Cranberry Cream Cheese Appetizer Bites Wellplated Com

This recipe is sponsored by Walmart. This is just the easy appetizer recipe for your holiday arsenal. A few strategic, store-bought items make it a breeze to whip up or to prep in advance. The creamy filling, trademark holiday flavors, and golden crust, however, make this appetizer taste impressive, as if you made it 100% from scratch. Let’s keep the shortcuts a Christmas secret, shall we? There’s something so festive and delightful about bite-sized miniature snacks this time of year (like Goat Cheese Balls). These handheld cream cheese bites have all the necessities of a popular finger food: sweetness from the cranberry sauce, richness from cream cheese, and a melt-in-your-mouth flaky vessel. These bites join two of my favorite creamy cranberry appetizers, Brie Bites and Sweet Potato Rounds with Goat Cheese Cranberry and Pecans. This cream cheese-based recipe is even easier to make, and since cream cheese is universally beloved, they are sure to win the heart of everyone who tastes them. However many of these cream cheese appetizer bites you make, that is the number your guests will eat. They are THAT irresistible!

Tricks to a Quick & Easy Appetizer

This appetizer tastes completely homemade even when relying on store-bought shortcuts. In busy times like the holidays, we need all the help we can get, while still aiming to impress. Here are my tips to make these cups lightning fast!

Pillsbury Pie Crust. We have enough to worry about at the holidays without adding making pie crust to the list. While it can be worth it from time to time, for an appetizer recipe, store-bought crust is the way to go. This crust is easier to work with than homemade (key since we’re stamping out the rounds), and I’ve always had excellent luck with the way Pillsbury in particular bakes and tastes.Philadelphia Cream Cheese. The one and only! It’s an all-American favorite with a tangy flavor so popular, many enjoy it on its own. I added a little orange zest and chipotle to complement the cranberry.Cranberry Sauce. You can make it from scratch with my quick Homemade Cranberry Sauce recipe if you like (or use up the extra from your holiday meal), but if you are looking for maximum time savings, simply use canned whole berry cranberry sauce. I tested the recipe this way, and we loved it.

In addition to saving time during the holidays, this time of year is also one when I become more mindful of how I am spending. The holidays are special, but it’s also a time when we find ourselves purchasing more than usual. For this recipe, I found all the ingredients I needed at Walmart, which has an impressive holiday assortment. And as a cook who has long believed that preparing something special should be affordable to everyone, I appreciate the consistent value that Walmart offers, especially this time of year. I am also a big believer in their grocery pickup. If you haven’t tried it yet, it’s a true time-saver!

How to Make Cranberry Cream Cheese Appetizer Bites

This recipe comes together in three parts, the pie crust (thank you store bought!), the cranberry sauce (homemade only if you have time; store-bought works here too), and the easy breezy cream cheese filling. The subtle, surprise ingredient here is chipotle chile powder. It adds a subtle smokiness at the end that makes these bites unforgettable. (Don’t worry, the amount is so little, these aren’t spicy.)

The Directions

Make Ahead & Storage Tips

These cream cheese appetizers are a snap to prep in advance. Make the filling and prebake the crust the day before, then assemble and finish baking just before serving. These taste great at room temperature too.

To Make Ahead. Up to 1 day in advance, bake the pie cups as directed in steps 1 to 4. Let them cool completely, then store in an airtight container at room temperature. Make the cream cheese filling and store in the refrigerator. When ready to bake, place the pie crust cups back into the mini muffin tin. Let the cream cheese come to room temperature, then fill and bake the cups as directed.To Store. These are best enjoyed the day they are made but can last in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Serve chilled, at room temperature, or warmed. To Reheat. Very gently reheat bites in a baking dish in the oven at 350 degrees F until just warmed through.

I hope these simple, super yummy cranberry cream cheese bites add a touch of easy elegance to your holiday spread. We couldn’t stop eating them. I am so excited for you to try them too!

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