Description
A vibrant and tangy cranberry salsa combined with creamy, spreadable cream cheese, perfect as a festive appetizer served with crackers or toasted bread. This easy no-cook recipe balances tart cranberries with a touch of sweetness, a hint of jalapeño heat, and fresh lime for a refreshing and colorful party dip.
Ingredients
Scale
Cranberry Salsa
- 12 oz fresh cranberries
- 1 jalapeño (seeded and chopped)
- ¼ cup chopped red onion
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- Juice of 1 lime
- Pinch of salt
Cream Cheese Base
- 8 oz block of cream cheese (softened)
To Serve
- Crackers (baguette slices, or pita chips)
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients: Rinse and dry the fresh cranberries, removing any soft or blemished ones. Seed and chop the jalapeño, finely chop the red onion and cilantro. Squeeze the lime and measure out sugar and salt. To soften onion’s bite, soak it in cold water for 5 minutes, then drain.
- Pulse the cranberries, jalapeño, and onion: Place cranberries, jalapeño, and red onion in a food processor. Pulse in short bursts (8–10 pulses) until the mixture has small chunky pieces about the size of peas, avoiding a puree.
- Combine salsa ingredients: Transfer the chopped mixture to a bowl. Stir in cilantro, sugar, lime juice, and salt until the sugar mostly dissolves and lime is evenly distributed. Taste and adjust sugar, lime, or salt for balance.
- Taste and adjust: Adjust for tartness, sweetness, or heat—add more sugar, lime juice, salt, or finely diced jalapeño as needed. Keep adjustments gentle as flavors intensify after chilling.
- Chill: Cover and chill the salsa for at least 1 hour, ideally 2–4 hours, allowing flavors to meld and sugar to dissolve fully.
- Prep the cream cheese base: Spread softened cream cheese into an even ½-inch thick layer on a serving plate. For easier spreading, warm cream cheese slightly in the microwave for 5–8 seconds if too firm.
- Assemble the dish: Spoon chilled cranberry salsa evenly over the cream cheese, leaving a border if desired. Garnish with extra cilantro leaves, thin lime slices, or chopped pecans for added texture and appeal.
- Serve and enjoy: Serve the cranberry salsa and cream cheese spread with crackers, toasted baguette slices, or pita chips. Provide a spreader or knife for easy serving at parties.
Notes
- Use fresh cranberries for the best texture and tartness.
- Adjust jalapeño quantity or remove seeds to control heat level.
- Chilling the salsa enhances flavor blending and reduces tartness.
- Soaking red onion reduces sharpness without losing flavor.
- Optional garnishes like pecans add crunch and visual interest.
- This recipe is great for holiday gatherings or as a vibrant appetizer anytime.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cranberry salsa, cream cheese dip, holiday appetizer, easy party dip, no-cook salsa, cranberry recipes
