To make cranberry orange cream dumplings, wrap a cube of cream cheese and 6–8 fresh cranberries in each of 8 crescent roll triangles and set them in a baking dish with the rest of the cranberries. Pour a warm sauce of melted butter, brown sugar, orange juice, orange zest and cinnamon over the top, then bake at 350°F for 40–45 minutes until golden and bubbling. They make an easy Thanksgiving or Christmas dessert, or a cozy holiday brunch treat.
These easy cranberry orange cream dumplings are perfect for a festive holiday dessert or an easy Christmas morning treat to wake up to. Made with crescent rolls for ease and rolled up into sweet, creamy and tart cranberry treats. Topped with a cinnamon orange brown sugar glaze and best served with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. This simple cranberry dumpling recipe is dangerously delicious!
Cranberry Orange Cream Dumplings are Christmas in one single bite! As a little girl growing up in Pennsylvania with some seriously strong roots to the Pennsylvania Dutch, I don’t think that I remember the holidays without apple dumplings. We always left those sweet gatherings with happy bellies and dumplings to go.
This year, I wanted to recreate that nostalgic experience with my very own twist. So I combined my favorite holiday flavors, cranberry and orange, into a delightful dish that’s both easy and festive. These Cranberry and Orange Cream Dumplings made with crescent rolls are easy to make and baked to golden, gooey perfection.
These little creamy cranberry bundles of joy are made with crescent rolls, making them a breeze to prepare. Inside you’ll find a creamy filling of cream cheese and cranberries, all wrapped up and ready to be smothered in a luscious glaze–a heavenly mix of butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, orange juice, a pinch of zest, and a sprinkle of granulated sugar.
why You will love this cranberry and orange Cream dumplings Recipe
What I love most about this recipe is how it brings together all the flavors of the holidays in one dish. It’s sweet, creamy, tart, and zesty–everything you could want in a holiday treat. Plus, it looks incredibly festive and fancy, making it a showstopper at any holiday party. And the best part? It’s so simple to make that you can whip it up even on the busiest of days.
These delicious dumplings are:
- Easy to Make
- Crowd-Pleasing Dessert
- Kid Friendly
- Old-Fashioned Holiday Staple
- Irresistible Flavor
For our family, these dumplings have become a Christmas morning tradition. As part of our brunch, they add a touch of sweetness and warmth to our holiday gathering. These crazy delicious cranberry and orange cream dumplings are even better served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, no matter the time of day!
Shall we get started?
ingredients
To make these easy and delicious cranberry orange cream dumplings you’ll need a few ingredients that you can get at almost any grocery store or even online!
Here’s what we are working with:
- crescent rolls
- cream cheese
- fresh cranberries
- juice of 1 orange (a pinch of zest for the sauce)
- butter
- brown sugar
- cinnamon
- granulated sugar (optional, for sprinkling before baking)
how to make easy cranberry orange cream dumplings with crescent rolls
You’ll find the exact amounts and printable steps in the recipe card below. Here’s what each step looks like, plus the little things that make it work.
Cranberry and cream crescent roll dumplings
1. Preheat the oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. Prepare the crescent rolls. Unroll the crescent rolls and separate them into 8 triangles on a clean surface.
3. Add the cream cheese and cranberries. Place a cube of cream cheese at the widest end of each triangle and use a spoon to smear it slightly down the triangle. Add 6–8 cranberries on top. Smearing the cream cheese helps it hold the berries in place while you roll.
4. Roll the dumplings. Starting from the widest end, carefully roll up each crescent roll into a dumpling, making sure the filling is enclosed. Pinch any gaps closed so the cream cheese doesn’t leak into the sauce.
5. Arrange in the baking dish. Place the rolled dumplings in a prepared baking dish, leaving a little space between each one so they bake up golden instead of steamy. Scatter the remaining cranberries all around and top with orange slices, if using.
orange brown sugar glaze
6. Make the orange brown sugar sauce. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the brown sugar, orange juice, orange zest and cinnamon and stir until the sugar dissolves and the sauce is smooth.
7. Pour the sauce over the dumplings. Pour the sauce evenly over the dumplings. If you like, sprinkle a little granulated sugar over the top for extra sweetness and a slight crunch.
8. Bake. Bake for 40–45 minutes, until the dumplings are golden brown and the sauce is bubbling. The cranberries will burst and turn the sauce a gorgeous ruby color.
9. Serve. Let them cool slightly before serving; the sauce thickens as it stands. They’re delightful on their own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
cranberry dumplings for Thanksgiving and Christmas
These started as our Christmas morning treat, but they belong on the Thanksgiving dessert table too. They use the same fresh cranberries you’re already buying for the holidays, they bake in one dish, and they’re a fun, lighter-feeling alternative to pie. Serve them warm with vanilla ice cream after dinner, or as part of a holiday brunch.
can you make them ahead?
They’re best fresh from the oven, while the crescent dough is crisp and the sauce is bubbly. To get a head start, juice and zest the orange and cube the cream cheese the day before. You can also bake them earlier in the day and rewarm them in the oven before serving.
how to store and reheat leftovers
Because of the cream cheese filling, refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours. Cover the dish or move them to an airtight container and enjoy within 3–4 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven or in the microwave until warm all the way through (165°F).
We hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. It’s definitely one of those recipes worth saving. There’s nothing better than having what looks and tastes like a gourmet dessert on the table, but one that saves you time behind the scenes.
Please leave us a star review and comment if you make this delicious, family dumplings recipe.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. I answer every single question as quickly as I can.
Happy cooking! And thanks for being part of our tribe, The Tasteful Tribe!
ENJOY!
cranberry orange cream dumplings FAQs
The recipe is written for fresh cranberries. Frozen cranberries should work too; use them straight from the freezer so they don’t bleed into the dough.
Fresh juice and a pinch of zest from 1 orange give the sauce its bright flavor, so fresh is best here.
They’re best baked fresh. You can prep the orange juice, zest and cream cheese a day ahead, or bake them earlier in the day and rewarm them in the oven.
Refrigerate them within 2 hours, covered, and eat them within 3–4 days. Reheat until warm all the way through (165°F).
A scoop of vanilla ice cream is our favorite. For brunch, they’re lovely with coffee and a holiday egg bake.
If you love this recipe, check out…
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recipe video
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Easy Cranberry Orange Cream Dumplings
- VGVegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 (8 oz) can crescent rolls
- 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, cut into 8 cubes
- 2 cups fresh cranberries, divided
- 1 orange, juiced, plus a pinch of zest for the sauce (extra orange slices optional for garnish)
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- granulated sugar , optional, for sprinkling before baking
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- Prepare Crescent Rolls: Unroll the crescent rolls and separate them into 8 triangles on a clean surface.
- Add Cream Cheese and Cranberries: Place a cube of cream cheese at the widest end of each triangle. Use a spoon to smear the cream cheese slightly down the triangle. Add 6-8 cranberries on top of the cream cheese.
- Roll the Dumplings: Starting from the widest end, carefully roll up each crescent roll into a dumpling, ensuring the filling is enclosed.
- Arrange in Baking Dish: Place the rolled dumplings in a prepared baking dish, leaving a little space between each one. Place remaining cranberries all around and place orange slices on top (if using).
- Make the Sauce: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the brown sugar, orange juice, orange zest, and cinnamon. Stir until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is smooth.
- Pour Sauce Over Dumplings: Evenly pour the sauce over the dumplings in the baking dish. If desired, sprinkle a little granulated sugar over the top for extra sweetness and a slight crunch.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the dumplings are golden brown and the sauce is bubbling.
- Serve: Allow to cool slightly before serving. These dumplings are delightful on their own or served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Equipment
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