Cranberry and Orange Cheesecake Cups

5 from 2 votes

Cranberry and Orange Cheesecake Cups

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!

Prep Time30

Chill Time5

Total Time5 30

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Servings: people

Calories: 609kcal

Author: Christy Faber

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