Cream cheese can be used for so much more than just adding a schmear to a toasted bagel. You can’t make a New York-style cheesecake without it. Cream cheese makes macaroni and cheese even creamier. When sweetened, it’s the best frosting. But those aren’t the only ways to cook or bake with cream cheese. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, you can incorporate into many meals. We’ve found 29 recipes you can make with a brick of cream cheese you’re going to love.
Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti
"Cream cheese and spaghetti. Wow! One of my favorite ingredients to cook with is cream cheese. It adds so much flavor to your recipe that you make. This recipe is so easy to make and adding the green peppers, carrots, onions, and spices gives it that extra boost." - Betty
Veggie Cream Cheese Roll-Ups
"What a simple appetizer recipe. We really liked the cool ranch flavor combined with the crunchy fresh peppers and olives. The hardest part of this recipe is letting the roll-ups chill in the fridge." - The Kitchen Crew
Cream Cheese Cinnamon Roll Frosting
"My teenage boys adore homemade cinnamon rolls, seriously they devour them. The only time they may complain is if there isn’t enough frosting. I mean what is a cinnamon roll without being slathered in a thick layer of frosting. Hands down our favorite recipe is my Cake Mix Cinnamon Roll recipe and with this, we have to top them with cream cheese frosting. It is simple to make and really makes the roll rich and decadent." - Debbie
Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Pancakes with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting
"Pumpkin pancakes with a swirl of cinnamon cooked right into them served topped wit a caramel cream cheese ‘frosting’. Mornings could not get any better than this!" - Kevin
Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Brownies
"Bring a regular chocolate chip cookie bar to a whole new level of yumminess by adding a layer of cheesecake to the center. The perfect treat for any time of the year." - The Kitchen Crew
5 Layer Cream Cheese Chili Dip
"A few years ago my husband and I would have his cousin and wife come over to play spades at our apartment. I would always make this dip as an appetizer, but we almost never actually ate dinner we always polished the dip off and that was our meal." - Samantha
Strawberry Cheesecake Pizza Recipe
"An easy recipe for a delicious dessert, Strawberry Cheesecake Pizza Recipe has a really yummy pizza crust topped with sweetened cream cheese and strawberry pie filling." - Paula
Cream Cheese and Honey Turnovers
"This is my take in the very traditional Puerto Rican "quesitos." They remind me of my island and my childhood. Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do." - Ilean
Cream Cheese Muffin Puffs
"I love cream cheese and these are so quick and easy to make. They are so ooey gooey when they first come out of the oven." - Lori
Bacon & Cream Cheese Deviled Eggs
"BEST DEVILED EGGS EVER!! And a plus... low carb as well as scrumptious." - Julie
Chocolate Pecan Flan
"Flan is a wonderful, traditional Mexican dessert. It's a rich, creamy, cooked egg custard, often flavored with vanilla and baked in a water bath to retain its delicacy. Adding chocolate and topping it with pecans makes it an extremely indulgent dessert, but... Who cares?" - Shikha
Jane's Cheesy Pecan Cake
"The topping is unusual but fantastic. It's a mix of cream cheese, margarine, and marshmallows. It's sweet, tangy, and soaks into the cake while baking." - The Kitchen Crew
Cream Cheese Cake
"This cake is loaded with cream cheese. If you love cream cheese, you will love this cake." - Dawn
Aunt Lynda's Cream Cheese Filled Banana Bread
"When sliced, this makes a great presentation. A delicious different banana bread with a cream cheese center." - Kim
Homemade Creamy Alfredo Sauce
"I have used this recipe for 12 years... it is the best Alfredo sauce. It easy and simple to make." - Sabrina
Chili Mac and Cheese
"The perfect combination of beef chili with decadently creamy mac and cheese (aka macaroni) in one irresistible dish that is super easy to make!" - Kevin
Bacon Buffalo Cream Cheese Jalapenos
"These are so good! Creamy with a kick!" - Glynda
Crack Proof: New York Style Cheesecake
"This recipe was handed down to me by my mother. Every holiday my siblings (all seven of us) and I would request this awesome cake along with the homemade fruit topping. It's gotten so she'd have to create two cakes, due to there never being enough." - Jacqueline
Coconut Topped/Cream Cheese Sheet Cake
"This is my daughters favorite cake of all cakes. The first time I made it she said I never had to make any other type cakes...this one suited her just fine." - Cassie
Sausage Cream Cheese Crescents
"These are so good and simple. I sometimes with even add a cup of sharp cheddar cheese to the mixture. Either way, it is superb!" - Annamaria
Lemon Cream Cheese Crescents
"These Lemon Cream Cheese Crescents are a lemon lovers dream ! I could not stop eating these... really I couldn’t. These buttery flaky crescents just melt in your mouth. The filling is full of lemon flavor but slightly sweet. I originally made these for a weekend brunch but it turned into a snack and even a dessert." - Debbie
Bacon Pimento Cheese Sammie
"This ooey gooey sammie is lick the plate delicious. The pimento cheese spread has cream cheese in it which isn't a traditional ingredient. It adds a hint of tang and helps with the melted cheese goodness." - The Kitchen Crew
Oreo Cream Cheese Fluff Trifle
"Oreo Cream Cheese Fluff Trifle is a is a sweet, creamy, delicious, no-bake dessert that takes about 10 minutes to make! This family favorite is great for parties and potlucks…. or always-hungry-Oreo-loving-teenage boys!" - Paula
Perfect Italian Cream Cake
"Everyone loves this cake, and can't believe it starts with a mix! The frosting recipe makes a LOT of frosting, as my family likes it decadent!" - Michelle
Blueberry Cream Cheese Crumb Cake
"This is delicious! The recipe is a bit detailed, but oh so worth it!" - Patti
Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole
"This is a family favorite. It's really for breakfast but it's good enough for a dessert! This would be great for that special holiday breakfast." - Roberta
Strawberry Pancake Puppies With Cream Cheese Dip
"This is my version of Denny's Pancake Puppies. Serve with the cream cheese dipping sauce or make a fabulous sundae with them." - Melissa
Cream Cheese Cake Mix Cookies
"Deliciously sweet, these cookies are fantastic! The cream cheese gives them a soft and gooey taste." - The Kitchen Crew