My husband is one of the only people in the world who doesn’t like pumpkin pie. This is because he believes that pumpkins are vegetables (technically they are not) and therefore not pie worthy. Like everyone else, our holidays will be much smaller this year but the thoughts of A) missing out on pumpkin pie, or B) having to make multiple desserts, are not happy options. Subtly suggesting that maybe a pumpkin cheesecake would fill the bill was not well received, but the word cheesecake did seem to resonate.
Time to experiment. Experimentation starts with exploration and the canned goods cabinet rarely disappoints. Even though making fresh cranberry sauce is a holiday tradition there always seems to be a can or two of the stuff lingering in the cabinet. By sheer luck there was also a lone graham cracker crust bought for some reason now long forgotten. The refrigerator yielded a container of whipped cream cheese not quite cheesecake material, but still….
Why not give a cranberry pie or better yet a Frozen Cranberry Pie a shot? People make frozen pies with other fruits all the time. Well It was an amazing success! Magazines and TV chefs are forever proclaiming that a dessert is beautiful, but beauty – as we all know – is only skin deep. That being said, this pie turned out to be both beautiful and deeply delicious. It’s the whole picture - creamy and cold, rich and just a little sinful with a tiny burst of tart flavor from the cranberries. AND this is big – NO BAKING. That’s right, just whip the cream, fold in cream cheese mixed with sugar and vanilla, and stir in that can of cranberry sauce. Pour everything into the graham cracker crust and put that pie in the freezer. There you go – dessert is a done deal. This is truly one the yummiest recipes ever. If you feel like shaking things up with a different dessert this year this is your new best friend, but holiday tables aside, Frozen Cranberry Pie will be a year-round treat at our home - cool for summer and holiday festive for the season. Why not make two – seconds will be requested and late night snacking a must. Enjoy!
Ingredients
1 cup whipping cream
16 oz container whipped cream cheese
¼ cup sugar
½ tsp vanilla
16 oz can of whole berry cranberry sauce
Graham cracker crust
Directions
Whip cream until stiff peaks form.
In another bowl blend cream cheese with sugar and vanilla.
Gently fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture and carefully stir in cranberry sauce.
Pour into the graham cracker crust and freeze for at least 6 hours.
Garnish with mint if desired.
