17 Kickin’ Cranberry Appetizers

We are always on the lookout for sweet and savory cranberry appetizers to add color and zing to Christmas time or anytime.

Traditionally, we tend to think of cranberries during the fall and winter holiday seasons since fresh ones are so easily available. 

Cranberry holiday appetizers, side dishes, desserts, glazes all come to mind! We are loons for fresh cranberries here at the Chew.

But did you know that you can freeze fresh cranberries to use over the next eight months? 

Yes, and it’s exactly what we do. 

We buy bags of them on sale and throw them in the freezer so we can cook with them all year. We find cranberries really hard to find outside of this time of year.

Whether fresh or frozen or canned, tart cranberries make great appetizers all year long. Cranberry recipes aren’t just for holiday parties, after all. (But they do go great with fall flavors.)

Here are 17 tantalizing cranberry appetizer recipes that will wow your taste buds and your friends!

1. Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe

Finger foods are a must when entertaining, and what can be better than four-ingredient appetizers?

This combination of puff pastry, brie cheese and chopped whole cranberries (or use leftover cranberry sauce) will bring everyone back for more because these cranberry bites are addicting!

Your mini muffin tins have never been so happy to serve!

2. Baked Goat Cheese Roasted Cranberry Appetizer

If you are a fan of baked goat cheese, then this appetizer also with cranberries is for you.  

It looks complex but is actually an easy cranberry appetizer to make. 

The presentation is stunning and will definitely satisfy appetites before the main course arrives!

3. Cranberry Brie Pizza

We believe that perhaps any combination of great ingredients will taste even better in the form of a pizza! Pull out your baking sheet or pizza stone and get this one going. 

The crescent roll dough makes this one super easy to pull together.

Cranberry Brie Pizza most assuredly is included on that list. Not sure? 

Give this easy cranberry appetizer a try and you just might be amazed! 

Use a pizza cutter for easy serving.

4. Cranberry & Prosciutto Crostini

Don’t let the word prosciutto or crostini scare you away from this delightful finger food appetizer with cranberries. 

This amazing finger food will really make an impression on your holiday party.

You can buy or make your own crostini rounds, pop on the toppings and you’ve got a plate full of deliciousness ready to serve!

5. Turkey Brie Cranberry Mustard Sliders

This cranberry appetizer is the perfect option for the day after you cook a turkey (or ham)! As Thanksgiving appetizers, it’s a great use of those big day leftovers.

Sliders take minimal effort and these with a luscious cranberry mustard relish will hit the spot every time!

6. Sausage and Stuffing Balls with Cranberry Dipping Sauce

The creativity in this perfect holiday appetizer with cranberries is top notch in our opinion and we think you will agree!

 It has all the holiday tastes in one savory bite! 

Comfort cranberry bite deluxe.

7. Sausage Cranberry Brie Bites

This cranberry bites easy appetizer recipe got us with the sweet, savory and salty combination! 

Made in a pinwheel style, these appetizers are beautiful on the plate and scrumptious in the mouth!

Enjoy!

8. Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip

The simple recipe with a block of cream cheese makes the tartness of the cranberries really pop in this cranberry appetizer dip. 

And it just gets better with the no-cooking and served cold instructions! 

The hint of cilantro and green onion on top pretty much seal the deal!

You can’t go wrong with this cranberry cream cheese appetizer for your friendsgiving celebration.

9. Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip

If tart, spicy and sweet are words you like to hear when someone describes a cranberry mixture, then this is the quick recipe that will knock your socks off! 

Pro tip to remember is that this recipe does recommend refrigerating overnight, so plan ahead with this one! 

Served cold on a bed of whipped cream cheese to balance the flavors!

10. Cranberry Pecan Goat Cheese Truffles

To be honest, these eye-catching truffles are really just mini cheese balls that are both creamy and crunchy and fabulous! Gotta start with a simple goat cheese log.

If there happen to be any left over, they will store nicely in the fridge for up to three days.

11. Cranberry Walnut Pinwheels

This cranberry bite appetizer uses a tortilla giving it a completely different look since it is mostly white.

It also calls for walnuts instead of the more commonly used pecans. 

You can see it is working hard to set itself apart from the others! 

12. Cranberry Olive Cheese Skewers

Have you ever found yourself out of time and in immediate need of an appetizer? 

Choose this cranberry recipe and you will win your crowd over! Being easy and customizable is this recipe’s superpower! 

You load your ingredients on sturdy toothpicks and serve! Instant fun!

13. Sweet Potato Crostinis with Roasted Cranberries

Oooo! Something new is popping up here! Sweet potatoes and cranberries together on little toasts?
Yes, please! 

Instead of using bread as the base for this finger food, this recipe calls for sweet potato slices which instantly brighten up your serving plate! 

So many options and alternatives for this recipe are provided so everyone can find a winning combination! 

Some parts can even be made a day ahead!

14. Baked Brie Appetizer With Cranberries and Walnuts

Experience a little taste of France with this Warm Brie Appetizer with Cranberries and Walnuts. This easy-to-make dish is a hit at any gathering, combining the creamy delight of warm brie with the sweet tang of orange-soaked cranberries and the crunch of walnuts. It’s a simple yet elegant appetizer that’s sure to make everyone gather around for a bite​.

15. Cranberry Fruit Dip

We appreciate the finer kitchen technique of placing ingredients in a bowl, mixing, and having a completed recipe! 

If you do too, this easy cranberry dip is absolutely for you! 

It pairs very nicely with, well, pears, or apples or whatever in season fruit you have handy.

16. Cranberry Salsa

Salsa is a staple item in many a kitchen typically associated with Mexican recipes. 

But this cranberry salsa is out of this world, and we are sure you will find many, many uses for it! 

Give it time for the flavors to marinate together. and whether you serve it with crackers or tortilla chips or as a garnish on top of an entrée, your taste buds will thank you for these simple ingredients!

Add orange marmalade for an interesting citrusy sweetness.

17. Cranberry Meatballs

Sometimes you flat out need a heavy appetizer! Here ya go! 

This one starts with cranberries and ends up giving you a plateful of yummy meatballs.  

Huge crowd and family pleaser! Getting to use the cookie scoop to make the meatballs is bonus fun!