Frozen Cranberry Treat

I love frozen goodies. And I like a little variety, too. Whenever I have a really strong food craving, invariably it is for something frozen and creamy. That's why I try to keep either lemon sorbet, mint chocolate chip ice cream, or this in the freezer. My sister-in-law first introduced me to this recipe at a Thanksgiving she hosted a few years back. I really enjoyed it and she gave me a copy of the recipe. I think it was originally considered a "salad," but when I read the ingredient list, I just had a problem calling it such a thing. Additionally, the idea of setting it out in slices on the table to pass around with a bunch of other stuff, melting, just seemed kind of funky to me. So, I made a few changes and it is now a full blown frozen treat!

What I really like about this treat is that it tastes good (always important!), is easy to make, is beautiful, and a is bit off the beaten track. When I'm in the mood for something a bit different, this is where I head.

The first thing is to be sure you have some room temperature cream cheese. Mix it together with a can of whole cranberry sauce and a can of crushed pineapple. For the smoothest result, you can beat the cream cheese with a mixer for a minute before adding the fruit.

Or, if you are impatient like me, you can try to mix it before the cream cheese is really soft and get a bunch of lumps in your mixture. I prefer it lump free, but sometimes, I just can't wait for the whole softening thing. Mix until everything is well incorporated.

In a separate bowl, whip some heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla together. Beat until you are somewhere between soft and stiff peaks. Fold into the fruit/cheese mixture.

Prepare a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan by draping plastic wrap inside. This will make it nice and easy to unmold once it is frozen.

Pour the mixture in the pan and smooth out. Place another piece of plastic wrap over the top and press down so that you have a nice seal. Place in the freezer until hard, preferably overnight.

Once frozen, remove from the pan and slice using a long knife. It should be fairly easy to cut despite being frozen. I like half-inch thick slices. I typically get around 12-13 slices.

For storage and easy serving, I get out the wax paper and line a large Tupperware container. Arrange the slices in the container, placing wax paper between each tier. Aren't they pretty?

Or, you could wrap them individually in wax paper for quick and easy treats on the go. Great for kids and guests alike! I use a bit of scotch tape to hold them closed.

Yum, yum, yum!


Frozen Cranberry Treat
Yield: approximately 12 servings

4 oz room temperature cream cheese
1 16-oz can whole cranberry sauce
1 8-oz can crushed pineapple, drained
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Mix the cream cheese, cranberry sauce, and pineapple together until well mixed. For the smoothest results, you can beat the cream cheese for a minute before adding the fruit. In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until it is somewhere between soft and stiff peaks. Fold into the fruit/cheese mixture.

Line a 9 x 5 loaf pan with plastic wrap and pour the mixture in. Smooth and cover with another piece of plastic wrap. Freeze until solid, preferably overnight. Unmold and cut into 1/2" slices. Serve immediately or prepare for storage by either wrapping each slice individually in wax paper or line a Tupperware container with wax paper and layer, placing wax paper between each tier.