27 Cream Cheese Recipes To Use What's in the Back of Your Fridge

We love cream cheese for its serious tang. But we're also guilty of holding onto that tub or package a bit too long. Here's what you should do with it.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kate Buckens1/27Stovetop Spinach-Artichoke Dip
Serving this creamy, delicious dip in a bread bowl is not mandatory, but we highly recommended going for it.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, Prop styling by Emma Ringness, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi2/27BA’s Best Cheesecake
Meet the absolute best cheesecake recipe. Room temperature ingredients ensure a smooth and creamy texture; take the cream cheese, sour cream, and eggs out of the refrigerator about 2 hours ahead of time.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kate Buckens3/27Savory Cheese-Filled Croquembouche
This croquembouche is constructed with cheesy gougères and an herbed cheese filling. It’s the showstopping holiday appetizer you didn’t know you needed.
Photo by Chelsie Craig4/27Spicy Cheddar Cheese Spread
An easy, cheesy dip you can serve this with pretzels, your favorite kind of crackers, or a platter of crudités.

Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Chris Morocco, prop styling by Emily Eisen6/27Gluten-Free Carrot Cake
Almond flour is a wonderfully sweet, nutty complement for fresh carrots, walnuts, and raisins.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou7/27Kimchi Toast
If we had to give this toast a bunch of random personality traits, we’d describe it as a rule-breaking hothead with a softer side.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Alison Attenborough8/27Spinach and Artichoke Melts
Your favorite creamy dip—but in a form you (and your kids) can happily eat for dinner.

Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susan Spungen, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski10/27Raspberry Rugelach
These bright, sweet-tart beauties are the perfect addition to the typical cookie plate.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kate Buckens11/27Basque Cheesecake
This light, fluffy, cloudlike cheesecake wants to get cooked at high heat for a burnt, cracked surface that’s rich with flavor.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Pearl Jones12/27Basically Carrot Loaf Cake
The most casual-cool carrot cake of all time.
Photo by Chelsie Craig13/27Easy Sheet Cake With Chocolate-Cream Cheese Frosting
Meet your new favorite birthday cake.
Alex Lau14/27Black-Bottom Brownies
For the neatest, cleanest edges, freeze the brownies for 15 minutes so they’re nice and firm before cutting, and dip your knife in hot water between each slice.
Peden + Munk15/27Trout Roe and Turnip Toast
No need for specific measurements of ingredients here. Make the toast how you want it.
Photo by Heidi's Bridge, styling by Anna Billingskog16/27Stovetop Mac and Cheese
Muenster and Fontina are pretty soft cheeses and can be difficult to grate, so just stick both in the freezer 10 minutes to let them firm up before starting.
Elizabeth Cecil17/27Peaches with Ginger Syrup and Buttermilk
You'll love this riff on classic peaches and cream.


Photo by Laura Murray20/27Savory Palmiers With Cream Cheese and Everything Spice
You may be able to find pre-made everything spice in the grocery store for these palmiers. If not, it’s easy enough to make. Double the recipe and keep it around for topping plain yogurt.
Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott21/27Baked Three-Cheese Onion Dip With Chive and Peperoncini
When great dips get together, it’s magic. This recipe boasts all the beauty of a creamy onion dip with the irresistible appeal of queso.
Alex Lau22/27Cream Cheese Frosting
Use this easy, creamy vanilla cream cheese frosting with our best white cupcakes.
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon, Food Styling by Maggie Ruggiero23/27Cream Cheese Pound Cake
This velvety pound cake is versatile; serve it with ripe summer berries or a warm fruit compote.
Alex Lau24/27Waffle with Cream Cheese and Smashed Berries
Use a frozen whole grain waffle, or freeze leftover homemade waffles between sheets of waxed paper.
Alex Lau25/27Chocolate Sheet Cake With Crème Fraîche Frosting
Room temperature cream cheese and butter are key to a smooth frosting (cold ingredients will form hard beads). Take them both out of the refrigerator three hours ahead of time.
Milk Bar26/27Momofuku Milk Bar’s Birthday Layer Cake
Is this cake a project? Yes, it certainly is. But you can tackle it one component at a time and work well in advance of party day. Watch the video here.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman27/27Spinach Artichoke Dip
Be sure to squeeze out as much liquid as possible from the spinach. Adding spinach that is too wet could upset the creamy harmony of the rest of the ingredients.