Easy and Healthy Holiday Appetizer: Merry Cranberry Salsa!

A make-ahead, healthy and flavorful holiday appetizer that comes together in 10 minutes!

I’m always on the look out for make-ahead appetizers for the holidays!

 Cranberry Salsa was in Christmas With Southern Living and comes together in 10 minutes.

Factor in that it’s also colorful, fresh, healthy and a tasty addition to serve to your guests, makes it Merry Cranberry Salsa for me!

For other make-ahead and quick and easy appetizers, you can find some ideas from our cookie exchange party last year, pictured above, HERE.

This is a little sweet and a little tart. . .add

another jalapeño pepper to turn up the heat!

Merry Cranberry Salsa, adapted Southern Living

 12-oz. package of fresh cranberries

1 small Gala, Fuji, Braeburn or Honeycrisp apple, cubed

1 medium size jalapeño pepper, seeded and quartered, or more to taste

1/4 cup superfine sugar

1/2 of a small shallot, finely chopped

Juice of 1 lime

1 tablespoon orange zest

Juice of half an orange

½ teaspoon kosher salt

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, optional

Serve with this salsa with the chips of your choice. We like it with sweet potato chips.

Pulse the cranberries, apple, and jalapeño pepper in food processor until coarsely chopped.

Do not over process or pulse too fine or ingredients will disappear and become ‘soupy’.

Transfer to a bowl; stir in shallot and cilantro if desired.

Add sugar and remaining ingredients, stirring well.

Cover and chill 2 hours, the color will deepen the longer it chills.

Stir before serving with sweet potato chips or cinnamon sugar pita chips.

Makes approximately 2 ½ cups, so

 you may need to double this for a crowd!

Print Recipe

Merry Cranberry Salsa

A make-ahead, healthy and flavorful holiday appetizer that comes together in 10 minutes!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time0 minutes mins

chill time 2 hours2 hours hrs

Total Time2 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: appetizer, Christmas, cranberry, easy, healthy, holiday, salsa

Servings: 10

Equipment

• food processor

Ingredients

• 12 oz. pkg. fresh cranberries
• 1 small apple, cubed Gala, Fuji, Braeburn or Honeycrisp
• 1 medium size jalapeño pepper seeded and quartered
• 1/4 cup superfine sugar
• 1/2 of a shallot, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 lime juiced
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 1/2 orange juiced
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro optional

Instructions

• Pulse the cranberries, apple, and jalapeño pepper in food processor until coarsely chopped, stopping to scrape down sides as needed.
• Transfer to a bowl; stir in shallot and cilantro if desired.
• Add sugar and remaining ingredients, stirring well.
• Cover and chill 2 hours, the color will deepen the longer it chills. Stir before serving with sweet potato chips or cinnamon sugar pita chips.

Notes

• Do over process or pulse too fine or ingredients will disappear and become "soupy".
• Makes approximately 2 ½ cups, so you may want to double this for a crowd.
• Add an additional jalapeño pepper to turn up the heat. 
• If you can’t find or don’t want to buy superfine sugar,  place regular granulated sugar in food processor or blender and pulse it several times or blend on low speed until the crystals are smaller and evenly ground.

Find 30+ Season’s Eatings Recipes for Holiday Entertaining with recipes for

appetizers, cookies, cocktails, food gifts and more, HERE.

Sharing with: Metamorphosis Monday