Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese Delights: Recipes for Every Occasion
Cranberry and orange is a match made in culinary heaven. The tartness of cranberries perfectly complements the bright, citrusy notes of orange, creating a flavor profile that’s both refreshing and comforting. Add in the creamy richness of cream cheese, and you’ve got a winning combination that can be used in countless delicious ways. This article explores a variety of cranberry orange cream cheese recipes, from easy appetizers and breakfasts to decadent desserts, complete with detailed steps and instructions. Prepare to tantalize your taste buds and impress your friends and family with these delightful creations!
## The Magic of Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese
Before diving into the recipes, let’s understand why cranberry orange cream cheese works so well. The acidity of the cranberries cuts through the richness of the cream cheese, preventing it from being overly heavy. The orange zest and juice add a vibrant, aromatic dimension, elevating the overall flavor profile. Whether you’re looking for a quick snack, a festive appetizer, or a show-stopping dessert, cranberry orange cream cheese offers versatility and deliciousness in every bite.
## Recipe 1: Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese Spread (Perfect for Bagels and Crackers)
This is a foundational recipe that can be used as a base for many other dishes. It’s incredibly easy to make and requires minimal ingredients.
**Ingredients:**
* 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
* 1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped
* 1/4 cup orange marmalade
* 2 tablespoons orange zest
* 1 tablespoon orange juice
* 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
* Pinch of salt
**Instructions:**
1. **Soften the Cream Cheese:** Ensure your cream cheese is fully softened. This is crucial for a smooth and creamy spread. If you’re short on time, you can microwave it for 15-20 seconds, but be careful not to melt it.
2. **Combine Ingredients:** In a medium-sized bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, chopped dried cranberries, orange marmalade, orange zest, orange juice, vanilla extract (if using), and a pinch of salt.
3. **Mix Well:** Use an electric mixer (handheld or stand mixer) or a sturdy spoon to mix all the ingredients until they are thoroughly combined and the mixture is smooth and creamy. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the cream cheese too thin.
4. **Taste and Adjust:** Taste the spread and adjust the sweetness or tartness to your liking. If you prefer a sweeter spread, add a little more orange marmalade. If you want more tartness, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a bit more orange zest.
5. **Chill (Optional):** While the spread is delicious right away, chilling it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes allows the flavors to meld together even more. This also helps the spread firm up slightly, making it easier to spread.
6. **Serve:** Spread on bagels, crackers, croissants, or even celery sticks. It’s also fantastic as a filling for mini sandwiches or pinwheels. Garnish with extra orange zest or a few dried cranberries for a beautiful presentation.
**Tips and Variations:**
* **Fresh Cranberries:** If you prefer a tarter flavor, you can use fresh cranberries. Cook them down with a little sugar and water until they soften before adding them to the cream cheese.
* **Nuts:** Add chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds for extra texture and flavor.
* **Spice:** A pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg can add a warm, comforting touch.
* **Sweetener:** If you don’t have orange marmalade, you can use honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar as a sweetener.
## Recipe 2: Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese Scones
These scones are a delightful treat for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon snack. The cranberry orange cream cheese adds moisture and a burst of flavor.
**Ingredients:**
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/4 cup granulated sugar
* 1 tablespoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
* 1/2 cup cranberry orange cream cheese spread (from Recipe 1)
* 1/2 cup buttermilk
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* Egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon milk)
* Turbinado sugar, for sprinkling (optional)
**Instructions:**
1. **Preheat Oven:** Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. **Combine Dry Ingredients:** In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. **Cut in Butter:** Add the cold butter cubes to the dry ingredients. Use a pastry blender or your fingertips to cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. It’s important to keep the butter cold to create flaky scones.
4. **Add Cream Cheese and Wet Ingredients:** Add the cranberry orange cream cheese spread, buttermilk, and vanilla extract to the bowl. Stir gently until just combined. Do not overmix, as this will result in tough scones.
5. **Shape the Dough:** Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently pat it into a 1-inch thick circle. Use a sharp knife or a biscuit cutter to cut the dough into 8 wedges or rounds.
6. **Place on Baking Sheet:** Place the scones onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between each one.
7. **Brush with Egg Wash:** Brush the tops of the scones with the egg wash. This will give them a golden-brown color.
8. **Sprinkle with Sugar (Optional):** Sprinkle the tops of the scones with turbinado sugar for extra sweetness and crunch.
9. **Bake:** Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the scones are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
10. **Cool:** Let the scones cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature.
**Tips and Variations:**
* **Freezing:** Unbaked scones can be frozen. Freeze them on the baking sheet until solid, then transfer them to a freezer bag. Bake them directly from frozen, adding a few minutes to the baking time.
* **Add-Ins:** You can add chopped nuts, chocolate chips, or dried fruit to the dough for extra flavor and texture.
* **Glaze:** Drizzle the cooled scones with a simple powdered sugar glaze flavored with orange juice or zest.
## Recipe 3: Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese Sweet Rolls
These sweet rolls are a showstopper! The combination of the soft, fluffy dough, the tangy cranberry orange cream cheese filling, and the sweet glaze is irresistible.
**Ingredients (Dough):
**
* 1 cup warm milk (105-115°F)
* 2 1/4 teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
* 1/4 cup granulated sugar
* 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 large egg
* 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
**Ingredients (Filling):
**
* 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
* 1/2 cup granulated sugar
* 1/4 cup orange juice
* 2 tablespoons orange zest
* 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, roughly chopped
**Ingredients (Glaze):
**
* 2 cups powdered sugar
* 1/4 cup milk
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
**Instructions (Dough):
**
1. **Activate Yeast:** In a large bowl, combine the warm milk, yeast, and sugar. Let stand for 5-10 minutes, or until the yeast is foamy. This indicates that the yeast is active.
2. **Combine Wet Ingredients:** Add the melted butter, salt, and egg to the yeast mixture. Stir well to combine.
3. **Add Flour:** Gradually add the flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing until a soft dough forms. The dough should be slightly sticky but not overly so.
4. **Knead the Dough:** Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes, or until it is smooth and elastic. You can also use a stand mixer with a dough hook.
5. **First Rise:** Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 1-1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
**Instructions (Filling):
**
1. **Combine Ingredients:** While the dough is rising, prepare the filling. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sugar, orange juice, and orange zest. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
2. **Add Cranberries:** Gently fold in the chopped cranberries.
**Instructions (Assembly):
**
1. **Roll Out Dough:** Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down to release the air. Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and roll it into a large rectangle, about 12×18 inches.
2. **Spread Filling:** Spread the cranberry orange cream cheese filling evenly over the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border on one of the long sides.
3. **Roll Up:** Starting from the opposite long side, tightly roll up the dough like a jelly roll. Pinch the seam to seal.
4. **Cut into Rolls:** Use a serrated knife or dental floss to cut the roll into 12-15 slices, about 1-1.5 inches thick.
5. **Second Rise:** Place the rolls in a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 30-45 minutes, or until puffed up.
6. **Preheat Oven:** Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
7. **Bake:** Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown and cooked through.
8. **Cool:** Let the rolls cool in the baking dish for a few minutes before frosting.
**Instructions (Glaze):
**
1. **Combine Ingredients:** While the rolls are cooling, prepare the glaze. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and orange zest until smooth.
2. **Frost Rolls:** Drizzle the glaze evenly over the warm sweet rolls.
3. **Serve:** Serve the cranberry orange cream cheese sweet rolls warm.
**Tips and Variations:**
* **Overnight Rise:** You can prepare the dough and filling the night before and let the rolls rise in the refrigerator overnight. This will develop even more flavor.
* **Nuts:** Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts over the filling before rolling up the dough.
* **Cream Cheese Glaze:** For a richer glaze, substitute some of the milk with softened cream cheese.
## Recipe 4: Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese Tartlets
These mini tartlets are elegant and perfect for parties or special occasions. The flaky crust, creamy filling, and tart cranberry orange topping create a delightful balance of flavors and textures.
**Ingredients (Crust):
**
* 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
* 1/4 cup ice water
**Ingredients (Filling):
**
* 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
* 1/4 cup granulated sugar
* 1 large egg
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 tablespoon orange zest
**Ingredients (Topping):
**
* 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
* 1/2 cup granulated sugar
* 1/4 cup water
* 1 tablespoon orange zest
**Instructions (Crust):
**
1. **Combine Dry Ingredients:** In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.
2. **Cut in Butter:** Add the cold butter cubes to the dry ingredients. Use a pastry blender or your fingertips to cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. It’s important to keep the butter cold to create a flaky crust.
3. **Add Water:** Gradually add the ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing until the dough just comes together. Do not overmix.
4. **Chill Dough:** Form the dough into a disc, wrap it in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
**Instructions (Filling):
**
1. **Combine Ingredients:** In a medium-sized bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and orange zest. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
**Instructions (Topping):
**
1. **Combine Ingredients:** In a small saucepan, combine the cranberries, sugar, water, and orange zest. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the cranberries have softened and the sauce has thickened.
2. **Cool Topping:** Let the cranberry orange topping cool completely.
**Instructions (Assembly):
**
1. **Preheat Oven:** Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. **Roll Out Dough:** On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about 1/8 inch thickness.
3. **Cut Out Tartlets:** Use a round cookie cutter to cut out circles of dough. Press the dough circles into mini tartlet pans or a muffin tin.
4. **Fill Tartlets:** Fill each tartlet with the cream cheese filling.
5. **Bake:** Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is set.
6. **Cool:** Let the tartlets cool completely in the pans before removing them.
7. **Top with Cranberry Orange Topping:** Spoon the cooled cranberry orange topping over the cream cheese filling.
8. **Serve:** Serve the cranberry orange cream cheese tartlets chilled or at room temperature.
**Tips and Variations:**
* **Store-Bought Crust:** To save time, you can use store-bought pie crust or tart shells.
* **Garnish:** Garnish the tartlets with a sprig of rosemary or a dusting of powdered sugar for a festive touch.
* **Lemon Zest:** Substitute lemon zest for orange zest in the filling and topping for a different flavor variation.
## Recipe 5: Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole
This French toast casserole is perfect for a holiday brunch or a special weekend breakfast. It’s easy to prepare ahead of time and bake in the morning.
**Ingredients:
**
* 1 loaf (1 pound) challah or brioche bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
* 8 ounces cream cheese, softened and cubed
* 1 cup cranberry sauce (homemade or store-bought)
* 1/2 cup dried cranberries
* 1/4 cup orange zest
* 8 large eggs
* 2 cups milk
* 1/2 cup heavy cream
* 1/4 cup granulated sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* Pinch of salt
* Butter, for greasing
* Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)
* Maple syrup, for serving (optional)
**Instructions:
**
1. **Grease Baking Dish:** Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter.
2. **Layer Bread Cubes:** Spread half of the bread cubes evenly in the prepared baking dish.
3. **Add Cream Cheese and Cranberry Sauce:** Sprinkle the cream cheese cubes over the bread cubes. Dollop the cranberry sauce evenly over the cream cheese.
4. **Add Remaining Bread:** Top with the remaining bread cubes.
5. **Sprinkle with Cranberries and Orange Zest:** Sprinkle the dried cranberries and orange zest over the bread.
6. **Whisk Wet Ingredients:** In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt until well combined.
7. **Pour Over Bread:** Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread cubes, making sure to saturate all the bread.
8. **Press Down Gently:** Use a spatula or your hands to gently press down on the bread cubes to ensure they are fully submerged in the egg mixture.
9. **Refrigerate (Optional):** Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight. This allows the bread to fully absorb the egg mixture.
10. **Preheat Oven:** Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
11. **Bake:** Bake the French toast casserole for 45-50 minutes, or until it is golden brown and the egg mixture is set.
12. **Cool Slightly:** Let the casserole cool slightly before serving.
13. **Dust with Powdered Sugar (Optional):** Dust the top of the casserole with powdered sugar, if desired.
14. **Serve:** Serve the cranberry orange cream cheese French toast casserole warm, with maple syrup, if desired.
**Tips and Variations:**
* **Bread Choice:** You can use other types of bread, such as croissants or French bread, but challah or brioche works best due to their rich flavor and ability to absorb the egg mixture.
* **Nuts:** Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the casserole for extra texture and flavor.
* **Orange Extract:** Add a few drops of orange extract to the egg mixture for a more intense orange flavor.
* **Glaze:** Drizzle the baked casserole with a simple powdered sugar glaze flavored with orange juice or zest.
## Enjoy the Flavors of Cranberry, Orange, and Cream Cheese!
These recipes are just a starting point. Feel free to experiment with different ingredients and variations to create your own unique cranberry orange cream cheese delights. Whether you’re hosting a holiday gathering, preparing a special breakfast, or simply craving a delicious treat, the combination of cranberry, orange, and cream cheese is sure to satisfy. Happy baking!