Pecan Cranberry Spread

Marg (CaymanDesigns)'s Note:

I find any excuse possible to serve this. Great around the holidays but worthy of being made all year round. It is the dish I am most often asked to bring to a gathering requiring finger foods or appetizers. Really good on Townhouse Wheat Crackers. If I don't have any orange juice concentrate, I use just enough fresh squeezed juice to make it the right consistency and the zest from the orange for more flavor. *PLEASE NOTE!!* You REALLY need to make this ahead of time! The flavors must blend for it to taste good!

• Total Time: 5 mins
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 0 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 2 cups

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup orange juice concentrate

Directions:

1. Using an electric mixer, beat at medium speed and cream the cream cheese until soft and fluffy.
2. Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
3. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until flavors blend, at the very least 60 minutes.
4. Serve cold with crackers.

Reviews

[Mrs. Christmas]

I love this recipe! I did add a few things to spice it up a little bit. (1 Tbsp sugar, 1/8 tsp cinnamon, and 2 tsp orange zest). It turned out fantastic - and beautiful. In the future, I will be making this for the holidays as often as I can! It was a huge hit at my mother-in-law's Thanksgiving dinner.

[Krista Roes]

Wonderful dip! My dried cranberries were quite large so I mixed the nuts, cranberries and cream cheese in the food processor. I added sliced green onions and used hazelnuts (just what I had on hand). Rave reviews! Thank you Marg.

[Ginny Sue]

I made this ahead of time and let it refrigerate overnight. This was just okay; I guess I prefer appetizers that are savory instead of sweet. I used the leftovers as a spread on bagels for breakfast, which I preferred more.