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Cranberry Amaretto Chutney is homemade fruit chutney made from fresh cranberries and amaretto. This easy chutney recipe makes a delicious, easy appetizer, dip, or condiment.
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My mom first shared this Cranberry Amaretto Chutney with me and it was SO delicious. Such unique flavors and super easy. I first shared the recipe with you all back in 2012 and it’s just so good I thought it was worth sharing again. It’s originally a recipe from my mom and it’s just so versatile. The best part is how easy it is to make but still be an elegant part of your holiday appetizer lineup.
Cranberry Amaretto Chutney is also easy to make ahead. Make up a batch and store it in the refrigerator to pull out when you’re ready to serve for all your holiday gatherings. I normally serve it over cream cheese with crackers but I have also found it is delicious on its own too.
While I normally serve it as an appetizer, it’s also great paired with grilled pork or chicken. Add a salad and my Simple Stovetop Brown and Wild Rice Pilaf and you’ve got an easy, elegant holiday meal good enough for company!
The tartness of the cranberries and lemon juice paired with the sweetness of the sugar and marmalade and a splash of amaretto just work! The alcohol in this chutney mostly cooks off but it does leave behind a nice flavor that makes the Cranberry Amaretto Chutney have a gourmet taste too.
I like to buy cranberries this time of year from my local wholesale club. I can get a HUGE bag for less than $5 (which is almost what it costs from the grocery store!) And I keep them in the freezer to use year-round. They freeze beautifully! I use them in other recipes like Simple Cranberry Crumble Bars or Cranberry Apple Crisp. If you’re crazy for cranberries like I am, be sure to check out my 75 Fresh Cranberry Recipes Roundup
Buying cranberries in bulk makes it even easier to make a large batch of this Cranberry Amaretto Chutney. Find some pretty jars and make a tag so you can give it as gifts too. For more food gift inspiration, check out my 50+ Fabulous Food Gift Ideas roundup post by clicking here.
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Now on to the cranberry amaretto chutney recipe:
Cranberry Amaretto Chutney with Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 cups cranberries fresh or frozen
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice yes, this in addition to the 1 tablespoon
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- ¼ cup amaretto
- 1 tablespoon orange marmalade I have subbed apricot jam before too and it's tasty!
- 16 ounces cream cheese softened
Instructions
- In medium saucepan, combine cranberries and sugar.
- Over medium high heat, bring mixture to a boil stirring constantly. Do not skip stirring otherwise the sugar may burn!
- Lower heat to medium low and simmer mixture for 20 minutes.
- Remove pan from heat and add lemon juice, lemon zest, amaretto and orange marmalade. Stir to combine.
- Let mixture cool to at least room temperature or you may store it the refrigerator for up to a week.
- When ready to serve, spread cream cheese on a serving plate or board and spoon cranberry chutney over top, covering evenly.
- Let cool and pour over cream cheese block or you may spread cream cheese in a shallow dish
- To serve, spread a bit on a variety of crackers.
Notes
Nutrition
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Melissa
I made this last year for the first time and it was fantastic! I can’t wait to have it again. Yes – those frozen berries look so pretty! Happy to be part of your blog hop. Thanks for organizing each week 🙂
Pam @ The Meltaways
This looks incredible! Great choice for the week!
Rocky Mountain Woman
I do the same thing with cranberries this time of year, but just noticed I still have some from last year I need to use up. This looks like the perfect way to do that…
Kate
Amazing…what a combination of great flavors. I will definitely be making this over the holidays! Wish I would have found your hop earlier!!
Annamaria @ Bakewell Junction
I’ve never made chutney but yours looks so delicious that I’ll have to try it.
Janice Pattie (@serialcrafter)
Oh this sounds fantastic, I love Amaretto and cranberries. I’m going to bookmark this for Christmas which is when we eat cranberry sauce in the UK.
Chandra@The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen
Oh My this looks good! I love Chutney this time of year! Thanks for sharing and for hosting this each week!
Karen
I’m not seeing the recipe, am I missing a link?
Meal Plan Mom (Brenda)
Sorry about that Karen! I have fixed it. I upgraded to a new format for my recipes and ended up with some duplicates but some of them were blank! Enjoy!
Betty Stowe Kuykendall
Oh my goodness. I have been making this exact recipe for Cranberry Amaretto Chutney since the early 80’s. I was just out of college and found the recipe in a magazine while waiting on my mom at a Dr appointment. I made it that Thanksgiving for a dinner at the school where I just started teaching. it went over so we’ll I was asked to bring it anytime we had some special get together. I had misplaced my recipe while moving this summer
I haven’t made this in years and couldn’t remember exactly how much of each ingredient it would take. I stumbled on this recipe today and couldn’t believe someone else had ever used it! I am 67 years old now. Have been making this since I was 23. You thank your mom she taught you how. I am making some for Thanksgiving this year. Be Blessed
Brenda Thompson
Betty, thank you so much for your comment! It totally made my day and I’m so glad you re-discovered this recipe via my blog!