Festive Christmas Cranberry Roll Ups Recipe | Easy Holiday Appetizer

I just made a batch of festive cranberry roll ups, and I’m excited to share how they turned out. These bites are perfect for holiday gatherings—bright, tangy, and creamy all at once.

I loved how easily they came together, and how they disappeared quickly from my snack table. After tasting them, I knew I had to write this recipe so you can make them too. Let me walk you through making your own Christmas cranberry roll ups.

Festive Christmas Cranberry Roll Ups Recipe

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need (for about 4 large tortillas worth):

8 ounces softened cream cheese — makes the filling smooth and creamy (softening helps it blend easily)
1 cup crumbled feta cheese — adds salty tang and texture
⅓ cup fresh chives, chopped — fresh herbs bring brightness (fresh is best over dried)
1½ cups dried cranberries, chopped — tart sweetness, finely chopping helps roll-up hold together
4 large flour tortillas (about 10 inches each) — soft and pliable for rolling (avoid corn tortillas, which crack)

Note: serves several (about 16–20 pinwheel slices depending on thickness).

(Pro tip: use full-fat cream cheese and fresh herbs — they give better taste and consistency than low-fat or frozen substitutes.)

Variations

You can adapt this recipe to suit dietary preferences or experiment with flavors:

Dairy-free: replace cream cheese and feta with vegan cream cheese and vegan feta or firm tofu blended smooth.
Sugar-free / lower sugar: use unsweetened dried cranberries (or soak them briefly if they’re too firm) or swap them partly for finely chopped fresh cherries.
Flavor add-ins: stir in a teaspoon of orange zest or a pinch of cinnamon for holiday flavor; add a bit of honey or maple syrup if you like extra sweetness.
Cheese swap: use goat cheese, mascarpone, or crumbly queso fresco instead of feta for a milder twist.
Wrap swap: try spinach or sun-dried tomato tortillas for color; avoid rigid wraps that crack when rolled.

Cooking Time

Here’s the time you’ll spend:

Prep Time: 15–20 minutes
Cooking Time: 0 minutes (no baking required)
Total Time: about 75–80 minutes (includes chilling)

Equipment You Need

Mixing bowl — to combine cream cheese, feta, chives, and cranberries
Spatula or spoon — to spread filling evenly
Plastic wrap or cling film — to wrap each roll tightly during chilling
Sharp serrated knife — for slicing clean pinwheels
Serving platter — to present your roll-up slices

How to Make Festive Christmas Cranberry Roll Ups Recipe

Prepare the Cream Cheese Base

Start with softened cream cheese in your mixing bowl. Beat it until smooth and fluffy, so it mixes well with the other ingredients. A smooth base helps the roll feel creamy in every bite.

Mix in Feta, Chives, and Cranberries

Add crumbled feta, chopped chives, and chopped dried cranberries to the bowl. Gently fold everything until well combined and evenly distributed, so no bite is bland or overloaded.

Spread and Roll Tortillas

Lay out each tortilla flat and spread a quarter of the mixture evenly over its surface, leaving a small border at the edges to prevent overflow. Roll each tortilla firmly (but not too tight) into a log shape, sealing the edges as you go.

Wrap, Chill, and Slice

Wrap each roll tightly in plastic wrap so it holds shape. Chill them in the refrigerator for at least an hour (I often do two) until they firm up. Once chilled, unwrap and use a sharp serrated knife, slice into pinwheels of your preferred thickness and arrange them on a platter.

Additional Tips for Making this Recipe Better

From my experience, here’s how to make your roll ups shine:

Chill long enough — I let them rest 2 hours so they slice neatly without squishing.
Roll tightly but gently — each roll stays together better and is easier to slice cleanly.
Use a serrated knife with a gentle sawing motion — it avoids crushing the roll.
Wrap individually — wrapping each roll stops edges from drying out or unraveling.
Bring to room temperature briefly before serving — 10–15 minutes makes slicing easier and flavors more expressive.

How to Serve Festive Christmas Cranberry Roll Ups?

Serve them on a bright platter, alternating green herbs for contrast. Garnish with extra chopped chives or a few whole cranberries around the edges. They pair beautifully with crisp veggies (cucumber slices, bell pepper strips, baby carrots) and a cheese board.

As a holiday touch, you can also serve them alongside warm spinach-artichoke dip or alongside meatballs in a cranberry glaze to echo the cranberry flavor. As a holiday touch, you can also serve them alongside warm spinach-artichoke dip or even Quick Cranberry Meatballs (Christmas Recipe) to echo the cranberry flavor.

Nutritional Information

Here’s an estimate for the whole recipe (without optional extras):

Calories: ~1,500–1,700
Protein: ~35–45 g
Carbohydrates: ~180–200 g
Fat: ~80–90 g

Make Ahead and Storage

Prepare Ahead

You can make these roll ups up to 24 hours in advance. Wrap each roll tightly in plastic and refrigerate. The extra rest time even helps meld flavors.

Storage

Keep them in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in the refrigerator. They stay fresh for up to 3 days.

Reheating / Restoring

When ready to serve, pull them from the fridge 15 minutes ahead so they soften slightly before slicing. If we’ve already sliced them, simply place them on the serving platter and allow that short tempering time so they aren’t too firm.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe?

Here are some reasons I couldn’t stop making these roll ups:

Easy to prepare: no baking, just spread, roll, chill — even beginners can do it.
Make-ahead friendly: you can prep a day before your party and free up time later.
Festive appearance: the red cranberries and green chives make them holiday ready.
Flexible and customizable: swap cheeses, wraps, or sweeteners to fit dietary needs.
Crowd-pleasing flavor: creamy, tangy, sweet, and savory all in one bite.

Ash Tyrrell