Spicy Cranberry Chutney & Cheese Crostini Recipe

Holiday appetizer idea with a jalapeno cranberry chutney recipe served over cheese and crackers.

I don’t know if it’s the nesting, the mom-to-be hormones or what … but I’ve been wanting to do a whole lot of baking and recipe creating lately. Maybe it’s also the fact that it’s the Christmas season and with that comes tasty treats and extra time happily spent in the kitchen.

We’re celebrating Christmas with a special dinner with a few friends this weekend. My dinner contribution is going to be the appetizer! I knew I wanted to whip up something extra special for the holidays but also give it some sort of “Texas-vibe.” The solution? Homemade jalapeno cranberry chutney served with cheese & green onions atop a crostini. Jalapenos for a bit of spice, La Vaquita Cheese (made right here in Texas!) & green onions drizzled over the red chutney for a colorful creation that’s oh-so-festive for the season.

Get my recipe below!

Holiday appetizer idea with a jalapeno cranberry chutney recipe served over cheese and crackers.
Holiday appetizer idea with a jalapeno cranberry chutney recipe served over cheese and crackers.

Holiday appetizer idea with a jalapeno cranberry chutney recipe served over cheese and crackers.

Holiday appetizer idea with a jalapeno cranberry chutney recipe served over cheese and crackers.

Holiday appetizer idea with a jalapeno cranberry chutney recipe served over cheese and crackers.

Holiday appetizer idea with a jalapeno cranberry chutney recipe served over cheese and crackers.
Holiday appetizer idea with a jalapeno cranberry chutney recipe served over cheese and crackers.

Jalapeno Cranberry Chutney & Cheese Crostinis

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

    For the Chutney:
  • A whole bag of fresh cranberries
  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 1 1/2 jalapeno (pitted and diced) + more if you like things spicccccy
  • 1 cup of brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup of water
  • 1 orange (juiced)
  • Zest of half an orange
    For the Crackers:
  • Any small circular cracker (french bread crostinis or small salty for example)
  • La Vaquita Cheese
  • 3-4 Sliced Green Onions
  • Cream Cheese

Instructions

    For the Chutney:
  1. Pour all ingredients into a pot and bring it to a boil.
  2. Reduce the heat & simmer for about half an hour.
  3. Chill before serving.
    For the Crackers:
  1. Spread a small bit of cream cheese over each cracker. (This will help your toppings to stick!)
  2. Add a spoonful of chutney
  3. Sprinkle with sliced green onions & La Vaquita Crumbling Cheese
https://lonestarlookingglass.com/2016/12/jalapeno-cranberry-chutney-recipe.html

I love that La Vaquita Cheese is so refreshing and easy to pair with a number of different dishes & cuisines. It’s the perfect topper to any dish. (Y’all, I literally could eat cheese on any & everything!) You can purchase La Vaquita Cheese in many of the grocery stores here in Texas too. I almost always shop at HEB and La Vaquita is super easy to spot right in the middle of the cheese section. If I ever had to leave Texas, I’m telling you, I would take HEB with me! It’s amazing that shoppers are able to find so many fabulous locally sourced ingredients mixed right in with the name brands sold across the country, La Vaquita Cheese included.

We’ve been whipping up quite a few festive holiday concoctions in our kitchen lately. From savory chex mix (one of my favorite winter traditions) to monkey bread & hearty soups, this is the best time of year to go out of the way and make each meal a little bit more special. I’m looking forward to the extra long holiday weekend where all I plan to do is watch movies and EAT! (While impatiently awaiting baby girl Kerley’s arrival, of course!)

Wishing you all a happy and foodie filled holiday too! And as always, thanks for stopping by the blog!

xo, alice

photos by Lauren Rathbun Photography

*Thanks to La Vaquita Cheese for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions are my own.*