Festive Christmas Cranberry Roll Ups Recipe

Jolly Holiday Cranberry Roll Ups Recipe: Festive Christmas Bites

Gathering loved ones during the holidays calls for a delightful cranberry roll ups recipe that sparks joy and excitement at the table.

These easy-to-make appetizers blend sweet and tangy flavors in a bite-sized treat.

Cranberry roll ups bring a festive touch to any celebration with their vibrant color and irresistible taste.

Guests will adore the simple yet elegant combination of creamy cheese and zesty cranberry spread.

Each roll delivers a perfect balance of textures that dance on your palate.

The recipe requires minimal ingredients and comes together in just minutes.

Prepare to delight your guests with these crowd-pleasing holiday appetizers that are sure to become a seasonal favorite.

Make Savory Christmas Cranberry Roll Ups Step-by-Step

  • Whip Up the Delicious Filling

Grab your mixing bowl and create a creamy blend of tangy cream cheese, crumbled feta, and festive chopped cranberries. Toss in some green onions and optional nuts for extra crunch. Sprinkle in garlic powder, salt, and pepper to make the mixture sing with flavor.

  • Roll and Wrap the Tortilla

Spread the vibrant filling across a spinach tortilla, leaving a small border around the edges. Carefully roll the tortilla into a tight log, creating a beautiful spiral of holiday goodness. Repeat this process with remaining tortillas until all are transformed.

  • Chill and Set the Flavor

Wrap each rolled creation in plastic wrap and let them rest in the refrigerator. Give them at least an hour to firm up and let the flavors mingle and dance together.

  • Slice and Plate with Flair

Unwrap the chilled rolls and use a sharp knife to create perfect pinwheel slices. Arrange these colorful bites on a festive platter, ready to impress your holiday guests with their gorgeous presentation and mouthwatering taste.

Tips to Add Sweet and Savory Layers to Roll Ups

  • Freeze the wrapped rolls for 15-20 minutes for super clean, precise slices that look professionally prepared.
  • These roll-ups can be completely assembled and stored in the refrigerator up to 2 days before your event, saving precious holiday prep time.
  • Replace regular tortillas with gluten-free versions for celiac guests, and use dairy-free cream cheese for a vegan-friendly alternative that doesn't compromise taste.
  • Experiment with different chopped nuts like pecans or almonds to add extra crunch and healthy protein, giving the appetizer more depth and texture.
  • For guests who love heat, sprinkle red pepper flakes into the filling or add a dash of sriracha for a zesty kick that elevates the traditional flavor profile.

Serve Cranberry Roll Ups on Festive Platters

  • Party Platter Perfection: Create an elegant holiday appetizer display by arranging pinwheels in a circular pattern with fresh rosemary sprigs between each roll.
  • Festive Garnish Flair: Sprinkle extra chopped cranberries and finely chopped nuts around the platter's edge for a colorful and textural accent that enhances presentation.
  • Dipping Delight: Serve alongside a tangy honey mustard sauce or cranberry reduction to complement the savory-sweet flavor profile of the roll-ups, giving guests an extra taste dimension.
  • Beverage Pairing: Match these appetizers with crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or sparkling prosecco to elevate the overall tasting experience and bring out the roll-ups' nuanced flavors.

Store Roll Ups to Keep Them Fresh and Flavorful

  • Refrigerate roll-ups for at least 1 hour to help filling set perfectly and ensure clean, precise slices when serving guests.
  • Create these appetizers up to 24 hours before your event, storing tightly wrapped in the refrigerator to maintain freshness and flavor intensity.
  • Cut roll-ups into uniform 1-inch pieces for consistent bite-sized appetizers that look professional and are easy for guests to enjoy.
  • Store completed pinwheels in an airtight container lined with paper towels to absorb moisture, keeping them crisp for 2-3 days in the refrigerator.

FAQs

  • Can I make these roll-ups ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare these cranberry roll-ups a day or two in advance. Keep them tightly wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator until ready to slice and serve.

  • Are there any substitutions for feta cheese?

Absolutely! You can swap feta with goat cheese, cream cheese, or even a mild blue cheese if you prefer a different flavor profile.

  • What can I do if the tortillas are too stiff to roll?

Warm the tortillas slightly in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or wrap them in a damp paper towel. This will make them more pliable and easier to roll without cracking.

  • Do I need to include the nuts in the recipe?

No, nuts are optional. If you have nut allergies or simply don’t enjoy them, you can easily omit them from the filling without affecting the overall taste of the roll-ups.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Calories: 215 kcal

Servings: 8

Savory Christmas Cranberry Roll Up Ingredient Guide

For Base Ingredients:
  • Spinach Tortillas: Vibrant green wrap that adds color and nutrition, choose fresh and pliable tortillas.
  • Cream Cheese: Creamy base that binds ingredients, select full-fat version for richer texture.
  • Feta Cheese: Tangy cheese that provides sharp flavor, opt for crumbled or block to crumble yourself.
For Flavor Enhancers:
  • Cranberries: Festive fruit that brings bright tartness, use fresh or dried based on availability.
  • Green Onions: Sharp, fresh herb that adds zesty punch, select bright green and crisp stalks.
  • Garlic Powder: Subtle seasoning that deepens savory profile, choose high-quality, fragrant powder.
For Optional Crunch and Seasoning:
  • Nuts: Textural element that introduces delightful crunch, can use pecans, walnuts, or almonds.
  • Salt: Essential flavor booster that balances overall taste, use kosher or sea salt for best results.
  • Black Pepper: Warming spice that provides gentle heat, freshly ground offers most intense flavor.

Tools That Help Roll and Slice Cranberry Appetizers

  • Medium bowl: Perfect for mixing cream cheese and filling ingredients.
  • Sharp knife: Essential for slicing rolled tortillas into clean pinwheel appetizers.
  • Cutting board: Provides stable surface for rolling and slicing tortillas.
  • Plastic wrap: Helps wrap and chill rolls securely.
  • Serving platter: Displays finished pinwheel appetizers beautifully.
  • Measuring spoons: Useful for adding precise amounts of garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Print
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Festive Christmas Cranberry Roll Ups Recipe

Festive Christmas Cranberry Roll Ups Recipe


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4.8 from 27 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Yield: 9 1x

Description

Festive Christmas Cranberry Roll Ups blend tangy cranberries with creamy cheese in a delightful holiday appetizer. Guests will adore these simple, elegant bites that promise to elevate seasonal gatherings with minimal preparation.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 large spinach tortillas
  • 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese, softened
  • 4 oz (113 g) feta cheese, crumbled
  • 1 cup (150 g) dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
  • ¼ cup (40 g) green onions, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ¼ cup (30 g) pecans or walnuts, finely chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare Filling: Whip cream cheese until fluffy, blending feta, cranberries, green onions, nuts, garlic powder, salt, and pepper into a harmonious mixture that promises rich flavor complexity.
  2. Assemble Rolls: Lay spinach tortillas flat, spread cranberry-cheese mixture evenly across surface, leaving minimal border for clean rolling, then carefully transform each tortilla into a compact cylindrical form.
  3. Chill and Set: Wrap each roll securely in plastic film, refrigerate for one hour to stabilize structure and intensify flavor profile, allowing ingredients to meld and filling to firm.
  4. Slice and Present: Remove plastic, use a sharp knife to cut rolls into precise one-inch pinwheel segments, arranging the delicate appetizers on an elegant serving platter to showcase their festive appearance and intricate layers.

Notes

  • Cream Cheese Consistency: Whip cream cheese thoroughly until light and fluffy to ensure smooth, spreadable texture that blends seamlessly with other ingredients.
  • Moisture Management: Pat cranberries dry before chopping to prevent excess liquid from making tortillas soggy and compromising roll-up structure.
  • Precise Rolling Technique: Apply gentle, even pressure when rolling to create compact cylinders without tearing tortillas or squeezing out filling.
  • Chilling Optimization: Refrigerate roll-ups for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld and ensure clean, precise slicing of pinwheels.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Category: Appetizer, Snacks
  • Method: Blending
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 9
  • Calories: 290
  • Sugar: 15 g
  • Sodium: 230 mg
  • Fat: 18 g
  • Saturated Fat: 9 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 29 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 6 g
  • Cholesterol: 30 mg
Emily Lawson

Emily Lawson

Content Creator & Culinary Specialist

Expertise

  • Creative Content Writing and Blogging​
  • Plant-Based and Alternative Grilling Recipes​
  • Food Styling and Visual Storytelling​
  • Nutritional Analysis and Healthy Cooking

Education

Oregon Culinary Institute
Diploma in Culinary Arts
Focus: Emphasis on farm-to-table cooking, sustainable practices, and the fusion of global flavors with traditional grilling methods. ​


Emily Lawson is the content creator at Daves Grill, turning tasty ideas into clear, easy recipes. Based in Portland, she trained at the Oregon Culinary Institute and loves cooking with fresh, seasonal ingredients, especially grilled veggies and global flavors.

Emily mixes food writing with hands-on cooking to bring you recipes that feel fun, not stressful. Her goal is to make every dish simple, flavorful, and worth coming back to. Together, she and Dave serve up real food, one recipe at a time.

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