If you’re hosting a holiday gathering, or bringing something to a party, we have three cranberry appetizers. They’re festive and easy to make because we know you other things to do. There’s the ultimate meatball appetizers;  cranberry, crabmeat, and cream cheese appetizers; and cranberry brie bites.

THE ULTIMATE HOLIDAY MEATBALLS

INGREDIENTS

• 1 14-ounce can Ocean Spray® Jellied Cranberry Sauce
• 1 12-ounce bottle Heinz® Chili Sauce
• 1 2-pound bag frozen, pre-cooked, cocktail-size meatballs

DIRECTIONS

Combine sauces in a large saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring until smooth. Add meatballs. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until meatballs are heated through, stirring occasionally.

Makes 30 appetizer servings.

Slow cooker Preparation: Place meatballs in a slow cooker. Combine sauces and pour over meatballs. Cover and cook 4 hours on HIGH.

CRANBERRY, CRAB MEAT AND CREAM CHEESE APPETIZERS

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup Ocean Spray® Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
• 1/3 cup cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup minced crab meat
• 2 tablespoons green onion, white and green parts, sliced
• 15 mini phyllo shells, thawed

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Place cranberry sauce in a small mixing bowl; beat with a fork or wire whisk until smooth.

Combine cream cheese, crab meat and green onion in a small mixing bowl. Fill each shell with about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture. Top with 1/2 teaspoon cranberry sauce.

Bake for 10 minutes or until heated through.

Makes 15 individual servings.

Per Serving: Cal. 49 (2%DV), Fat Cal. 18, Pro. 1g (2%DV), Carb. 6g (2%DV), Fat 2g (3%DV), Chol 8mg (2%DV), Sod. 54mg (2%DV), Vit. A 23RE (2%DV), Vit. C 0mg (0%DV), Vit. E 0mg (0%DV), Calcium 6mg (0%DV), Iron <1mg (1%DV), Folate 2Ug (0%DV), Zinc 0mg (0%DV), Pot. 13mg (0%DV), Dietary Exchange: Fruit 0.5, Fat 0.5

CRANBERRY BRIE BITES

• 3/4 cup Ocean Spray® Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel
• 24 (3 1/4 x 3 1/4-inch) wonton wrappers
• 1 (8-ounce) brie round

DIRECTIONS

Place 3/4 cup Ocean Spray® Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce in a 1 1/2-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat until hot, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in lemon juice and lemon peel.

Meanwhile, heat oven to 350°F. Spray 24 miniature muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray. Press 1 wonton wrapper gently into each sprayed cup, allowing ends to extend above cups. Spray edges of wonton wrappers with nonstick cooking spray. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until bottoms of cups are beginning to brown; remove from oven.

If desired, remove rind from brie. Cut brie into 24 cubes, about 3/4-inch each. Place 1 cube in each cup; place sheet of aluminum foil over each pan to prevent excessive browning. Return to oven. Bake 3 to 5 minutes longer or until brie is soft. Remove from oven; top each with about 1 teaspoon cranberry mixture.

Makes 24 appetizers.

Per Serving: Cal. 68 (3%DV), Fat Cal. 18, Pro. 3g (5%DV), Carb. 8g (3%DV), Fat 3g (4%DV), Chol. 10mg (3%DV), Sod. 106mg (4%DV), Vit. A 17RE (1%DV), Vit. C >1mg (0%DV), Vit. E >1mg (0%DV), Calcium 21mg (2%DV), Iron <1mg (2%DV), Folate 13Ug (3%DV), Zinc >1mg (2%DV), Pot. 24mg (1%DV), Dietary Exchange: Starch 0.5, Fat 0.5

For more cranberry recipes, visit: https://www.oceanspray.com/Recipes