This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Arla® Cream Cheese. All opinions are entirely my own.

With the changing of the season comes a whole new variety of delicious fruits and vegetables that are beginning to ripen, and one of my very favorite fall fruits to munch on and cook with is definitely cranberries. I always watch my local grocery store sales like a hawk around this time of year, because once they stock the shelves with those beautiful red berries, I swoop in and buy a heap of them to freeze and cook with all year long!

It seems like so many people tend to limit the use of cranberries during the holidays to only making traditional cranberry sauce to serve with the turkey during Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, but it’s such a versatile fruit that is beyond delicious (and nutritious) on so many levels, I believe it deserves a spotlight ALL the time, including during dessert!

One of my favorite cranberry dishes to make during the holidays are these simple No Bake Cranberry Cheesecake Trifles. They’re three layers of beautifully contrasting flavors, including a buttery graham cracker crust bottom, a creamy sweet cheesecake layer in the center, and a tart and tangy cranberry syrup drizzled on top. It’s a dessert that’s simply divine, and they’re served in mini jars to make serving a breeze!

When I’ve got cheesecake on the brain, I always spring for Arla Cream Cheese found in the dairy section at Publix. Using a cream cheese spread instead of a block in holiday baking may seem a little different, but that’s exactly what sets these cheesecake trifles apart from the rest!

Arla Cream Cheese is so delicious because it’s so simple, and it’s made with ingredients I recognize. I’ve always felt that there is beauty in simplicity, and Arla hits the nail on the head when it comes to creating a delicious and creamy spread using only the best ingredients. (Scroll to the bottom to try it yourself…for FREE!) 🙂

And speaking of simple, if you’ve never tried sugared cranberries before, what are you waiting for?! My toddler and I made a batch of these to go on top of our trifles, but we wound up eating about half of them before they could make it onto the cheesecake! We were popping them like candy and having ourselves a good ol’ time in the kitchen!

To make sugared cranberries, simple add 3/4 cup sugar to 1/2 cup water over medium heat and let the sugar dissolve completely. Pour in cranberries, give them a good stir and transfer them to a wire rack to dry. Once they’ve dried, roll them around in a little sugar and voila! 

Here’s a free printable version of the full recipe if you’d like to give it a try!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

No Bake Mini Cranberry Cheesecake Trifles

Author: Southern Made Simple

Ingredients

• For Crust:
• 12 graham crackers crushed
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 4 Tbs butter melted
• For Sugared Cranberries:
• 1 12 oz bag fresh cranberries
• 3/4 cup sugar + additional for dusting
• 1/2 cup water
• For Cream Cheese Filling:
• 2 packages Arla Original Cream Cheese 7oz. tub - softened
• 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tsp fresh orange zest
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• For Cranberry Sauce:
• 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
• 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• Whipped cream optional

Instructions

• For Crust:
• In a large mixing bowl, gently crush graham crackers and add pumpkin pie spice. Pour melted butter over crackers and gently beat using a hand mixer on low until the mixture is crumbly.
• Gently press mixture into the bottom of jars and refrigerate
• For Cream Cheese Mixture:
• Using a hand mixer, beat together all ingredients in a large bowl until well combined. Transfer mixture into a piping bag and pipe a thick layer over graham cracker crumbs. Refrigerate.
• For Sugared Cranberries:
• Combine water and sugar over high heat and stir until sugar is completely dissolved.
• Add in cranberries and immediately remove from heat, stirring constantly to thoroughly coat cranberries
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer cranberries to a wire rack to dry
• Once cranberries are dry, roll around in a small bowl of granulated sugar to coat
• Store in an airtight container
• For Cranberry Sauce:
• In a large sauce pan, combine sugars, water and orange juice over medium/high heat until sugars are completely dissolved.
• Add in cranberries and pumpkin pie spice and cook until cranberries start to pop.
• Remove from heat - sauce will thicken as it sits
• Allow to completely cool before pouring over cheesecake
• Top each cheesecake trifle with whipped cream and sugared cranberries
• Enjoy!

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Are you ready to step up your baking game with Arla Cream Cheese? If you’re nodding your head yes, then today is your lucky day! Right now you can score a free print-at-home coupon to try Arla Cream Cheese for FREE at Publix! (Applies only to cream cheese 7oz. tubs)

>>Click here to snag your coupon! <<

In addition to original cream cheese spread, which is what I used in this recipe, you can find Arla Cream Cheese in these other delicious flavors:

Arla Herbs & Spices Cream Cheese, 7oz. tub

Arla Strawberry Cream Cheese, 7oz. tub

Arla Mediterranean Garden Cream Cheese, 7oz. tub

Do you have a favorite holiday recipe in mind that you would use Arla Cream Cheese in? Are you a fan of cranberries like me? Next time you swing by your local Publix, grab the coupon, print off this recipe and pick up all of the ingredients to make these simple No Bake Cranberry Cheesecake Trifles. They’re a fun and delicious way to serve up a few smiles to your friends and family this season!