Cream Cheese Recipes

Cream cheese is a popular base for creamy frosting and topping for pastries. The soft, neutral-tasting cheese made from milk and cream has subtle sweet and tangy notes, making it extremely versatile. Cream cheese comes in spreadable forms or firmer blocks suitable for your Italian recipes.

Cream cheese is made commercially by adding lactic acid to pasteurised milk. Lactic acid causes the milk to form curds, which are heated to become cream cheese. Heavy cream is usually added to adjust the fat content and give it creaminess.

If you want to make cream cheese at home, you need a few ingredients like salt, whole milk and lemon juice. Use whole milk to get the richness and creamy texture the cheese is famous for. You can substitute lemon juice with plain white vinegar or lime juice. Here are the steps to follow when making cream cheese:

Warm the milk: You need to heat your whole milk to a rolling simmer on medium-high heat. Ensure the milk is full-fat instead of low-fat to ensure it curdles well. Do not let the milk boil.

Cream cheese frosting is creamy, rich and tart with the required level of sweetness for making layered cakes and decorating cupcakes.

When making cream cheese frosting, use high-quality butter and icing sugar to get a stable frosting for your recipes. Since cream cheese frosting is tangy and rich, you are likely to find it spread on carrot cakes or red velvets.

You can also use it with bold flavours like bacon or cinnamon. Some of the dishes to add to your meal plan and pair with cream cheese frosting or icing include:

Dessert cheese ball: For savoury snacks to enjoy with pretzel crisps or vanilla wafers, make cream cheese balls. The cream frosting is rolled in toasted walnuts and chilled for a few hours.

Fried dumplings: Give your Japanese dumplings recipe a twist with cream cheese frosting. Fill the dumpling wrappers with frosting before frying them. Serve the dumplings sprinkled with sugar and warm chocolate sauce.

Oatmeal: Do you love eating oatmeal for breakfast? Stir a dollop of cream cheese frosting into your hot cereal and sprinkle a little cinnamon. It's the best way to enjoy a breakfast cinnamon bun.

Grilled jam sandwiches: Whether you have bread or bagels, a cream cheese frosting alongside your favourite fruit spread is tasty. If you are having an egg sandwich, add a little cream cheese frosting. The combination of salty bacon and fluffy scrambled eggs is delicious.