice.Add the jalapeno to the cranberry mixture.
- Juice the lime and measure out 3 tablespoons of juice and add to the cranberries.
- Using a Microplane grater, grate the fresh ginger and add that to the bowl. (Optionally, you can use bottled grated ginger.)
- Pour the sugar on top of the cranberry mixture and stir well until all the ingredients are mixed together. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for four days.
Notes
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Nutrition
First published: Sept 4, 2022, Last updated: Dec. 9, 2023, for better readability.
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About Jere’
From learning to cook on a farm in Indiana to culinary school in California, my passion for food is never-ending. Turning on my oven to bake something for friends and family is my happy place, and I am glad to be here at One Hot Oven sharing both sweet and savory family-friendly recipes for your cooking and baking inspiration.
What a perfect holiday dip! I prepared it for a large crowd before I knew it was gone.
We all loved the contrast of flavors. The jalapeno was there, giving out a great flavor, but it was not too hot. we made sure all the seeds were out first.
I highly recommend it and will be making it again before the season is over.
Thank you!
I will definitely be making this during the holidays! Bonus: we bought an Airstream last year and have learned that when camping in one, you never know when you’ll be invited for happy hour/cocktails by other Airstream owners. I will definitely be keeping this in the freezer for these “emergency” impromptu situations.
2022 Fall Giveaway
Cranberry Jalapeno Dip Is spicy and super addicting. Love it
this dip is something special! it’s such a unique combo and was a big hit for game night!
Perfect for the fall!
I love the balance of heat, sweetness and tartness! This is a great dip for guests who love bold flavors. I will definitely be serving this again and again this season.
This cranberry jalapeno dip is so perfect for the holidays! It’s creamy, spicy, and delicious!
Served this beautiful dip at my friends gathering. My guests were amazed with your cranberry jalapeno dip, wow, thanks!
what an interesting combo with cranberries and jalapeno. it works tho! and i’m a bit addicted
Waiting on fresh cranberries to get to the store. I plan to buy extra this year. This is definitely on my list of dips for the holiday.
Such a great idea for a holiday appetizer!
Yum! I loved the sweet and spicy flavours in this recipe