This Cinnamon Walnut Cranberry Cream Cheese Spread is the most delicious thing to happen to holiday leftovers! We love this cranberry kissed cream cheese on everything from croissants to crackers to sandwiches.
Put this on EVERYTHING.
Yes. Everything.
Crackers. Croissants. Celery. Sandwiches. Your sneakers. Apple slices. That bill you don’t quite feel like paying. Toast. Bagels. Your face.
All. The. Things.
I won’t even distract you with a funny story today. This dip/spread/bowl-of-heaven deserves your undivided attention. No one will know you were simply trying to pawn off your Thanksgiving leftovers by making this fancy schmear. They’ll think you slaved away in your kitchen developing culinary perfection just for them. You’ll be applauded for your efforts. Parades will be thrown in your honor. Or you’ll simply get a pat on the back.
I’ll know your secret though. Heck, I am your secret. It’s okay. I totally know how this works. Just be sure to say thank you by coming over and doing the dishes.
Pretty please?
Cinnamon Walnut Cranberry Cream Cheese Spread
This tasty spread is my favorite use for leftover cranberry sauce!
Don’t have any cranberry sauce on hand?
Make this immediately!
Cinnamon Walnut Cranberry Cream Cheese Spread
Ingredients
- 4 ounces regular or neufchatel cream cheese
- 4 TBSP leftover cranberry sauce
- 2-3 TBSP finely chopped baking walnuts
- 1 TBSP honey (plus extra to taste)
- 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon (plus extra to taste)
Instructions
- Soften cream cheese to room temperature.
- Combine with a few heaping spoonfuls of leftover cranberry sauce.
- Next fold in chopped walnuts [optional, but beyond delicious!] and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon.
- Drizzle a tablespoon of honey into the mixture and stir. Simple and deeeeelicious.
- Rather not wait for the cream cheese to soften? Break out your food processor and whip the cream cheese, cinnamon and honey to perfection before adding your sauce. Then fold in the minced walnuts Just be sure to unplug the food processor before trying to lick it clean. You’re welcome.
- Serve this heavenly spread at room temperature with sliced green apple, whole grain crackers, and crunchy celery sticks. Or just go crazy and spread it on everything in sight.
Notes
Nutrition
so . . . how was it?
If you’ve read this far, you know it’s amazing. Legendary even. Dare I say it will delight your tastebuds with sunshine, rainbows, and unicorns? I rest my case.
This met approval from the hubs, our friends, and the fam. In fact, I had to make three batches to keep up with the rate at which they were shoveling this into their faces. Three! So click the print button and get your butt in the kitchen.
Mwah!
This makes the best thanksgiving leftover sandwich of freaking life. Do it. You’ll thank me later!
Delicious! Taking to my morning Bible study and my daughter (2) is already gobbling some up. Thanks!
LOL! I’m so glad it’s getting gobbled — fingers crossed some makes it to Bible study! xoxo
I happened upon you recipe for CINNAMON WALNUT CRANBERRY CREAM CHEESE SPREAD.
There was 8 oz. of cream cheese nearing it’s expiration date and a some cranberry sauce. I doubled the recipe to use up the cream cheese before it got too old. The walnuts got fried, to release the oil and flavor and the honey was just waiting for a good cause. It all went together, like it was destined for this recipe. Very delicious. One container will stay home and the other will go to work.
So little time needed and such a tasty end result!!! Thanks!
Jack
Very, very good. I am used to seeing reviews in which the food item is touted as the best … this really is! I had some leftover cranberries, found this recipe, made cranberry sauce with orange juice and then the dip. I made two batches of dip as it was so tasty and I couldn’t see “wasting the other 4 oz of the cream cheese”. Great recipe!
Why thank you Marilyn! I’m so glad you’re loving the recipe 🙂
Absolutely awesome sandwich: this, and thinly-sliced turkey, on cinnamon bread. Also, try this sometime with pecans, instead of walnuts. Oh, yeah …
Thanks Angela, Happy Thanksgiving! And pecans and cinnamon bread?!?! You’re my favorite, I’m SO trying that! xo
I just saw this post and really want to give this a try, but can I used the canned cranberry stuff? Honestly we never make huge turkey or anything that would require cranberry sauce.
I’ve made it with the canned stuff and it works! The only reason I typically suggest fresh sauce is because it’s so so so much better. The taste is phenomenal
If you do make the sauce fresh, this recipe is really easy and it freezes well too! http://peasandcrayons.com/2013/11/recipe-quicky-speedy-stovetop-cranberry.html
I was just thinking about how I was going to use up that cranberry sauce…now I know! Thanks!!
YES MA’AM.
your wish be my command.
Oh my…this looks pretty dangerous! I don’t have any cream cheese on hand. I wonder how it would taste with greek yogurt. It may be worth a try. 😉
Looks totally amazing!!!
Yum! This is an awesome idea! I bet it is just amazing on apple slices!!! I’m totally going to be making this after turkey day!
Thanks Amber!!!! Buy extra apples. You’ll need them =)
YUM!!
I printed your cranberry sauce recipe this weekend and it is officially on my menu =)
Can’t wait to make this Friday morning… Thanks!
Thanks Nessa!!!!
I’m sure this could be eaten in one sitting by one person, but I if I were to bring this to a family gathering, would you recommend doubling or tripling it?! Or how many people would be able to snack off one batch?
Looks fabulous!
Thanks Whitney!!!! Each “batch” makes around 1/2 cup of cranberry crack =) Double… Triple… Quadruple…. it goes fast and will stay fresh and fabulous in the fridge for 4 days! =) xoxo
this looks pretty yum! I have been putting Frank hot buffalo sauce on everything, and i mean EVERYTHING! i put it on a cracker the other day. what can i say the baby likes spicy food 🙂
Your baby is going to come out dancing with all that cayenne =) Love it!
Ummm, this is brilliant! I’m pretty sure this recipe and homemade croissants will be at my tea party on Saturday. Ah-may-zing!
Can I get in on these homemade croissants? I’ll clean YOUR dishes!
This looks AMAZING, as always. So good, in fact, that it may be making an appearance in our house this weekend, and will be making an appearance on the blog Friday as a favorite post 😉
Ahhhhhh shut up! Thank you!
this sounds heavenly!! need.to.eat.now.
Yesss! Thanks Alysia!
Jenn, that looks so good. I want to smother it on something right now and shove it in my face and enjoy all the yumminess. Maybe some would end up on my face…:P
It will. You’ll love it!
Thanks Nikki!!! <3
Love this! I love flavored cream cheese, but I’ve never made my own. This looks super easy!
They’re ridiculously easy!!!! Make my veggie one too. Just don’t get any on your hands… you’ll wind up a cannibal.
Oh my gosh I totally want this! I also want to make pumpkin bagels and I think that would be a wonderful flavor explosion on my taste buds.
TWSS
I enjoy pink foods. I enjoy them because they make me feel girly. I like feeling girly.
I enjoy your face.
OMG. I see those rosemary Trader Joe’s crackers on that plate and I want to break through your screen and eat them. I AM HOOKED. And I can imagine they’re the perfect vehicle for this dip. Awesomesauce.
They’re HT Traders sweet and savory granola toasts or something similar with a long winded title and lots of dried cranberries and nuts. We should dip some balls in this…
This sounds WAY too good…I must make it!! Thanks for the recipe, Jenn!
You’re super welcome!
You crack me up! If “this met approval from the hubs, the ginger, and the pirate hooker, well now, it must be damn good especially if it inspires sunshine, rainbows, and ponies. I must go make the cranberry sauce, so I can make the cream cheese dip.
Make both. Then dance with the ponies.