Whether sweet or savoury, indulgent or healthy dishes, cream cheese is one versatile ingredient.
Explore how you can make the most of this super-smooth cheese in these creative recipes including everything from savoury dips and sandwiches, cheese balls and muffins or sweet slices to the classic cheesecake, cupcakes and even a festive Yule log.
New York cheesecake
Our ultimate recipe, plus four flavour variations.
Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting
Just look at those gorgeous layers!
Easy lemon cheesecake
Make these individual cheesecakes with an easy biscuit base and a few simple ingredients.
Raspberry ricotta cheese cake with amaretti crust
The amaretti biscuit base gives this raspberry ricotta cheesecake a lovely almond flavour.
Onion cheese ball
This retro cheese ball is a appetiser you’ll want to recreate for years to come.
Lattice biscuit citrus cheesecake
No oven? No problem!
Bistro cheesecake
A classic family favourite.
Red velvet cake
There’s so much to love about red velvet cake.
Mixed berry baked cheesecake
It’s berry good!
Creamed corn and bacon cob loaf
Never out of fashion, and always moreish.
Easy caramel cheesecake
Decadence doesn’t have to be complicated!
Christmas Yule log cake
Yule log cake recipe is perfect for celebrating the Christmas season – delicious vanilla cake filled with hazelnut cream and decorated with chocolate ganache.
Hummingbird squares with cream cheese frosting
Not your average hummingbird.
White chocolate and berry cheesecake slice
A classic combo!
Cream cheese-filled banana bread
Forget cream cheese frosting – this banana bread has tangy delicious cream cheese all through it!
Fresh cherry pies with orange cream cheese pastry
These pretty little pies taste just as good as they look. Use fresh cherries when they are in season; otherwise thawed frozen cherries will do.
Sugar-free carrot cakes with date cream cheese frosting
These delicious little carrot cakes make the perfect after school snack. The kids won’t even know they’re sugar-free!
Banana cake with cream cheese frosting
Fluffy, golden banana cake is made even more delicious when spread with a generous dollop of a sweet, creamy cheese frosting. Perfect served slice as a rich weekend treat.
Mini cream cheese tarts
A golden, flaky crust surrounds the divine cream cheese filling in these sweet mini tarts. Topped with fresh strawberries and passionfruit, they are perfect for a quick dessert or light finger food when entertaining guests.
Smoked salmon muffins with cream cheese filling
To make lunchtime morsels, add a few rocket leaves to the mix with the salmon, then bake in regular-sized muffin tins.
Gravlax on rye with herbed cream cheese
Not suitable to freeze or microwave. Note
Cheesecake brownies
Pairing two of our favourite desserts, rich and creamy cheesecake and decadent chocolate brownies, this dessert recipe is sure to please any sweet tooth. Make a batch to share with your loved ones this weekend.
Strawberry lattice slice
Lattice Biscuits are no longer being made, but any plain un-iced biscuit can be used.
Tuna dip
Don’t be fooled by the list of simple ingredients. This dip never fails to be a winner. Serve with a crusty, sliced baguette, or crispy corn chips and watch it disappear.
Sweet chilli cream cheese dip
Leave the cream cheese to soften or if you haven’t the time, cut it into cubes and beat it with an electric mixer before adding other ingredients. Note
Cream cheese fruit cake
We used glacé peaches and pineapple in this delicious, moist cake recipe. Glacé pears, apricots, cherries and figs could also be used.
Choc-fudge cream cheese slice
This simple slice is a sweet tooth’s heaven – rich, chocolatey and laced with swirls of cream-cheese.
Bacon and corn dip
This savoury dip is quick and easy to make and goes equally well with corn chips, crudités, or vegetable sticks. It’s perfect for a gathering of family and friends, or an after-school snack.
Crab dip
This crab dip literally couldn’t be easier, or yummier. Serve with fresh vegetable sticks or crisp flat bread.
Cream cheese and olive palmiers
Filling can be made a day ahead. Cover; refrigerate until required. Palmiers, flat, flaky, palm-shaped French pastries, are traditionally made as a sweet with caramelised sugar. We have come up with this savoury version. Note
Bruschetta with smoked salmon, cream cheese and rocket
Whip up this light and delicious bruschetta for a quick lunch or appetiser.
Smoked salmon and herbed cream cheese
This recipe is not suitable to freeze. Note
Cream cheese-filled brandied dates
Toffee is best made just before serving or up to 1 hour beforehand. Note
Ginger beer date cake with cream cheese frosting
Don’t be too concerned if your cake has a small dip in the middle; it will be covered with icing. Note
Roast beef and herbed cream cheese rolls
You could use pastrami, shaved turkey or chicken breast instead of the beef. Note
Smoked salmon and cream cheese stacks
If salmon slices are less than 6cm wide, you can use two pieces side by side. Overlap edges of salmon then press them together gently before cutting out rounds. Note
Lattice slice with passionfruit icing
You need to buy 2 packets of lattice biscuits for this recipe. The slice will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Note
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