Christmas & Cream Spread

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The “Christmas & Cream” Festive Spread

This is a “dual-purpose” recipe. It’s sweet enough to top waffles or pancakes but tangy enough to serve as a fruit dip for apples and pears.

CategoryDetails
Prep Time10 minutes (plus 30 mins chilling)
Cook Time0 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
YieldApprox. 2.5 cups

🍴 Ingredients

  • 2 blocks (16 oz total) Cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • ¾ cup Heavy whipping cream, chilled
  • ½ cup Whole berry cranberry sauce (canned or homemade)
  • 1 tsp Fresh orange zest
  • ¼ tsp Vanilla extract
  • Optional: A pinch of cinnamon for warmth

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. The Silky Start

  • In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until it is completely smooth and no lumps remain.

2. The Cream Merge

  • Pour in the heavy whipping cream and vanilla. Continue to mix until fully incorporated.
  • The Chill Step: Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Chilling the mixture allows the fat molecules to realign, which is essential for the next step.

3. The Aeration

  • Remove from the fridge. Using the electric mixer again, beat the chilled mixture on high speed until stiff peaks form. It should look like thick, stable whipped cream.

4. The Festive Fold

  • Gently fold in the whole berry cranberry sauce and the orange zest using a spatula.
  • The Pro-Tip: Do not over-mix! You want beautiful swirls of red cranberry running through the white cream, rather than a solid pink spread.

5. The Serving

  • Transfer to an airtight jar or a decorative bowl. Garnish with a little extra orange zest or a few sugared cranberries.

The “Leftover” Hack: If you have leftovers, this spread makes an incredible filling for Stuffed French Toast. Simply spread a thick layer between two slices of brioche, dip in egg batter, and fry as usual. The cream cheese melts into a warm, cheesecake-like center.

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