If you’re anything like me, then you take pride in throwing an amazing party. But as joyous as the holiday season can be, it is often paired with a smidgen of stress. From surviving the mall crowds to hours of wrapping gifts, it’s not all fun and games. So how do you avoid being overwhelmed and transform the holiday from good to great? My secret? Creative shortcuts! That’s right, I like to cut corners and cheat a bit when it comes to hosting. Today with the help of Walmart and Sara Lee, we’re going to offer you one inventive shortcut in your holiday party planning. Using Sara Lee® Smooth & Creamy Classic Original Cheesecake and a little bit of elf magic, I’m going to show you a super easy holiday recipe that is sure to impress your guests while going easy on your nerves. We’re going to take this scrumptious frozen dessert and transform it into an unusual holiday drink… fancy a Cranberry Cheesecake Shake?! With the convenience and affordability of shopping at Walmart, you can get all your supplies (including decor!) for today’s recipe in one shop and be home in time for caroling with the family. Let’s get started…
- 1 Sara Lee Smooth & Creamy Classic Original Cheesecake
- 1/3 cup of Great Value Heavy Whipping Cream
- 2/3 cup of jellied cranberry sauce
- 12 ounces of fresh cranberries
- 2 cups of granulated sugar
- 1 cup of water
- Remove the Sara Lee Cheesecake from it’s packaging while still frozen. Cut into 1 1/2 inch squares.
- Place the cut cheesecake, Great Value heavy whipping cream, jellied cranberry sauce, and a small handful of fresh cranberries into a blender. Blend thoroughly.
- Pour into serving glasses, add sugared cranberries as garnish, and enjoy!
- (OPTIONAL) SUGARED CRANBERRIES: Create simple syrup in a large saucepan. Do this by combining 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar in the pan. Cook until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat. While the simple syrup is still hot, add the 12 ounces of cranberries to the pan. Mix thoroughly so that all the cranberries are coated with the syrup and set aside to cool. Once cool, transfer the contents of the pan to a bowl and place in the refrigerator overnight. Remove the cranberries by straining out the syrup. Place the cranberries on a baking rack or cookie sheet and immediately sprinkle with sugar. Repeat as many times as necessary to achieve desired coverage. Let dry and enjoy!
Get your shopping list out because here’s what you’ll need. First, head to the frozen section at Walmart to get your grubby hands on the Sara Lee’s Classic Original Cheesecake (possibly grab two for good measure!). Next, head down the aisles to stock your basket with 1/3 cup of Great Value Heavy Whipping Cream, 2/3 cup of jellied cranberry sauce, 12 ounces of fresh cranberries, and 2 cups of granulated sugar. 
Remove the Sara Lee Cheesecake from the packaging while it is still frozen. Cut the whole cake into 1 1/2 inch squares. Place the cut cheesecake, Great Value heavy whipping cream, jellied cranberry sauce, and a small handful of fresh cranberries into a blender. Blend thoroughly. 
And voila, that’s it! Simple, huh?! 
Want to spruce up the shake even more and be the envy of your competitive little sister? Then add some sugared cranberries as a garnish. Here’s how to do it: Create a simple syrup in a large saucepan. Do this by combining 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar in the pan. Cook until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from the heat. While the simple syrup is still hot, add the 12 ounces of cranberries to the pan. Mix thoroughly so that all the cranberries are coated with the syrup and set aside to cool. Once cool, transfer the contents of the pan to a bowl and place in the refrigerator overnight. Remove the cranberries by straining out the syrup. Place the cranberries on a baking rack or cookie sheet and immediately sprinkle with sugar. Repeat as many times as necessary to achieve desired coverage. Let dry and garnish! 
So there you have it! A holiday hosting hack that is sure to keep you from pulling your hair out. Special thanks to Walmart and Sara Lee for teaming up with me today! Make sure to find other great holiday recipes at joytothemeal.com and follow #joy2themeal for more great ideas.
