This recipe started years ago as a blueberry dessert. Over the years, my Aunt Tammy and my Mimi have transformed it into a delicious cranberry cream cheese dessert recipe.

We love cranberries for Thanksgiving; we don't care for the traditional can of jellied cranberry. You can view all of our cranberry recipes here if you are looking for more ideas for your Thanksgiving table. Remember, just because it's a tradition doesn't mean you can't mix it up. Sometimes it's nice to start your own family traditions, and our citrus cranberry sauce is one of our favorite "new traditions!

Cranberry Cream Cheese Dessert Recipe:

We serve it on the plate with our Thanksgiving turkey, but it definitely could be used as a dessert too. I love the texture of the cranberries, pineapple, and pecans in the jello. This would also be great around Christmas. The red is so festive!

Cranberry Cream Cheese Dessert Ingredients:

First Layer:
2- 3 oz. packages cranberry jello
2 cups boiling water
1 can whole cranberry sauce
1- 8 1/2 oz. can crushed pineapple (20 oz. can on sale)
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Topping:
1- 8 oz. package cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chopped pecans

How To Make Cranberry Cream Cheese Dessert:

1. Dissolve Jello in boiling water, add cranberry sauce, pecans, and pineapple, including the juice.

2. Pour into a 2 quart, flat serving dish. Cover and chill until firm.

3. Combine cream cheese, sugar, sour cream, and vanilla. Beat with a mixer until smooth (about 2 minutes).

4. Spread over the congealed layer, then sprinkle with chopped pecans.