Tag Archives: cranberries cream cheese

Desserts, Recipes

Tastes of the Season: Cranberry Cream Parfait

Last month, I was all about the pumpkin, but this month my passion is cranberries. They really are a wonderful fruit that keeps for weeks in the refrigerator and even longer when frozen. I buy at least a dozen bags when they’re available in late Fall. They can be made into so many things.

This is a variation of the pumpkin parfait I posted last month and it is sooooo good. It makes a light, creamy-tasting dessert to follow up a heavy meal like prime rib and turkey. And it is so easy to make. You can put it into dessert dishes or just leave it in the bowl and spoon it out into a little bowl or plate to serve.

Cranberry Parfait served with a half-slice of pumpkin bread.

Cranberry Orange Cream Parfait

Cranberry Topping
1 cup whole Cranberries
2/3 cups Sugar Substitute
1/2 cup Water

For the Cream cheese filling
8 oz . Cream Cheese, softened
2 tablespoons Ricotta Cheese
3/4 cup Sugar Substitute
1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
1/4 cup Cranberries, chopped
1/2 package Orange Drink Mix
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Prepare the Cranberry topping first. Put a small pan on the stove with the water and bring to a boil. Stir in sugar substitute and reduce heat to a low boil. Add the cranberries and stir. Wait for the berries to pop, then stir well and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook another 10 to 15 minutes until the sauce begins to thicken. Remove from the heat and let cool. Cover and chill.

In a large bowl, add the cream cheese and ricotta cheese and mix with a hand mixer until they are smoothly blended. Add 1/2 cup sugar substitute, the orange drink mix, and the chopped cranberries and mix together.

In a small bowl or blender, add the cup of heavy cream and beat until it begins to thicken. Add 1/4 cup sugar substitute and the vanilla and continue beating until the cream is thick enough to spoon out with it holding its shape.

Reserve 1/4 cup whipped cream and stir the rest into the cream cheese mixture. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

To serve, spoon 1 teaspoon of the cranberry sauce into the bottom of a 1/2 cup dessert glass, add 1/6th of the mixture (about 3 tablespoons), then add another teaspoon of the cranberry sauce on top. Add a dollop of whipped cream and serve.

Makes 6 servings.

Nutrition information per serving:
Calories: 285 Fat: 28.4 g Net Carbs: 4.3 g Protein: 4.3 g