Christmas Cranberry and Cream Cheese Cracker Spread

The Perfect Festive Starter

I’m not sure about you, but I love a cheesy appetizer for Christmas. Enter the Christmas Cranberry Cracker Spread.  It not only looks beautiful sitting on the counter when your guests arrive, but it’s so simple to put together and is the perfect bite. It’s creamy from the cream cheese, tart from the cranberry sauce,  and herby from the chives.

My family loves a cranberry appetizer, usually with brie or any other kind of cheese. The red cranberries look so Christmasy and everyone loves the taste!  It’s exactly what’s needed at every holiday party, whether a starter before dinner or as a snack for an open house.‍

Recipe Details

Come Christmas-time, having an easy appetizer to pull together in the fridge is clutch.  For me, this is that appetizer.  There’s always extra cranberry sauce sitting around, plus it’s never a bad idea to have some extra cream cheese in the fridge just in case. Right before having people over, or even a couple hours  in advance, this recipe pulls together in a handful of minutes.  All you need to do is whip the cream cheese and cream until it’s combined and a little bit fluffier.  The chives give just the right bite, plus the green feels perfectly festive.  Mix the chives in to evenly incorporate them throughout the cream cheese. Use a butter knife or spoon to spread the cream cheese across a serving plate. Top the cream cheese with cranberry sauce (store bought or homemade) and sprinkle extra chives on top.  This can sit in the fridge for a few hours before serving, just cover it in plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge.

If you make this easy appetizer this Christmas season, let me know! I’d love to know what you think!

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Christmas

Christmas Cranberry and Cream Cheese Cracker Spread

Author: Laura Wilkins Cooking Method: No Heat Cuisine: American Courses: Appetizer

Difficulty: Beginner Prep Time 10 mins Total Time 10 mins

Servings: 8

Best Season: Winter

Dietary:

G Gluten Free N Nut Free V Vegetarian

Description

A simple, festive appetizer that looks and tastes like Christmas. This recipe is easy to pull together for last minute guests or a low stress dish to serve on the holiday!

Ingredients

Scale

1/2x 1x 2x 3x

• 8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 tbsp heavy cream or milk
• 2 tbsp chopped chive, plus more for serving
• pinch of salt
• 1 cup cranberry sauce

Instructions

1. Place the softened cream cheese and cream or milk in a medium sized bowl.  Whisk using a handheld mixer until the cream cheese is light and fluffy and the cream is incorporated.

2. Add the chopped chives and the pinch of slat into the cream cheese and mix until evenly incorporated.

3. Spread the cream cheese onto a serving dish.  Pour the cranberry sauce over the cream cheese and use the back of a spoon to spread  the cranberries as a second layer.

4. Sprinkle extra chopped chives on top and serve with your favorite crackers!