Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese

Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese is a festive addition to a holiday brunch or a simple way to make a weekday breakfast or lunch a bit more special. Smear this fruity spread on everything from bagels to apple slices for a sweet and citrusy burst of flavor with just a hint of cinnamon.

Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese

Disclaimer: This recipe was developed through a sponsored partnership with Dole Packaged Foods. As always, all opinions are my own.

The area where I live has been documented in various articles and news publications to be one of the most diverse locations in the country. The week before Thanksgiving, my son’s Cub Scouts pack had a Thanksgiving potluck. Sure, there was your typical turkey, ham, and macaroni and cheese. For a healthier, but still fairly standard option, there was a basic tossed salad and fruit. To keep the kids happy some brought things like tater tots, carrots and ranch dip, and of course a table filled with cookies and brownies.

And then there was the lumpia. And the curry chicken. And the samosas. And the lemon rice.

Wow, guys, so much delicious food from all around the world that my kids got to try at an age where the most “exotic” thing I ate was lasagna. I mean, I try to make or take the kids out for food from different cultures, but to experience it with their friends, and made by their friends’ families is a special thing. My husband had a good friend in high school who was Filipino, so he was happy to enjoy the lumpia that was a favorite of his when he was at his friend’s house as a teenager. My boys were all over the samosas. It was such a wonderful experience to come together to celebrate an American holiday with people of all cultures.

And then just the week before that, his smaller group of Tiger Scouts all had to bring snacks to their den meeting as they work towards their health and nutrition badge. So while it might not be international cuisine, I thought I’d send along a little twist on the usual bagels and cream cheese that’s so popular in New Jersey where I am from…

Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese is a simple way to add a little pizzazz to breakfast, brunch, or even the kids’ lunchboxes!

Just take some softened cream cheese and stir in a bit of honey or maple syrup, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and some vanilla, then add the cranberries and  Dole Mandarin Oranges. These festive flavors are perfect for a Christmas brunch, but they taste delicious any time of year. It’s a little something with just the right about of sweetness and zing to smear on mini whole wheat bagels for a healthy lunchbox, dip apple or pear slices into as an after school snack, spread on graham crackers for a treat in the evening with a cup of tea, or even stuff into dates on a charcuterie platter at your next party.

I am proud to be partnering with Dole Packaged Foods to create recipes featuring their highest quality, GMO-free fruits and veggies. You can always find Dole in my freezer and pantry, and often in #BugsLunchbox, so I am thrilled to share ways to use their products to make it easy to get more fruits and veggies in your diet in a no-fuss way. Find out more about their products by following Dole Sunshine on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

If you like this recipe, you’ll also love these that you can make with more products from Dole…

• Carrot Cake Whipped Cream Cheese
• Waldorf Fruit Salad
• Dark Chocolate, Orange, and Pistachio Greek Yogurt Cups

And these from my friends…

• No-Bake Mandarin Orange Pretzel Parfait from I Heart Naptime
• Cranberry Brunch Punch from Gather for Bread
• Ambrosia Salad from Dinner at the Zoo

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Here’s the Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese recipe…

Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese

Print

A simple and festive spread to add fresh, citrusy flavor to any breakfast or brunch.

Ingredients

• 4 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature (regular or light is fine)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
• one 4 oz. container Dole Mandarin Oranges in 100% Juice, drained well
• 2 Tablespoons dried cranberries, chopped

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, stir together the cream cheese, vanilla, cinnamon, and honey or maple syrup until smooth.
2. Gently stir in the Mandarin Oranges and dried cranberries. The oranges will break up as you stir, which is what you want, though take care not to break them down completely or the cream cheese will be too runny.
3. Place in the refrigerator until well-chilled.
4. Serve with mini bagels, apple slices, toast, graham crackers, etc.

Enjoy this Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese!

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