This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Cranberry Cream Cheese Spread with Pecans is an easy appetizer or snack recipe that comes together in 15 minutes! Serve it at your next dinner or holiday party.
This easy recipe makes holiday party planning even easier. A simple cream cheese spread comes together easily and is packed with fresh cranberry flavor. Grab a block of cream cheese and a few fresh ingredients to create this holiday appetizer that is meant for sharing.
Ingredients You Need
- Cranberries: You can use fresh or frozen. A combination of cranberries with other berries works well too.
- Dark Red Wine or Cranberry juice: Cabernet Sauvignon tastes great with this recipe, but you can use any dark wine. You can replace the wine with cranberry juice, if desired.
- Honey: You can use maple syrup instead.
- Ground Cinnamon: You can adjust the amount of spice, as desired.
- Orange: This adds flavor.
- Cream Cheese: Full or reduce fat cream cheese works.
- Pecans: You can omit the nuts or use another type of nut, if desired.
- Fresh Mint: You can omit the mint, but it adds a crisp fresh flavor to this dish.
Serving and prep suggestions
Serve with crackers or fresh bread. Add it to a cheese or charcuterie board. It’s that easy! The entire thing comes together in less than 15 minutes and can be prepped in advance.
To prepare in advance, make the sauce and store in a sealed container in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Just prior to serving, pour the sauce over the block of cream cheese and top with pecans and mint.
Try this easy cranberry cream cheese spread recipe and let us know what you think!
Other Easy Holiday Appetizers
- Cranberry Brie Bites
- Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
- Crockpot Meatballs with Cranberry Sauce
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip
Cranberry Cream Cheese Spread
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cranberries
- ½ cup dark red wine, (I use Cabernet Sauvignon)
- 3 tablespoons honey
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- zest and juice from one orange
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened slightly (1 package)
- 3 tablespoons chopped pecans
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan set over medium-high heat, combine berries, wine, honey, cinnamon, orange zest and orange juice. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Cook until thickened, stirring occasionally, about 7 to 10 minutes. Once the mixture is thickened, remove from heat and let cool.
- Place the softened cream cheese on a serving plate or platter. Top with cooled cranberry sauce, chopped pecans and fresh mint. Serve with crackers or bread. Enjoy!
Notes
- You can use only frozen cranberries, if desired, or a mix of cranberries and other berries.
- You can use cranberry juice or 1/4 cup lemon juice instead of the dark red wine. Lemon juice may alter the flavor slightly, but it will still taste great.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Could you substitute Brie for the cream cheese?
Yes. You might want to warm the brie slightly before topping.
This sounds delicious and looks beautiful! I love your addition of the pecans. I want to make this for a Christmas party using cranberries only instead of the mixed berries (can’t find this product locally) but I’m thinking I may have to increase the amount of honey some to offset the tartness of the cranberries. Have you ever made it that way or what is your opinion about that? And, being in Texas, I think I will also alter the recipe by adding jalapenos. Thanks for sharing your recipes. Merry Christmas!
Hi, Kathy! While I really love the Cape Cod Select Cranberry PLUS blend, you can either make your own blend at home by combining cranberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries or you can use just cranberries and add an additional tablespoon or two of honey, to taste. Enjoy!
That’s what I thinking…great minds! Thank you.
Such a gorgeous holiday appetizer, Ashley! This would disappear fast in my house! Love love LOVE the combo of cranberries, cream cheese, and pecans!