If you need a simple appetizer for a holiday party, look no further. In fact, I’ve got a lot of recipes to share with you today! I’ve teamed up with some of my favorite bloggers to bring you Holiday Sweets and Treats. Be sure to scroll down and visit all the links at the bottom of this post for more recipes.
If you find yourself in need of a holiday appetizer, but lack time to put one together, this is your recipe. This trio of cream cheese spreads couldn’t get easier.
Cranberries, Maple Brown Sugar Pecans and Orange Marmalade are a perfect holiday combo.
It really is as easy as stir and pour. And you probably have all the ingredients in your kitchen right now.
This is more of a method than recipe. Vary it any way you like.
In fact, I ended up using apricot jam instead of marmalade because that’s what I had on hand. I still think orange marmalade would be more Christmasy, but the apricot was very good.
For the pecans:
Use about 1/4-1/3 cup chopped pecans.
Add about 1 Tbs. brown sugar.
Add several Tbs. real maple syrup.
Stir together to make sticky, runny pecan topping.
The cranberry is just canned whole berry cranberry sauce. Stir until it isn’t clumpy jelled anymore.
Use apricot or orange marmalade jam, stirring until smooth.
Cut one block of cream cheese in thirds.
Spoon the toppings over each of the pieces.
Serve with crackers and apple slices.
Holiday Sweets
Best Party Recipes for Sharing from Mom’s Tool Box
Cherry Snowball Christmas Cookies from I’m an Organizing Junkie
Chocolate Chunk Toasted Pecan Oatmeal Cookies from Life Your Way
Chocolate Peanut Brittle from The Happy Housewife
Chocolate Peppermint Brownie Trifle from Mom Endeavors
Double Chocolate Candy Bar Pretzel Bark from Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures
Easy Black Currant Scones from Good Cheap Eats
Frozen Inspired Vanilla Raspberry Bites from Bargain Briana
Gumdrops from Hoosier Homemade
Microwave Caramel Corn from Ashley Pichea
Old Fashioned Christmas Cookies from Mommy Hates Cooking
Snickerdoodle Puppy Chow from Smockity Frocks
Sugar Cookies for Dummies from Happy Little Homemaker
The World’s Easiest Christmas Candy Ever from Money Saving Mom
Savory Treats
Bacon and Spinach Frittata Bites from Life as MOM
Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus from Jo-Lynne Shane
Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts from The Finer Things in Life
Black Bean and Avocado Salad from Kitchen Stewardship
Cheesy Pesto Crescent Bites from Andrea Dekker
Easy Cheesy Vidalia Onion Dip from Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
Homemade Sausage Balls from The Humbled Homemaker
Kale Spinach Bites from For the Love Of
Spiced Nuts from Modern Mrs. Darcy
Toasted Pecans from My Blessed Life
Trio of Cream Cheese Appetizers from Eat at Home Cooks
White Cheddar Cranberry Bites from Parenting Miracles
Love that you combined all three– and I’ll definitely be trying the pecans, maple and brown sugar over Brie, too. Thanks!!
You had me as soon as I saw the cream cheese! 🙂 Anything with cream cheese has to be delicious. And I love the three different version.
So excited to try your great cream cheese appetizer ideas. We had a habenero blackberry jelly over cream cheese at Thanksgiving. Trying jalapeno jelly over cream cheese this week. Will certainly be trying these!!!
These appetizers look so tempting! My question is whether there is a chance to store them somehow before my guests come. The thing is that I am going to make a party at Saturday but I should work till afternoon and I want to make the appetizers in the morning and I am not sure whether I should put them in the fridge. HELP!
You could get the blocks of cream cheese ready on the platter you want to use for serving and then refrigerate it. The pecans could be made ahead of time and then warmed in the microwave. The jellies just need a good stir. I’d wait to assemble until close to party time. Hope that helps!
Thank you so much for the detailed advices Tiffany! You saved the party! 🙂