• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • About
  • Cookbooks
  • Shop

Chili Pepper Madness logo

  • Recipe Index
  • RECIPES BY TYPE
    • BBQ/Grilled
    • Burgers
    • Chicken Wings
    • Chili
    • Curry
    • Dehydrator
    • Game Day
    • Hot Sauces
    • Jalapeno Poppers
    • Marinades
    • Pickling
    • Preserving
    • Quick and Easy
    • Salsas
    • Sauces
    • Seasonings
    • Stuffed Peppers
    • Tacos
  • COOKING TIPS
  • Pepper Info
    • Chili Pepper Types
    • The Scoville Scale
    • Hottest Peppers in the World
    • Growing Chili Peppers
    • Preserving
    • Health Benefits
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Buy Plants & Seeds
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • All Recipes
  • Pepper Info
  • Chili Pepper Types
  • The Scoville Scale
  • Growing Chili Peppers
  • Preserving
  • Chili Pepper Health Benefits
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Cooking Tips
  • Cookbooks
  • Shop
  • About Us
×

Home » Fresh Cranberry Salsa Recipe

Fresh Cranberry Salsa Recipe

by Mike Hultquist · Nov 8, 2019 · 14 Comments

Jump to Recipe
Fresh Cranberry Salsa Recipe

This no-cook cranberry salsa recipe combines loads of fresh cranberries with spicy jalapeno peppers and a few other ingredients for a quick and easy holiday salsa. Bring on the chips!

Fresh Cranberry Salsa Recipe

It's cranberry season, my friends. Cooler weather brings on the cranberries, so that means all sorts of cranberry recipes, from cranberry sauce to cranberry desserts to cranberry cocktails to basically an explosion of cranberries.

Not a bad thing, really! Usually we all get to cook with frozen cranberries or some sort of concentrate, but cooking with fresh cranberries is a treat. They're big on flavor and so much better when they're fresh. For me, one of the best recipes to make with cranberries is Fresh Cranberry Salsa.

Oh yeah!

Fresh cranberry salsa is a holiday season must. It's easy to make and it goes quickly at every holiday party. Just set it out in a bowl with some chips nearby and watch it disappear.

A bowl of cranberries + 3 jalapeno peppers

Fresh Cranberries and Jalapeno Peppers

The key ingredients to any cranberry salsa are fresh cranberries, of course, but also fresh jalapeno peppers. You CAN make this recipe without jalapeno peppers (or chili peppers of any kind), but the peppers really bring a touch of spiciness and flavor that you can't get anywhere else.

In my opinion, cranberry salsa just isn't cranberry salsa without jalapeno peppers.

Fresh Cranberry Salsa in a bowl with extra cranberries on top

There are 2 different ways to make the salsa - fresh salsa or cooked salsa. The fresh requires no cooking and is much chunkier than the cooked version, which is cooked down then blended. The cooked version is much more like the consistency of a salsa roja or salsa ranchera, only with cranberries.

You can see both versions below. The fresh is on bottom and the cooked, blended version is on top.

Cranberry Salsa made 2 different ways

This is my fresh version, and I hope you enjoy it. It's just a touch spicy because that's how I love it, but you can easily dial back on the jalapeno peppers for a milder version.

Alright! Let's talk about how to make Fresh Cranberry Salsa, shall we?

The ingredients for my Fresh Cranberry Salsa Recipe

Cranberry Salsa Ingredients 

  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries (1 bag of cranberries) - you can usually find them in the grocery store seasonally.
  • 3 jalapeno peppers, finely chopped
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • ¼ cup green onion, chopped - red onion is good, too
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • Juice from 1 small lime + some lime zest
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

How to Make Cranberry Salsa - the Recipe Method

  1. First, rinse the cranberries then set the cranberries in a food processor. Pulse a few times to finely chop them. Do not overprocess. If you don't have a food processor or blender, just finely chop everything.
  2. Transfer the chopped cranberries to a large bowl and add the remaining ingredients (jalapeno, cilantro, shallot, green onion, mint, sugar, vinegar, honey, lime juice and zest, and salt and pepper).
  3. Mix well. Seal and refrigerate at least 1 hour to let the flavors mingle. It’s even better the next day.

BOOM! Super easy! No cooking required. All it takes is a bit of processing or chopping, however you want to prepare it. As I said, just set it out on the table with a bowl of tortilla chips and watch it disappear.

People at your holiday party will sidle up to you in wonder - How did you make this amazing salsa?

Let them love you.

Fresh Cranberry Salsa ready to serve, with chips

Recipe Tips & Notes

  • Flavor Additions. Other ingredients that pair nicely with cranberries include fresh ginger, apple, pear, mint, orange, and cinnamon. Try adding some of these to your fresh salsa to experiment with flavors.
  • Cream Cheese. One of my readers said they make this recipe and mix it with softened cream cheese or mascarpone cheese. It's a heavenly way to serve it! Grab a block of cream cheese, or just serve it with cream cheese and crackers.
  • The Peppers. I'm using jalapeno peppers, which are my favorite peppers for this recipe. They have a nice level of heat for most people and I love the flavor. If you're looking for a milder version, either core out the jalapenos before using them, or use bell peppers instead for a no-heat version. If you'd like a spicier version, bring in a serrano pepper, or several, or use spicier peppers, like a habanero pepper. Did I hear somebody say ghost pepper? Yes!
  • Cooked Cranberry Salsa. If you'd like to make the cooked version instead of the fresh version, it is very simple. Simply transfer the finished fresh salsa to a large pan and add 1 cup apple cider vinegar. Simmer for 10 minutes to soften up the ingredients, then process until smooth. Seal and refrigerate at least 1 hour to let the flavors mingle.

That's it, my friends! I hope you enjoy my fresh cranberry salsa! Let me know if you make it! It's the perfect holiday appetizer.

Patty's Perspective

I call this “cranberry pico”. It’s very similar to pico de gallo in consistency, with lots of flavor. It really is great on chips. I can't decide if I like this version better or the cooked cranberry salsa that Mike makes, so I'll just enjoy them both. Yum for me!

Try Some of My Other Popular Salsa Recipes

  • Cranberry Salsa
  • Fresh Pico de Gallo
  • Habanero Salsa
  • Fresh Mango Salsa
  • Roasted Mango-Habanero Salsa
  • Salsa Verde
  • Fresh Ghost Pepper Salsa
  • See my post on How to Make Salsa

Fresh Cranberry Salsa in a bowl

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Fresh Cranberry Salsa Recipe
Print

Fresh Cranberry Salsa Recipe

This no-cook cranberry salsa recipe combines loads of fresh cranberries with spicy jalapeno peppers and a few other ingredients for a quick and easy holiday salsa. Bring on the chips!
Save Recipe Saved!
Course: Appetizer, Salsa
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cranberries, cranberry, holiday, jalapeno, salsa, spicy
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Calories: 117kcal
Author: Mike Hultquist
Servings: 4 cups
Tap or hover to scale
4.84 from 6 votes
Leave a Review

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries
  • 3 jalapeno peppers finely chopped
  • 1 shallot minced
  • ¼ cup green onion chopped
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • Juice from 1 small lime + some lime zest
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • Rinse the cranberries then transfer them to a food processor. Pulse a few times to finely chop them. Do not overprocess.
  • Transfer the chopped cranberries to a large bowl and add the remaining ingredients (jalapeno, shallot, green onion, cilantro, mint, sugar, vinegar, honey, lime juice and zest, and salt and pepper).
  • Mix well. Seal and refrigerate at least 1 hour to let the flavors mingle. It’s even better the next day.

Video

Notes

Makes 4 cups
Heat Level: Medium, though you can dial back on the heat by using less jalapeno, or by coring them out first. For a spicier salsa, use serrano peppers or even hotter peppers.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 117kcal   Carbohydrates: 30g   Protein: 1g   Fat: 1g   Saturated Fat: 1g   Sodium: 296mg   Potassium: 151mg   Fiber: 5g   Sugar: 21g   Vitamin A: 400IU   Vitamin C: 27mg   Calcium: 17mg   Iron: 1mg
Fresh Cranberry Salsa Recipe
Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.
 

Categories: Appetizers Tags: Chili Pepper Madness, chili pepper recipe, game day and superbowl parties, jalapeno pepper, tailgating

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Kevin M says

    November 28, 2021 at 8:58 am

    5 stars
    OK, no words other than AMAZING!! My wife is putting this on everything. So good! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      November 28, 2021 at 9:01 am

      Awesome! Thanks, Kevin. Glad you guys enjoyed it.

      Reply
  2. Erika says

    December 23, 2020 at 4:08 pm

    How long can I keep this in the frig, and can I freeze it?

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      December 24, 2020 at 7:29 am

      Erika, this should keep for a week in the refrigerator. You CAN freeze it, though you'll probably lose a bit of the overall texture. Enjoy!

      Reply
  3. Marcia Little says

    December 16, 2020 at 4:12 pm

    5 stars
    I haven't made it yet but tomorrow I will. Sounds great. And to Ronda Barnow from southeast Kansas, do you have Dillon's or Kroger? I'm in Wichita, Ks. and they have mint in the produce section in plastic packages on the wall. Look and see . Good luck, Thanks Mike. I've made many of your recipes and love them all.

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      December 16, 2020 at 4:41 pm

      Thanks, Marcia!

      Reply
  4. EDDIE says

    December 16, 2020 at 3:10 pm

    5 stars
    Happy holidays. Just made this today. Easy to make. Looks festive. Letting the flavors meld together for 24 hours. Cany wait to try. Hope all is well

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      December 16, 2020 at 3:24 pm

      Thanks, Eddie! I hope you enjoy it. All the best!!

      Reply
  5. Mike Rohm says

    June 27, 2020 at 9:40 am

    5 stars
    The chunky version was a huge hit with the family. We had it at Thanksgiving and twice at Christmas (by request).

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      June 28, 2020 at 6:42 am

      Great to hear, Mike! Thanks!

      Reply
  6. Damien C. says

    November 21, 2019 at 7:47 am

    5 stars
    Just finished this. The family couldn't resist. Another big winner in our house. Cheers for the holidays!

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      November 21, 2019 at 7:48 am

      Glad you enjoyed it, Damien!

      Reply
  7. Ronda Barnow says

    November 20, 2019 at 5:56 pm

    4 stars
    Sounds amazing! But I'm in southeast Kansas - no way I can find fresh mint this time of year!! Do I just leave it out? Substitute something else? Help!!

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      November 21, 2019 at 7:48 am

      Thanks, Ronda. I usually find fresh mint shipped to my local grocer, in the produce section, but you can use dried mint or try it with basil. You can also omit if you'd like.

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

ALL. SPICY. RECIPES. Hi, I’m Mike and I LOVE Spicy Food! Say goodbye to bland and boring food with my easy-to-follow recipes. Let’s get cooking!

More about me →

Mexican
Cajun
Sauces
Seasonings

5 ESSENTIALS FOR SPICY COOKING

Subscribe and receive my FREE email series with tips for spicy cooking and new Recipes

Order The Spicy Food Lovers' Cookbook by Mike Hultquist

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / INDIEBOUND / BOOKS A MILLION

Order The Spicy Dehydrator Cookbook by Mike Hultquist

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / INDIEBOUND

Most Popular Recipes

  • Bang Bang Chicken
  • Jamaican Curry Chicken
  • Mexican Birria Recipe
  • Homemade Blackening Seasoning
  • Michelada Recipe - Spicy Mexican Beer and Tomato Juice Cocktail
  • Pollo Guisado Recipe (Chicken Stew)

Footer

NEVER MISS A RECIPE

Receive my "5 Essentials for Spicy Cooking" email series & new recipes

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

↑ back to top

About | Contact | Travel-Food | Stories | Privacy | Disclaimer | © 2022 Chili Pepper Madness

EXCLUSIVE MEMBER OF MEDIAVINE FOOD