Description
Maple cranberry spread brings festive cheer to holiday gatherings with its elegant flavor profile. Creamy cheese blends seamlessly with tart cranberries and sweet maple syrup, creating a delightful appetizer you’ll adore.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) pure maple syrup or brown sugar
- 24 oz (680 g) fresh cranberries
Instructions
- Preparation: Rinse cranberries under cool water, discarding any damaged fruit, and place them in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan.
- Syrup Infusion: Add maple syrup to cranberries, stirring to coat evenly and create a glossy mixture that promises rich, complex flavors.
- Cooking Process: Elevate heat to high, bringing the mixture to a rolling boil, then immediately reduce to a gentle simmer that allows cranberries to break down and release natural pectin.
- Texture Development: Cook for 8-10 minutes, observing as cranberries burst and the mixture transforms into a vibrant, thickening compote with a deep crimson hue.
- Blending Stage: Transfer slightly cooled mixture to a high-powered blender, pulsing until achieving a velvety smooth consistency without any fruit chunks.
- Consistency Refinement: If the spread appears too liquid, return to the saucepan and simmer briefly, stirring constantly to achieve the perfect spreading texture that will solidify when chilled.
- Storage and Cooling: Carefully pour the finished spread into clean glass jars, allowing to cool completely at room temperature before sealing and refrigerating to maintain its fresh, tangy character.
Notes
- Wash Thoroughly: Rinse cranberries meticulously to remove any stems, leaves, or hidden debris that could affect the spread’s texture and taste.
- Control Boiling Temperature: Manage heat carefully to prevent burning or overcooking, which can make the spread bitter or lose its vibrant color.
- Check Consistency: Watch the mixture closely as cranberries burst, ensuring the spread reaches a perfect spreadable texture without becoming too runny or too thick.
- Storage Tip: Cool completely before refrigerating to prevent condensation and maintain the spread’s optimal flavor and smooth consistency.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 96
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 0.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg