Cranberry Cheddar Bites
Serves 20
30 mins prep
25 mins cook
600 mins Chill
655 mins total
This cranberry cheddar appetizer layers aged cheddar around a homemade cranberry chipotle jelly, then finishes with honey and roasted pistachios for irresistible sweet-heat bites. You can make these ahead and serve them chilled, which makes them perfect for dinner parties and holiday spreads.
Cranberry Chipotle Jelly
Cranberry Cheddar Bite
Cook the Cranberries: Add the cranberries and water to a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the cranberries have burst and softened.
oz fresh cranberries
cup water
Blend Until Smooth: Carefully transfer the hot cranberries and liquid to a food processor or blender and blend until completely smooth. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan.
Add the Flavor: Stir in the fruit preserves, chipotle in adobo (just the sauce), sugar, orange peel, orange juice, pectin (if using), and a pinch of salt. Mix well to combine.
cup fruit preserves
tbsp chipotle adobo
cup sugar
orange
tsp pectin
pinch salt
Boil and Thicken: Bring the mixture to a rolling boil and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often so it doesn’t burn. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and cook for 15–20 minutes, stirring frequently, until thickened. The cranberry mixture is ready when it reaches 215–220°F and is thick like jam, coating the back of a spoon completely.
Set the Cranberry Jelly: Line a quarter sheet pan with parchment paper. Pour the hot cranberry mixture onto the pan and spread into an even layer. Let cool at room temperature for about 2 hours, then cover and refrigerate until very firm and sliceable, about 8 hours or overnight.
Slice the Jelly and Cheese: Cut your aged cheddar into bite-sized squares, about 1–1½ inches wide and ¼-inch thick. Place the chilled cranberry chipotle jelly on a cutting board and lay the cheddar squares in a tight, even layer over the top. Using the cheese as your guide, cut straight down through the jelly so you end up with matching cheddar-and-jelly squares.
oz aged cheddar
Assemble the Cranberry Cheddar Appetizer Bites: Layer each bite cheddar–jelly–cheddar–jelly, stacking a cheddar-and-jelly square on top of another slice of cheddar and finishing with a jelly square on top. Drizzle with honey, sprinkle with chopped roasted pistachios, and serve chilled or just slightly cool.
honey
roasted pistachios
