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Kid-Approved No-Bake Cranberry Orange Cheesecake Bites: Easy Recipe

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These no-bake cranberry orange cheesecake bites are creamy, tart, sweet, and totally satisfying. Ready in under 20 minutes of hands-on time, they’re perfect for holidays, lunchboxes, or a quick dessert.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup graham cracker crumbs (about 8 full sheets, crushed finely)
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest (from about 1 large orange)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1/2 cup white chocolate chips, melted (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon coconut oil (optional)
  • Extra graham cracker crumbs for rolling (optional)

Instructions

  1. Soften the cream cheese: Take cream cheese out of fridge at least 30 minutes before starting. If in a hurry, cut into cubes and let sit for 15 minutes.
  2. Make graham cracker crumbs: Place 8 full graham cracker sheets in a ziplock bag and crush with a rolling pin until fine crumbs. Or pulse in a food processor for 15 seconds. Set aside 2 tablespoons for coating if not using chocolate.
  3. Zest and juice the orange: Wash orange thoroughly. Using a microplane, grate outer orange layer (just colored part) to get 1 tablespoon zest. Cut orange in half and squeeze 2 tablespoons juice.
  4. Mix the filling: In a large bowl, beat softened cream cheese with a hand mixer until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add powdered sugar, orange zest, orange juice, vanilla extract, and pinch of salt. Beat until well combined, scraping down sides halfway through.
  5. Add dry ingredients: Fold in graham cracker crumbs and chopped dried cranberries using a spatula until evenly distributed. Mixture should be thick and slightly sticky.
  6. Chill the mixture: Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  7. Roll the bites: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a small cookie scoop or tablespoon, scoop portions of chilled mixture and roll between palms into smooth balls. Place on prepared baking sheet. You should get about 20 to 24 bites.
  8. Add coating (optional): For chocolate coating, melt white chocolate chips with coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second bursts, stirring between each, until smooth. Dip each ball into chocolate using a fork, letting excess drip off, then place back on parchment. For graham cracker coating, roll each ball in reserved crumbs.
  9. Final chill: Refrigerate bites for at least 1 hour, or until firm. For best results, chill overnight.

Notes

Make sure cream cheese is truly softened to avoid lumps. Chop dried cranberries finely to prevent bites from falling apart. Use a light touch when rolling to avoid sticky mixture. These bites taste better after 24 hours in the fridge. Keep cold until serving; they soften quickly at room temperature.

Nutrition

Keywords: no-bake cheesecake bites, cranberry orange, easy dessert, kid-friendly, holiday dessert, no-bake dessert

Find it online: https://lucastable.com/kid-approved-no-bake-cranberry-orange-cheesecake-bites-easy-recipe/