Enjoy the festive flavors of citrus and cranberry with these Orange Cheesecake Cranberry Curd Cups. These no-bake, naturally sweetened desserts are perfect for holiday gatherings. Lightened up with Greek yogurt and served in individual cups, they’re easy to prepare and even easier to enjoy!
Orange Cheesecake Cranberry Curd Cups are the perfect holiday dessert and here are some more delicious suggestions:
More Christmas Dessert Recipes
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Naturally sweetened
- No bake
- These cups can be prepared ahead of time and chilled until serving
- Ideal for the holidays!
- Seasonal flavours of citrus and cranberry add a festive touch to this dessert
- Individual dessert cups makes it easy to serve and enjoy without the need for slicing or plating.
- Lightened up with Greek yogurt
Ingredients
- Cream Cheese - make sure it's room temperature so it will whip up smoothly
- Greek Yogurt- or sub for blended cottage cheese
- Oranges - I recommend using organic oranges when you're using the zest for a recipe
- Honey- or sub for maple syrup
- Cranberries - use fresh or frozen cranberries
- Butter - salted or unsalted butter will both work
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How To Make Cranberry Orange Cheesecake Cups
Here are the step-by-step instructions to make this recipe.
Step 1: Cook down the cranberry mixture.
Combine cranberries, orange zest, orange juice, and honey in a medium-sized saucepan. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally for about 8 minutes until the cranberries burst. Use the back of a spoon to crush them. Let the mixture cool for 15 minutes.
Step 2 & 3: Blend the cranberry mixture and whisk together eggs.
Add the warm (but not hot) cranberry mixture to a blender and blend thoroughly until smooth. Meanwhile wash the saucepan because you will use it again shortly.
In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and egg yolk.
Step 4 & 5: Temper the eggs and cook cranberry curd mixture until it thickens.
Gradually add the warm blended cranberry mixture to the eggs, whisking continuously until fully combined.
Pour the mixture back into the saucepan. Cook on medium-low heat, whisking continuously until the mixture thickens. This takes around 3-5 minutes.
Step 6 & 7 finish the curd and set aside and beat the orange cream cheese mixture.
Remove from heat and immediately whisk in butter and vanilla extract. Allow the curd to cool and transfer to a sealed container while you proceed to the next step.
Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Add honey and beat again until well combined. Add orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla extract, then beat thoroughly. Finally, add the Greek yogurt and beat for 10-15 seconds until just combined.
Step 8: Begin assembling the cups.
Add about a tablespoon of cranberry curd to the bottom of your dessert cup and using a spoon swirl it around the bottom and up the side of the glass to create a decorative swipe.
Fill the cup with the orange cheesecake mixture.
Step 9: Add swirl on top and chill the dessert cups in the fridge.
Add 3-4 small dollops of cranberry curd on top and swirl with the point of a chopstick or similar tool until you create a beautiful swirl pattern.
Cover each dessert cup with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4-6 hours and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature before blending with the other ingredients to achieve a smooth and creamy texture for the cheesecake layer.
- After cooking the cranberry curd you can pass it through a fine mesh sieve to remove any lumps or solids if desired.
- Taste the cranberry curd and cheesecake mixture before assembling. Adjust the sweetness if necessary by adding more honey to suit your preference.
- Use clear dessert cups to showcase the beautiful layers of orange cheesecake and cranberry curd.
- Refrigerate the assembled Orange Cheesecake Cranberry Curd Cups for at least 4 hours before enjoying.
- Garnish the cups with a twist of orange zest, a few whole cranberries, or a mint leaf to add a decorative touch.
Recipe FAQs
Both options work well!
You could sub the Greek yogurt for blended cottage cheese or sour cream if you prefer.
Yes, Orange Cheesecake Cranberry Curd Cups can be assembled and refrigerated a day before. Prepare them as directed, cover them tightly with plastic wrap, and chill until ready to serve.
Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
More No Bake Desserts You'll Love
If you tried these Cranberry Orange Cheesecake Cups or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
Recipe
Cranberry and Orange Cheesecake Cups
Ingredients
Cranberry Curd
- 1 cup cranberries fresh or frozen
- zest from one small orange
- ⅓ cup fresh orange juice
- ⅓ cup raw honey
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
Orange Cheesecake
- 16 oz cream cheese softened
- ¾ cup honey sub for white sugar if you prefer
- 3 tbsp fresh orange juice
- zest from one small orange
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt full fat (room temperature)
Instructions
Cranberry Curd
- Combine cranberries, orange zest, orange juice, and honey in a medium-sized saucepan. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally for about 8 minutes until the cranberries burst. Use the back of a spoon to crush them. Let the mixture cool for 15 minutes.1 cup cranberries, zest from one small orange, ⅓ cup fresh orange juice, ⅓ cup raw honey
- Add the warm but not hot cranberry mixture to a blender and blend thoroughly until smooth. Meanwhile wash the saucepan because you will use it again shortly.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and egg yolk.1 large egg, 1 large egg yolk
- Gradually add the warm blended cranberry mixture to the eggs, whisking continuously until fully combined.
- Pour the mixture back into the saucepan. Cook on medium-low heat, whisking continuously until the mixture thickens. This takes around 3-5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and immediately whisk in butter and vanilla extract.3 tablespoon unsalted butter, ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Allow the curd to cool and transfer to a sealed container while you proceed to the next step.
Orange Cheesecake
- Take the cream cheese and Greek yogurt out of the fridge well ahead of time to bring them to room temperature.
- Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy.16 oz cream cheese
- Add honey and beat again until well combined.Add orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla extract, then beat thoroughly.¾ cup honey, 3 tablespoon fresh orange juice, zest from one small orange, 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Finally, add the Greek yogurt and beat for 10-15 seconds until just combined.1 cup plain Greek yogurt
Assemble the Dessert Cups
- My dessert cups shown in the photos hold 10 oz of water when filled to the brim and I used 5 of them for this recipe. With approximately 230g of dessert in each cup. You can use any dessert cup you'd like for this recipe and divide the mixture amongst them accordingly.
- Add about a tablespoon of cranberry curd to the bottom of your dessert cup and using a spoon swirl it around the bottom and up the side of the glass to create a decorative swipe.
- Fill the cup with the orange cheesecake mixture.
- Add 3-4 small dollops of cranberry curd on top and swirl with the point of a chopstick or similar tool until you create a beautiful swirl pattern.
- Cover each dessert cup with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4-6 hours and enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature before blending with the other ingredients to achieve a smooth and creamy texture for the cheesecake layer.
- After cooking the cranberry curd you can pass it through a fine mesh sieve to remove any lumps or solids if desired.
- Taste the cranberry curd and cheesecake mixture before assembling. Adjust the sweetness if necessary by adding more honey to suit your preference.
- Use clear dessert cups to showcase the beautiful layers of orange cheesecake and cranberry curd.
- Refrigerate the assembled Orange Cheesecake Cranberry Curd Cups for at least 4 hours before enjoying.
- Garnish the cups with a twist of orange zest, a few whole cranberries, or a mint leaf to add a decorative touch.
Nutrition
If you make this recipe please leave a comment and give this recipe a rating! I aim to respond to every single comment. I am so grateful when you trust me and try one of my recipe creations in your own kitchen. I love to hear how it went! Let’s connect on Instagram and tag me in your food pics!
‘Til next time,
Christy
Meg says
I have never made a curd before! This is a delicious dessert! Thank you!
Julie says
These Cranberry Orange Cheesecake cups are so delicious! They are officially one of my favourite desserts. They look so beautiful and taste so good. I really like how convenient it is to serve these as individual dessert cups. Thanks for this recipe!