Exploring Flavors: 6 Dishes You Can Make With Cream Cheese
Many people enjoy dairy products – milk, cheese, yogurt – you name it. And, of course, for good reason. Dairy products are flavorful and versatile ingredients. They are also nutritious as they are filled with minerals and nutrients the body needs. One of them, milk, can be even turned into other foods or combined with other ingredients to make more flavors. Such combinations include butter, sour cream, and cream cheese, and if you are a fan of the latter, you are in luck.
Cream cheese can be a pretty versatile ingredient, and that is why people have questions like how to soften cream cheese and what recipes you can make with it. If you think of the latter, below are six flavorful dishes you can make with this ingredient.
1. Alfredo Sauce with Cream Cheese
Let us start the list with a classic dish category: pasta. Unless you follow a strict diet routine, everyone can enjoy pasta as it has different variations that offer their respective flavors. These varieties include the classic red-sauce spaghetti bolognese, macaroni cheese, lasagna, ravioli, and fettuccine alfredo. And if you plan to cook the last variety mentioned, fettuccine alfredo, you could try to coat it with alfredo sauce with cream cheese.
Aside from the ingredient currently discussed, this sauce consists of butter, garlic, milk, and parmesan cheese. Its rich flavors can improve your alfredo pasta, and it might be your next go-to when preparing for holidays and other special occasions.
2. Strawberry Cream Cheese
Some people enjoy cream cheese as a dip or alternative for other condiments, such as ketchup or mayonnaise. But even if it can stand on its own, people might think cream cheese could use some more flavor to make it more exciting. And if you think this ingredient could use additional flavors, why not add some strawberries for a fruity twist?
Fluffy, tasty, and easy to make – what more could you ask of this recipe? Mix the cream cheese with some mashed strawberries, then add sugar. Or, if you have access to one, you can use a kitchen electric mixer, food processor, or blender to make the process faster and easier. Either way, this recipe will make for an unforgettable breakfast.
3. Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese
Snacks are something we look forward to almost every afternoon. As long as they can fill our craving for munchies, it does not matter what they are. From healthy sandwiches or protein shakes to slices of pizza, we all appreciate a good snack. But if you want to make a different one yourself, you should try to whip up some pumpkin spice cream cheese!
For this snack, combine the cream cheese with pumpkin, vanilla, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, sugar, and honey in a medium bowl and beat it until it is smooth. Once done, you can spread it over loaves or slices of bread or scones for an enjoyable treat.
4. Pumpkin Cake with Caramel-Cream Cheese
Desserts are something that people would most likely look forward to after a hearty and satisfying meal. From fruits and chocolates to cakes and pastries, it is natural to crave something sweet to finish a meal. And if you are looking for a suggestion, try whipping up some pumpkin cake with caramel-cream cheese.
The cake consists of cinnamon, ground ginger, freshly grated nutmeg, ground cloves, pumpkin puree, and whole milk. After baking, it is then served with a frosting made of sugar, vanilla bean, butter, heavy cream, and cream cheese. Overall, these ingredients make for a tasty dessert for everyone to enjoy.
5. Cream Cheese Snickerdoodles
Are you looking for a treat that will make you crave more? If you are, then you should try some snickerdoodles! You can serve these cookies for snacks or dessert. And if you want to add a unique twist, why not toss in some cream cheese in the recipe?
Unsalted butter, cream cheese, eggs, vanilla extract, and cream of tartar make up this cookie. It is then topped with granulated sugar and ground cinnamon for additional flavors. With such ingredients, this recipe is a worthy option for a snack or dessert.
6. Spinach-Stuffed Chicken Breast with Cream Cheese
Chicken breast is one of the most sought-after meat cuts around, and for good reason: it is versatile, tender, and rich in protein. Not to mention, you can cook it in several ways: from fried to grilled. But if you want something different, try making a spinach-stuffed chicken breast with cream cheese.
The chicken breast is drizzled with olive oil and coated in a spice mixture of paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt. Before baking, the meat is filled with a spinach mixture with cream cheese, parmesan cheese, and mayonnaise. These ingredients make up for a hearty dish that is also packed in flavors and nutrients.
In a Nutshell
Aside from being a tasty food that can complement many dishes, cream cheese is a versatile ingredient, too. These six dishes are just some of the many recipes you can try making, and you could also invent one yourself. But if you want more dishes to try with this ingredient, visit Recipes.net for more information.
