Cream cheese is a soft, usually mild-tasting, fresh cheese made from milk and cream. Cream cheese is not naturally mature and is meant to be consumed fresh, so it differs from other soft cheeses such as Brie and Neufchâtel.
Cream cheese is more comparable in taste, texture and production methods to Boursin and Mascarpone. Stabilizers such as carob bean gum and carrageenan are often added in industrial production.
cream cheese covers your palate in a mild and decadent motion. Enjoyed fresh, the flavors are soft and creamy, with a soothing balance of slightly acidic undertones to compensate.
With a more pliable consistency than French fresh cheese and being less runny and mushy, its creamy texture lends itself to being served plain atop bread or beside fresh fruit, vegetables and pasta.
Cream cheese presents a balanced character, perfect for deserts and warm dishes alike.
Different Types Of Cream Cheese
1. Garlic & Herb Cheese
This is a fresh, herbaceous cheese that’s perfect on a cracker or with fresh vegetables. The flavor is subtle, so you won’t get overwhelmed by garlic and herb flavors.
It’s rich and flavorful and doesn’t shy away from garlic. There’s no such thing as too much garlic. Adding butter makes this herbal cream cheese stand out from the crowd.
Butter adds more creamy, savory notes to the cream cheese that spreads like a dream on crackers or a morning slice of toast.
2. Cranberry & Pecan Cream Cheese
The creamy cheese and sweetened cranberries make for a perfect spread for scones or muffins. Some chefs even like to use it in cake recipes, unlike some other different types of cream cheese.
Because cranberries are so tart, they can also be eaten on their own as a savory appetizer, similar to olives or nuts.
3. Apple Butter Cream Cheese
Apple butter is a tried-and-true fall staple for those who grew up in New England. It’s usually served at breakfast time and is a perfect partner for bagels and toast.
This slightly sweet spread often uses tart apples, usually MacIntosh or Cortland. But some recipes also use softer apples, like Braeburn or Honeycrisp.
Apple butter has a texture between butter and jam, making it an excellent condiment for sweet and savory dishes.
4. Littauer Cream Cheese
The yogurt-based cream cheese from France is known as Lípatái in its native tongue. It is one of the different types of cream cheese. It is made with milk and cream rather than milk and yogurt.
5. Caviar Cream Cheese
Caviar is probably right up your alley if you like fish, eggs and cream cheese.
However, Caviar is made from smoked fish roe and tastes incredibly salty. It pairs well with crackers or toast and makes for a good snack. Because it’s so high in protein, Caviar is commonly used as a meat substitute in vegan diets.
Therefore, if you want to enjoy something different but can’t stomach dairy, try picking up some vegan caviar online.
6. Funfetti Cream Cheese
Funfetti cream cheese is a definite winner for anyone who has been feeling bored about their morning bagel routine.
This option blends swirled vanilla flavor with white confetti sprinkles and chunks of real yellow cake. However, it’s not for those afraid to go wild with their food options.
Funfetti cream cheese will take your breakfast from zero to fun in 60 seconds. Therefore, you can also use it to make sweet cupcakes. People will be asking you how you got so creative.
7. Honey Walnut Cream Cheese
This variety has more calories and fat than other types of cream cheese, but it’s also higher in protein and calcium, making it an excellent choice for breakfast or lunch.
Honey walnut cream cheese has 25% fewer carbs than your average cream cheese spread. So say goodbye to those sugar-filled jams and jellies, which are being chucked out as we speak.
8. Cinnamon Cream Cheese
One thing that sets cinnamon cream cheese apart from other types of cheese is its sweet taste, which comes from a combination of cinnamon and sugar.
Cinnamon cream cheese works well as a spread for bagels, where you need an extra hint of sweetness. To make cinnamon cream cheese, stir together room-temperature cream cheese with two teaspoons of sugar and half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
If you’d like your cream cheese to be extra sweet, add 1-2 teaspoons more sugar. Therefore, If you find yourself using it sparingly (or don’t like sweet foods), consider cutting back on some or all of these ingredients to make less sweet (and more savory) variations.
9. Plain Cream Cheese
Plain cream cheese has been around for decades, yet it remains underappreciated by many.
However, it’s perfect for simple sandwiches with sliced tomatoes and a drizzle of olive oil on toasted bread. Instead of butter, use it in baked goods (instead of butter) or whip it into mashed potatoes.
10. Smoked Cream Cheese
The flavors of this smoked cream cheese are meaty and smoky and only require three ingredients.
It’s not the ingredients in this recipe that offer those mouth-watering, smoky flavors, but the cooking method. But it also infuses rich and smoky flavors into this smoked cream cheese recipe.
Adding a dry rub oozes into every nook and cranny of this cream cheese. It’s the perfect summer appetizer or slathered on a toasted bagel.
11. Sun Dried Tomato Cream Cheese
This sun-dried tomato cream cheese recipe is the perfect Italian-inspired cream cheese spread.
The sun-dried tomatoes are tart and acidic and pair perfectly with herbal basil and a touch of garlic.
12. Jalapeno Cream Cheese
This jalapeno cream cheese is super spicy. It earns its lovely green hue by blending a whole jalapeno pepper with onion and garlic powder in the food processor.
Blending the jalapeno pepper ensures that every bite will be bright, spicy, and infused with jalapeno flavors.
13. Fresh Strawberry Cream Cheese
It’s delightfully pink, tart and just the right amount of sweet. You can buy a tub of strawberry cream cheese at the supermarket, but it’s not the same.
Using fresh strawberries infused with honey is so tasty and impressive. You’ll never return to pre-packaged strawberry cream cheese again.
14. Blueberry Cream Cheese
Blueberries are naturally tart and acidic, which makes this cream cheese spread sing. It’s paired with honey for a kick of sweetness and vanilla extract marries all those bright, summery flavors.
Blending bright blueberries with the white canvas of cream cheese creates this stunning purple color that’s as tasty as it looks.
How Cream Cheese Is Made
After receiving fresh milk from cows grazing on nearby pastures, creameries quickly begin production by adding natural starter cultures to the milk. This helps it to coagulate and eventually produce a firm curd. Once fully formed, it is filtered and salted, enhancing both taste and texture.
Acting as a natural preservative, the separated curd is heated, allowing it to stay fresh and extending its shelf life without the use of artificial stabilizers or additives.
After extensive exposure to heat, it is then pressed and filtered to produce its creamy and smooth texture. Depending on the variant, herbs and seasoning are added before it is packaged and cooled, ready for the shops.
Containing no traces of rennet, fresh cream cheese is vegetarian and gluten free, guaranteeing a profile of clean flavor. Variants using either pasteurized or raw milk offer different levels of tartness and intensity in taste.
Is Cream Cheese Healthy?
While cream cheese is high in fat and calories, it also contains essential nutrients like calcium, vitamin A and protein. Consuming cream cheese in moderation can be part of a healthy diet, especially if you choose lower-fat varieties or pair it with nutritious foods like whole-grain bread and fresh vegetables.
Benefits Of Cream Cheese
- Rich in calcium: Cream cheese is a good source of calcium, which is essential for strong bones and teeth.
- High in protein: The protein in cream cheese can help build and repair muscles, making it a great post-workout snack.
- Contains vitamin A: Vitamin A is important for maintaining healthy skin and vision.
- Low in lactose: Cream cheese is lower in lactose than many other dairy products, making it a better option for those with lactose intolerance.
- Versatile ingredient: Cream cheese can be used in a variety of dishes, making it easy to incorporate into your diet.
- Supports gut health: Some brands of cream cheese contain probiotics, which can promote a healthy balance of gut bacteria.
What is the Best Way to Store Cream Cheese?
To maintain its freshness and quality, cream cheese should be stored in the refrigerator, tightly wrapped in its original packaging or a resealable plastic container. It can last for up to two weeks after opening if stored properly.
Can Cream Cheese Be Frozen?
Yes, cream cheese can be frozen for up to two months. However, the texture may become slightly grainy upon thawing, so it’s best used in cooked dishes rather than as a spread or topping.
Conclusion
Cream cheese is a beloved dairy product that adds richness and flavor to a wide array of dishes.
