This cranberry orange dessert is a rich, luscious treat that’s loaded with holiday flavors. A butter graham cracker crust is topped with layers of sweet cream cheese filling, sweet and tangy orange cranberry filling, and a final layer of sweet and crunchy brown sugar pecan topping. It’s the perfect fall or holiday treat for your next meal or party.
I love making all kinds of cranberry recipes when they come into season. Of course, I make a ton of sauces and desserts for the holidays, but I’ll also make dessert with a cranberry theme for a weeknight dessert. Why wait for a specific day, after all? This delicious cranberry orange dessert is always at the top of my list because its rich, creamy, and full of fall flavor. It’s also super-easy to make, and that’s always a big plus in my book!
Why You’ll Love This Orange Cranberry Dessert
- Sweet and Tangy: The cranberries and orange juice make a sweet and tangy flavor combination.
- Rich and Creamy: The cream cheese filling is thick, rich, and creamy, thanks to the addition of Cool Whip.
- Perfect for the Holidays: Cranberries, oranges, and cream cheese are all classic holiday ingredients, and they work so well together!
- Easy to Make: This recipe takes very little effort, and even beginners can make it with no problems.
Ingredients
- Graham Crackers: Graham cracker crumbs, butter, and sugar create the sweet crust for this dessert.
- Pecans: Pecans, brown sugar, butter, and flour make the sweet, crunchy topping for the dessert.
- Cranberries: Cranberries are the base for the sweet and tart cranberry orange filling.
- Orange Juice and Zest: Orange juice and zest add natural sweetness and a citrus note to the filling.
- Sugar: Sugar and brown sugar add the sweetness needed to balance out the tartness of the cranberries.
- Cream Cheese: Cream cheese mixed with Cool Whip and powdered sugar creates a sweet, luscious layer for this dessert.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.
Flavor Variations
- Pecans: Change up the flavor of the topping by using your favorite chopped nuts. Walnuts, almonds, or almost any of your other favorites will work well.
- Crust: You can make your crust using graham cracker crumbs, Nilla wafer crumbs, or even crushed Oreos for a chocolaty base.
- Frozen Cranberries: Frozen cranberries work as well as fresh, so you can make this any time of year.
How to Make This Cranberry Orange Dessert
For the Cranberry Filling
1:Add all the cranberry filling ingredients to a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until the sauce thickens up. Set aside to cool completely.
2: While cooking the filling, preheat the oven to 375 degrees nd lightly spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick spray. Set aside.
For the Crust
1: Mix the crust ingredients until well combined. Then, press them firmly into the bottom of the baking dish in a smooth, even layer.
2: Bake for 10 minutes and remove to cool completely.
For the Cream Cheese Mixture
1: Beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy, then add the powdered sugar and mix again.
2: Fold in the Cool Whip.
For the Brown Sugar Pecan Topping
1: Combine all the topping ingredients in a small bowl.
2: Spread the mixture onto a prepared baking sheet and bake until golden and crunchy.
3: Let the mixture cool, then break it up into small pieces.
To Assemble the Cranberry Orange Dessert
1: Spread half the cream cheese mixture over the cooled crust, followed by the cranberry filling and the remaining cream cheese mixture.
2: Sprinkle the brown sugar pecan pieces evenly over the top of the dessert. Enjoy!
Hint
It’s important to fully cool the crust, cranberry mixture, and topping. If they aren’t fully cooled, the heat will make the cream cheese filling get thin.
Storage
Refrigerate this cranberry orange dessert for up to 4 days in an air-tight container. For longer storage, freeze it for up to a month in an air-tight, freezer-safe container.
Defrost the dessert overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
What to Serve with This Cranberry Orange Dessert
Serve this sweet, tangy dessert after a meal of classic favorites like homemade chicken nuggets, pork chops with mashed potatoes, or beef noodle casserole.
Their classic flavor also makes them the perfect addition to a holiday dessert table with desserts like pecan pie bars, chocolate walnut fudge, or chocolate cashew brittle.
Tips
- Stir the cranberry mixture constantly while it cooks to prevent sticking or scorching.
- Fully soften your cream cheese and beat it until it’s light and fluffy for the best filling texture.
- Be sure to fold the Cool Whip into the cream cheese mixture. Don’t mix it.
Frequently Asked Questions
The secret to light and fluffy cream cheese filling is fully softening the cream cheese and beating it until it’s light and fluffy. This incorporates air into the cream cheese for a lighter, fluffier final product. In addition, when adding ingredients like Cool Whip, fold them into the cream cheese mixture. Don’t stir them. Folding the final ingredients in helps preserve the whipped texture.
You can freeze cream cheese desserts, but don’t freeze them longer than a month. After about a month, they begin to get grainy.
Graham crackers should be crushed into fine crumbs to make a crust.
A food processor is a quick and easy way to crush graham crackers.
Try This Cranberry Orange Dessert Today
With all its delicious, sweet and tart flavor and easy prep and assembly, this delicious cranberry orange dessert is a can’t-miss that you have to try! It’s so delicious and so easy, and that’s a combo you can’t beat. Give this one a try, and I promise you’ll be making it all season long!
More Delicious Cranberry Desserts You’ll Enjoy
If you try this recipe and love it, please be sure to leave a 5 ★★★★★ rating below and leave a comment! You can also pin it you to favorite Pinterest boards and save it for later.
Also, follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Remember to “like” or “follow” us on all social media.
Cranberry Orange Dessert
Ingredients
Cranberry Orange Filling
- 12 ounce fresh cranberries
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- ¼ cup orange juice
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Graham Crackers Crust
- 1 ¾ cup graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup butter, melted
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
Cream Cheese Filling
- 8 ounce cream cheese
- 8 ounce container cool whip
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Brown Sugar Pecan Topping
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- ¾ cup chopped pecans
- ¼ cup melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375° and lightly spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
Cranberry Orange Filling
- In a medium saucepan add cranberries, sugar, brown sugar, orange zest, orange juice, and cornstarch. Stir to combine and bring to a boil over medium heat. Once the cranberries start to burst and thicken up remove from the heat and let cool completely.
Graham Cracker Crust
- In a medium bowl, add graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Stir to combine.
- Spread graham cracker mixture into prepared baking dish. Press into an even, smooth layer (save ½ cup of mixture for the topping).
- Bake for 10 minutes, remove, and let cool completely.
Cream Cheese Mixture
- In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese for 2-3 minutes or until light and fluffy.
- Add powdered sugar and beat until combined.
- Fold in the cool whip until combined.
Brown Sugar Pecan Topping
- In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, flour, pecans, and butter together.
- Spread mixture on prepared baking sheet and bake in the oven for 15 minutes.
- Remove, let cool, then break into small pieces.
Putting it all Together
- Once the crust has cooled completely, spread half of the cream cheese mixture over the graham cracker crust, followed by the cranberry filling, then add the remaining half of the cream cheese mixture on top of the cranberry filling. Top dessert with brown sugar pecan topping.
Notes
Storage
Refrigerate this cranberry orange dessert for up to 4 days in an airtight container. For longer storage, freeze it for up to a month in an airtight, freezer-safe container. Defrost the dessert overnight in the refrigerator before serving.Tips
- Stir the cranberry mixture constantly while it cooks to prevent sticking or scorching.
- Fully soften your cream cheese and beat it until it’s light and fluffy for the best filling texture.
- Be sure to fold the Cool Whip into the cream cheese mixture. Don’t mix it.
Nutrition
