Cream cheese is a popular dessert ingredient. It is a staple product because of its mild and creamy flavor with a hint of saltiness and smooth texture, which are perfect for making a variety of flavorful sweet treats. This versatile ingredient will add a special touch to your desserts that are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
There is no textbook way to use cream cheese. This block of goodness can be used as frosting or even as a filling. You can use more when you have some extra on hand. Whip up a treat that can be a perfect finale for every meal or a go-to snack. Can you freeze cream cheese? Yes, you can enjoy it warm or chilled. Here is a list of decadent desserts that you can make with cream cheese to satisfy your cravings:
1. Cheesecake
Do not deny it. When you think of cream cheese, you also think of cheesecake. For this dessert, cream cheese is the star of the show. It gives the cake the delightful melt-in-your-mouth feel that keeps you coming back for more.
Unlike other cakes, cheesecake is usually flourless with a crushed graham cracker base that adds a crunch to the otherwise mousse texture. Add a combination of milk, sugar, and eggs to the cream cheese to create that custard mixture, and then bake on low heat. You can also make a no-bake cheesecake by removing the eggs from your recipe. For this, instead of using heat, you can put the mixture in the fridge to solidify it into a cake.
There are different types of cheesecake out there, and all of them are unique on their own. From the famous New York-style cheesecake to the crowd-favorite blueberry cheesecake, down to the classic cheesecake, this dessert is sure to put a smile on your face with every bite.
2. Red Velvet Cupcakes
Red velvet cupcake is a classic dessert and an all-time favorite of many because of its sweet taste and moist texture. The red color is an eye-catching characteristic of this treat, which entices you more to take a bite and give in to its richness.
Although they are red, red velvet cupcakes are chocolate-flavored. This goes well with a generous amount of cream cheese frosting on top that adds decadence and smoothness to the overall balance of flavor and texture.
Simply, cream cheese frosting is a combination of cream cheese, softened butter, sugar, and vanilla extract. These ingredients are thoroughly beaten together until the mixture turns fluffy and pipeable. This creamy add-on is perfect for making your cupcakes fancier.
You can experiment and top other cupcake flavors with cream cheese frosting. This is a fool-proof addition to your recipe that is sure to amp the sweetness of your eating experience. But maybe you will find yourself craving the red velvet and cream cheese combination because nothing tops a classic flavor.
3. Ice Cream
Believe it or not, there is a science to prove that cream cheese is a perfect addition to ice cream. If you are planning on making your homemade version of this sweet treat, then consider adding cream cheese to your recipe.
Cream cheese is a stabilizer. Simply put, it maintains the thickness and smoothness of the ice cream that gives an enjoyable mouthfeel together with the taste. Although ice cream is a temperature-sensitive dessert and can melt easily and lose its original texture, nobody wants a gooey or gritty ice cream scoop. Make sure to add in some cream cheese to bind your mixture and seal the creaminess.
It also does not hurt that cream cheese adds a savory touch to your ice cream flavor. What could go wrong with a sweet and savory dessert? Nothing!
4. Crepes
Crepes may be challenging to make, but they are worth it. These thin pancakes are soft and crispy and are best served with a filling and some toppings. It’s also great as an on-the-go snack that you can enjoy while strolling or sightseeing.
Although crepes can be eaten flat and stacked over one another like your regular pancakes, a rolled crepe is a popular way to serve this dessert. To make a rolled crepe, simply put some filling in the middle and a topping of your choice to add flavor and texture to your dessert. Fresh fruits such as strawberries and bananas are popular crepe toppings. Once you are done filling the crepe, pull the ends of the thin pancake toward the middle to cover what’s inside.
Usually, crepes are filled with whipped heavy cream to give that creamy taste. But you can also add cream cheese to the mix to make the filling even thicker and chewier. You may also add some lemon juice or lemon zest to give the dessert a tangy flavor that would mix well with the sweetness.
5. Cream Cheese Brownies
Brownies are one of the easiest desserts to make. Nothing could go wrong with the fudgy goodness of a brownie that everyone is sure to enjoy. But it won’t hurt to experiment and throw in a new ingredient or two to enhance your recipe or create a new flavor.
On top of the brownie batter, you can try adding a layer of cream cheese mixture. You can make this by thoroughly mixing some cream cheese, eggs, vanilla extract, sugar, and salt. It is your choice if you want to add another layer of brownie batter on top of the cream cheese mixture. Just make sure that everything won’t be too dense once you pop it in the oven, or else it can mess with the texture of your brownies.
Cream cheese goes extremely well with chocolate. You may think that mixing the two would result in an overly sweet blend, but the outcome is surprisingly decadent—not sugary or artificial.
Closing Thoughts
Desserts are fun foods that give us an extra boost of happiness whenever we eat them. Cream cheese is an all-around ingredient you can use to make your dessert smoother and pop with more flavor. If you are interested in making the desserts mentioned above, stock your fridge with cream cheese blocks. You might just get addicted and make it a hobby to prepare homemade desserts. If you are interested in checking out dessert recipes, visit Recipes.net to get started.