Whether you are making something savory or sweet, many recipes call for cream cream. It is a simple but key ingredient in many of our favorite recipes. We love using it in classic desserts like cheesecakes, but it is so versatile that its use goes beyond the typical cheesecake.
It can be used for every meal, from breakfast to dessert, including appetizers, dips, casseroles, cakes, and more.
If you have a block of cream cheese and are looking for new and exciting ways to use it, look no further. We have a collection of 17 dazzling cream cheese recipes that you could try.
Mashed potatoes with cream cheese are the best way to make mashed potatoes. The cream cheese gives the potatoes a rich taste and velvety smooth texture. It also adds a subtle tang that complements the savory flavors of the potatoes.
Sometimes, mashed potatoes can end up watery and mealy. You have to mash the potatoes in the pot over low heat to remove excess moisture from the potatoes. And don’t forget the rest of the ingredients: butter, half-and-half, and seasoning salt.
Spinach and artichoke dip is the ultimate party pleaser and perfect for game day tailgating. This iconic appetizer combines creamy richness, bursts of savory artichokes, and the vibrant earthiness of spinach. Each mouthful promises an explosion of textures and flavors.
A blend of softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, and sour cream forms the base, while the garlic, parmesan cheese, and a sprinkle of herbs and spices provide depth and aroma.
Whether you are looking for an elegant appetizer or a satisfying light meal, cream cheese-stuffed mushrooms will impress you and your family. These bite-sized delights ooze with a blend of softened cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and fresh herbs.
The earthy and umami portobello mushrooms and the luxurious richness of a creamy, tangy cream cheese filling are irresistible. You can sprinkle breadcrumbs on top for a delightful crunch and broil in the oven for a satisfyingly golden-brown crust.
Some mornings, you wake up with a hankering for carrot cake. For such days, you could make breakfast carrot cake muffins. These healthy muffins are fluffy, moist, and studded with vibrant orange flecks of carrot. They are sweet but with notes of warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.
The true star in carrot cake muffins is always the cream cheese frosting. The tangy and sweet cream cheese perfectly complements the spiced cake. With each mouthful, the frosting melts into the cake, creating a medley of flavors.
Cream cheese feta pasta is one of the most popular recipes that have cream cheese. This dish took the culinary world by storm, and for good reason. It is easy to whip up and is incredibly flavorful and super creamy. Pasta is covered in softened and melted feta cheese with vibrant cherry tomatoes bursting with tomatoes.
The addition of cream cheese, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese takes the dish up a notch. It is like creamy alfredo pasta but with a subtle feta cheese concoction.
As drab as it sounds, a spinach casserole is anything but boring. This dish is decadent and comforting and features tender spinach bathed in a rich and creamy sauce made with cream cheese.
The creamy cheese sauce is the hero here. A garlicky, tangy, cheesy base made with a combination of softened cream cheese, milk, butter, flour, and seasonings. Top the casserole with breadcrumbs or fried onions for a crunchy layer.
Cream puffs are a perfect summer dessert. They are light, airy, not cloyingly sweet, and will leave you wanting more. This fluffy, cloud-like choux pastry is filled with a luscious cream cheese filling that is rich and tangy.
The best part of this dessert is its versatility. You can customize the cream cheese filling to your liking, add a touch of vanilla extract for sweetness, a swirl of fruit puree for vibrant color and flavor, or even a sprinkle of chopped nuts for extra crunch.
It is hard to resist popping more than one or two jalapeño poppers in your mouth, especially when stuffed with cream cheese, herbs, bacon, and cheese and enriched with spices like garlic powder and paprika.
The addition of breadcrumbs or panko gives it a beautiful golden brown crispy coating. These jalapeno recipes are creamy, cheesy, and crunchy, with a little bit of a kick from the jalapeno.
Cinnamon roll with cream cheese is a beloved breakfast pastry. They are perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth and sharing with loved ones. The soft, fluffy dough infused with the spicy sweetness of cinnamon is topped with a delicious cinnamon-sugar cream cheese filling.
The cream cheese filling adds a decadent richness and provides a delightful contrast to the roll's warm sweetness. Each mouthful is a testament to the simple perfection of this classic combination.
Peanut butter and chocolate are a classic combo and taste heavenly in a pie. This pie is for all the peanut butter fans. The chocolate crust is made with Oreos and butter, and the filling has three ingredients: peanut butter, cream cheese, and powdered sugar.
These ingredients are whipped together for a smooth, dreamy filling with rich, nutty notes of peanut butter and a decadent depth of cream cheese. This pie needs to chill and set up for at least 4 hours before it is eaten.
Buffalo chicken dip is a sinfully creamy and mouth-watering appetizer infused with hot wing flavors. Succulent pieces of chicken are doused in a vibrant and spicy buffalo sauce, perfectly balanced by the rich and tangy cream cheese.
A sprinkle of blue cheese crumbles elevates the flavor profile with its unique, salty, funky dimension, while chopped celery and carrots provide refreshing pops of color and texture.
Cream cheese sausage balls are a perfect bite-sized finger food you can serve any time of day, from breakfast to dinner. The key to a delicious sausage ball is always the cream cheese. The cream cheese keeps the sausage balls moist and tender and adds richness and creaminess.
You can use any sausage, but a typical one includes a combination of ground pork or a blend. The savory sausages are enhanced by a blend of seasonings, which elevates the entire experience.
Cream cheese brownies are the ultimate sweet treat. The rich, fudgy chocolate squares are studded with smooth, creamy cheese, offering a delightful contrast of textures and flavors in every bite.
The dense, chocolatey brownie base is often crafted with melted butter and dark cocoa powder. It is then swirled with a foolproof sweetened cheesecake batter, infused with a hint of vanilla or almond extract, promising bursts of tangy surprise.
Chili is a comfort food staple most people cannot get enough of. There are many variations, and if you have never tried white chicken chili, then you should. This rich yet healthy white chicken chili recipe comes together in a flash, thanks to the slow cooker and canned white beans.
Mashed white beans thicken the chili when you don't have enough time to simmer your chili. Meanwhile, the cream cheese adds the final bit of richness and a hint of sweet tang.
A mushroom frittata with cream cheese is a savory and satisfying dish. It is a great way to start your day or refuel after a busy afternoon. Start with a variety of your favorite mushrooms like cremini, shiitake, or chanterelles. Sauté them in olive oil until they are tender.
Then, whisk together eggs, milk, grated Parmesan cheese, and your favorite herbs and spices. Pour the egg mixture over the mushrooms in a preheated oven-safe skillet and bake until the frittata is a beautiful golden brown.
A red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting is visually stunning and incredibly delicious. The cake is a vibrant red color, thanks to the addition of red food coloring. It has a moist and tender crumb with a rich and tangy cream cheese frosting that balances the sweetness of the cake.
Different recipes of red velvet cake call for different ingredients, but they all typically include buttermilk, cocoa powder, and vinegar. The vinegar makes the cake light and fluffy and amplifies the tanginess of the cream cheese.
A delicious creamy fruit-based ice cream always brings back fond memories of buying ice cream from the trucks. As an adult, you might rarely see the ice cream truck, but then again, you also have enough cooking skills to make ice cream at home.
There are different recipes you could try, but a good starting point would be raspberry cheesecake ice cream. This ice cream has the best of two worlds: cheesecake and raspberry ice cream.
