Cranberry Cream Cheese Appetizer
Brighten up your holiday table or any gathering with this festive Cranberry Cream Cheese Appetizer! This easy yet elegant dish combines the tangy sweetness of homemade cranberry sauce—bursting with fresh cranberries, orange zest, and a hint of citrusy freshness—with the creamy richness of softened cream cheese. Ready in just 25 minutes, this appetizer is perfect for last-minute entertaining. Serve it alongside crackers or baguette slices for a crowd-pleasing, seasonally inspired treat. Garnished with fresh parsley, it’s as gorgeous as it is delicious. Transform your starter board with this simple, zesty, and creamy recipe that’s sure to be a hit at any celebration!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup Fresh cranberries
- 0.5 cup Granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon Orange zest
- 2 tablespoons Fresh orange juice
- 8 ounces Cream cheese
- 12 pieces Crackers or baguette slices
- 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Rinse the fresh cranberries and discard any that are bruised or mushy.
In a small saucepan, combine the cranberries, granulated sugar, orange zest, and orange juice.
Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries soften and break down, forming a sauce. This should take about 8-10 minutes.
Remove the cranberry sauce from heat and let it cool completely to room temperature.
While the cranberry sauce is cooling, place the cream cheese on a serving plate and let it soften slightly at room temperature.
Once the cranberry sauce has cooled, spoon it evenly over the block or mound of cream cheese.
Optional: Sprinkle fresh parsley on top of the cranberry topping for added color and freshness.
Serve immediately with crackers or baguette slices on the side.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
419 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 19.9 g | 26% | |
| Saturated Fat | 8.5 g | 43% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 42 mg | 14% | |
| Sodium | 458 mg | 20% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 56.4 g | 20% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.0 g | 11% | |
| Total Sugars | 21.6 g | ||
| Protein | 6.1 g | 12% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 61 mg | 5% | |
| Iron | 1.2 mg | 6% | |
| Potassium | 138 mg | 3% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
