Cranberry Cream Cheese Pastries (Gluten Free Recipe, Too!)
I love when I am grocery shopping in October and I see that first batch of fresh cranberries! I usually stock up then and there because cranberries freeze well and you can only get them for a few months out of the year. They are simply delicious, tart and perfect when you combine them with a little sweetness, like in these Cranberry Cream Cheese Pastries
If you look at the picture, you might think it does not look that impressive. I should tell you that I used Sweet Loren's gluten free puff pastry dough, and also that it IS flaky and soft and delicious, and scroll down to the last picture and you will see. But you can use any pastry dough that you want to use.
The recommendation was to use an egg wash or milk brushed on the pastry before adding the ingredients to help the dough to brown more, and it did help. I've made these before and they weren't as crisp as I would have liked.
Can you use any fruit?
Yes, you can use any fruit with this recipe. I've made it with blueberry pie filling, but you could also use cherries, strawberries, either by using pie filling, jam, or making your own fruit topping like I do in this recipe.
You can substitute Neufchâtel cheese for the cream cheese if you would like fewer calories and less fat. You can also use dairy free cream cheese if that is what you need. Check the pastry dough you are using to see if it is dairy free if that is a concern.
These delicious pastries would be a sweet treat for a holiday breakfast or a dessert for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Or, if you are like me, you will be making these in July with the frozen cranberries in your freezer because you planned ahead!
Enjoy these cranberry cream cheese pastries!
Cranberry Cream Cheese Pastry
These cranberry cream cheese pastries are the perfect dessert for the holidays! The tart cranberries with the sweet cream cheese and flaky pastry make it amazing!
Ingredients
- one sheet of pastry dough (I used Sweet Loren's gluten free puff pastry)
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 6 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 4 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 egg, beaten, or milk, optional (makes the dough brown easier)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. (read your pastry package to check for a different temperature)
- Make cranberry mixture by combining cranberries and sugar in a sauce pan over medium heat.
- Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring and smashing the cranberries.
- While cranberries are cooking, make the cream cheese mixture by beating cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in a small bowl until smooth and creamy.
- Remove cranberries from heat and stir in vanilla.
- Cut pastry sheet into equal parts. Squares, rectangles, or special shapes, it doesn't matter, but try to make them fairly uniform so they will cook evenly.
- Place each piece of pastry on a sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Using the beaten egg or milk (can use dairy free,) brush over pastry.
- Spoon equal amounts of cream cheese mixture on each pastry cutout, and then top with a dollop of cranberry mixture.
- Cook pastries for 12-15 minutes, checking often to make sure they are not browning too much.
- When done, remove from oven and let cool for at least 5 minutes before eating.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
1. Don't have fresh cranberries? Substitute cranberry sauce for the cranberry mixture.
2. Can sub neufchatel for the cream cheese.
3. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
4. Can prepare in the air fryer, but do not cook as long as you would in the oven.
