Food and Recipes Recipes 33 Recipes You Can Make with a Block of Cream Cheese By Jenna Sims Jenna Sims Jenna Sims is a Digital Editor for Southern Living and joined the team in 2014. She writes, produces, and ideates content with a focus on email growth and commerce content. She covers a range of topics in the lifestyle space from holiday gift guides to new product launches to tips for cooking with your air fryer. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on November 7, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke Cream cheese is one of those simple yet hardworking ingredients that plays a role in some of our favorite recipes. It's so versatile it can be used for every course and meal from breakfast to dessert including appetizers, dips, casseroles, cakes, and more. We'll always love using cream cheese in classic desserts like cheesecakes and of course in frostings, but these recipes will show you just how many different ways there are to use cream cheese while cooking. We have inventive desserts like Cream Cheese Brownies, Rhubarb-Cream Cheese Spoke Cake, and Frozen Cheesecake Bites. We've got appetizers that will wow any crowd—our recipe for Stuffed Celery with Cream Cheese and Walnuts couldn't be any easier to pull off. And we have ideas for main dishes, too from Salmon Bagel Sandwiches to Skillet Corn with Shrimp and Sausage. So next time you have an unused block of cream cheese in the fridge, put it to good use with one of these delicious recipes. 01 of 33 Cream Cheese Brownies Micah A. Leal Recipe: Cream Cheese Brownies Upgrade your next batch of homemade brownies and make them even sweeter by swirling a cream cheese mixture over the top for perfectly soft squares. 02 of 33 Instant Pot White Chicken Chili Photographer: Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Recipe: Instant Pot White Chicken Chili Your Instant Pot will help you get chili on the table from start to finish in just 45 minutes. 03 of 33 Shrimp on Seasoned Crackers with Pepper Jelly and Cream Cheese Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Shrimp on Seasoned Crackers with Pepper Jelly and Cream Cheese We've upgraded the South's favorite appetizer of cream cheese and pepper jelly by using seasoned crackers as the base and then topping it with pan-fried shrimp. 04 of 33 Rhubarb-Cream Cheese Spoke Cake Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Rhubarb-Cream Cheese Spoke Cake Make the most of rhubarb's short growing season with this tangy spoke cake. 05 of 33 Leek-and-Mushroom Grits Frittata Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Leek-and-Mushroom Grits Frittata Delicious when served for breakfast, brunch, or dinner, this cheesy frittata will come together in just 35 minutes 06 of 33 Meyer Lemon Cheesecake Bars Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Meyer Lemon Cheesecake Bars These pretty cheesecake bars taste just as good as they look. 07 of 33 Apple-Cream Cheese Bundt Cake Greg Dupree Recipe: Apple-Cream Cheese Bundt Cake This recipe starts with apple cake batter that's combined with cream cheese filling and then topped with praline frosting. Need we say more? 08 of 33 Skillet Corn with Shrimp and Sausage Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Skillet Corn with Shrimp and Sausage Creamy skillet corn serves as a flavorful base for smoked sausage and shrimp. 09 of 33 Praline-Cream Cheese King Cake Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop styling: Claire Spollen; Food styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Praline-Cream Cheese King Cake You'll need not just one but two 8-ounce blocks of cream cheese for the filling of this decadent homemade King Cake. 10 of 33 Party Poppers Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Party Poppers These two-bite appetizers are sure to please, in fact, don't be surprised when they fly off the platter. Just go ahead and double this easy recipe. 11 of 33 Strawberry Cheesecake Salad Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: Strawberry Cheesecake Salad Get the favor of cheesecake in a bowl in just 15 minutes. 12 of 33 Baked BLT Dip Skyler Burt Recipe: Baked BLT Dip We turned the beloved sandwich into a crowd-pleasing dip. 13 of 33 Red Velvet Cake with White Chocolate-Cream Cheese Frosting Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones Recipe: Red Velvet Cake with White Chocolate-Cream Cheese Frosting Perhaps the most classic dessert that makes use of cream cheese is the Red Velvet Cake. 14 of 33 Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins Make sure to allow your cream cheese time to come to room temperature before you start preparing your muffins. 15 of 33 Warm Spinach-Sweet Onion Dip with Country Ham Warm Spinach-Sweet Onion Dip with Country Ham Recipe: Warm Spinach-Sweet Onion Dip with Country Ham This creamy dip can be prepared ahead of time and heated just before serving. Pita chips or toasted French bread are ideal for dipping. 16 of 33 Lemon Cream Cheese Bars Micah A. Leal Recipe: Lemon Cream Cheese Bars Jarred lemon curd and cream cheese create the gooey layers that sit on top of the cookie base. This citrus treat comes together in less than 30 minutes. 17 of 33 Cranberry-Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Recipe: Cranberry-Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip This dip needs to chill for at least two hours before serving, but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week making it a great make-ahead option. 18 of 33 Frozen Cheesecake Bites Micah A. Leal Recipe: Frozen Cheesecake Bites These no-bake bites are not only refreshing but they're also patriotic making them great for summer holiday cookouts. 19 of 33 Toasted Coconut-Pecan Cupcakes with Coconut-Cream Cheese Frosting Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe:Toasted Coconut-Pecan Cupcakes with Coconut-Cream Cheese FrostingCream cheese frosting is the ideal finishing touch for these rich coconut cupcakes. 20 of 33 Stuffed Celery Recipe with Cream Cheese and Walnuts Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Stuffed Celery Recipe with Cream Cheese and Walnuts Pull together this 10-minute appetizer anytime you have company for a filling pre-dinner snack. 21 of 33 One-Dish Blackberry French Toast Recipe: One-Dish Blackberry French Toast Throw this one-dish breakfast together the night before serving and let it chill. The next morning, simply pop it in the oven for a decadent breakfast the whole family will love. 22 of 33 Cream Cheese Ice Cream Photo: Jennifer Davick / Food Styling Marian Cooper Cairns Recipe: Cream Cheese Ice Cream This recipe can be compared to cream cheese frosting in ice cream form, so it's acceptable to eat with a spoon. 23 of 33 Baked Goat Cheese Spread with Pepper Jelly Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Baked Goat Cheese Spread with Pepper Jelly If you're tasked with making an appetizer, a cheesy dip is always a good idea. 24 of 33 Cream Cheese Pastries Alison Miksch Recipe: Cream Cheese Pastries This recipe makes four loaves, so there's plenty for every member of the family. 25 of 33 Hummingbird Cake Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Hummingbird Cake Cream cheese is one of the most important ingredients in our most popular cake ever. 26 of 33 Smoky Field Pea-and-Greens Dip Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Smoky Field Pea-and-Greens Dip Cream cheese, mayonnaise, and shredded cheese come together to make one indulgent dip. You'll know it's ready to take out of the oven when the top is golden and bubbly. 27 of 33 Cheesecake Cookies Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Cheesecake Cookies While these cookies were made with holiday cookie swaps in mind, they can also serve as a bite-sized treat year-round. 28 of 33 Salmon Bagel Sandwiches Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Salmon Bagel Sandwiches Mixing cream cheese with chives, radishes, dill, lemon zest, and lemon juice creates a flavor-packed spread for this indulgent bagel sandwich. 29 of 33 Black-and-Blue Buttermilk Tart Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Black-and-Blue Buttermilk Tart Top this chilled tart with fresh summer berries and basil leaves just before serving. 30 of 33 Strawberry Swirl Cream Cheese Pound Cake Jennifer Davick Recipe: Strawberry Swirl Cream Cheese Pound Cake Upgrade this pound cake by garnishing with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. 31 of 33 Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese Southern Living Recipe: Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese You can thank two blocks of cream cheese for the extra creamy texture of these make-ahead mashed potatoes. Just don't over beat your spuds or else they could get gummy. 32 of 33 Cream Cheese-Banana-Nut Bread Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Cream Cheese-Banana-Nut Bread This quick-bread recipe can be made in either loaf or muffin form. 33 of 33 Cream Cheese Pound Cake Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke Recipe: Cream Cheese Pound Cake Once you've added cream cheese to your pound cake, you'll never want to make it any other way again. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit