Simple Cranberry Appetizers for Easy Entertaining
The perfect appetizer achieves a delicate balance of flavors and textures, and the cranberry is a master at delivering just that. Its bright, tart profile perfectly cuts through the richness of creamy cheeses like brie or goat cheese, creating an irresistible blend that keeps guests coming back for more. This blog dives into the magic of this flavor combination. I’ll show you how to leverage the sweet-tart versatility of cranberries in 3 easy to follow appetizer recipes, ensuring every bite is a delightful surprise for you and your guest’s taste buds. Enjoy!
Burrata with Cranberry & Pomegranate Chutney
Ingredients - Serves 6
- 1 container of Burrata cheese (about 3 balls), room temperature
- 1 ½ cup Whole cranberry sauce
- 1 whole small pomegranate, seeded
- Fresh lime zest
- Freshly-ground black pepper
- Roughly-chopped pistachios
- Balsamic reduction
- 1 loaf of Sourdough sliced, halved, lightly lathered with olive oil and toasted or grilled
Instructions
Place your balls of Burrata on a serving platter or cheese board. Mix most of the pomegranate seeds with the cranberry sauce, and set aside some seeds to garnish. Spoon the cranberry sauce around the cheese. Grate a little bit of fresh lime zest, do a few cracks of pepper and sprinkle some pomegranate seeds over the cheese and cranberries. Sprinkle the pistachios over everything and then lightly drizzle the entire display with balsamic reduction.
Brie, Cranberry & Rosemary Flatbread w/ Fig Balsamic Reduction
Ingredients - Makes about 20-24 pieces
- 1 pack stonefire flatbread (2 pcs) or any preferred flatbread
- 8-12 oz Brie cheese, rind removed, chopped into chunks
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, rough chopped
- 1 bottle fig balsamic reduction
- Honey, optional for extra sweetness
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly grease a large sheet pan with cooking spray or oil and place flatbreads on sheet pan.
- Sprinkle flatbread with brie, cranberries and rosemary, making sure the ingredients are evenly spread out around the flatbreads.
- Bake for 15-25 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and flatbreads are lightly toasted on the bottom.
- Drizzle generously with balsamic and honey and cut into small pieces. You should be able to get 10-12 pieces from each flatbread. Serve immediately.
Note #1: You can make a gluten free version of the recipe by replacing the flatbread with a gluten free flatbread or sliced gluten free french bread.
Note #2: If you do not like cranberries, you can substitute caramelized onions, sliced pear or sliced apple.
Sweet Chili & Cranberry Turkey Cocktail Meatballs
Ingredients - Makes 20-25 meatballs
- 1.5 lbs raw ground turkey
- ½ tsp of each: salt, pepper, italian seasoning & garlic powder
- ½ a medium onion, minced
- 1 tsp. Worcestershire or coconut aminos
- 1 egg
- ½ cup breadcrumbs or gluten free breadcrumbs
- 8 oz. sweet chili sauce
- 1 14 oz. can cranberry sauce
- 1 sprig of green onion thinly sliced
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly grease a half sheet pan with cooking oil.
- In a large bowl, mix together the ground turkey, seasonings, onion, worcestershire, egg and breadcrumbs until just combined. Do not overmix. This can lead to a more dense and tougher meatball.
- With a 1 oz scoop, form balls with the turkey mixture and place on the sheet pan side by side with a small amount of room in between each meatball.
- Bake meatballs for 15-20 minutes until lightly browned on top and firm to the touch.
- Transfer meatballs to a crockpot or instant pot and add the sweet chili and cranberry sauce. Give the mixture a light stir making sure not to break up the meatballs. Slow cook for 30 minutes to an hour and then switch to the “keep warm” setting and serve when ready. When serving, top with green onion.
Note #1: You can make the raw meatballs ahead of time and freeze until you are ready to use them. If cooking frozen meatballs, add 15-20 more minutes to your cook time when baking.
Note #2: You can use any meat you would like for this recipe: ground beef, bison, chicken, elk, yak, deer. It tastes delicious with any ground meat!
Conclusion
In conclusion, these easy cranberry appetizers are more than just a quick fix; they're a holiday secret weapon. The vibrant color and perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors instantly elevate any gathering, making it look like you spent hours in the kitchen when you barely spent minutes. Whether you chose the super easy cranberry burrata, the tangy cranberry meatballs, or the scrumptious cranberry flatbread, these foolproof recipes are guaranteed crowd-pleasers. So go ahead, set out a beautiful platter, and enjoy the 'oohs' and 'aahs'—and the extra time you get back! Happy entertaining!
