Smoked cream cheese is arguably one of the most delicious yet easy-to-make recipes. This appetizer combines perfectly with chips, bread, crackers, and raw veggies. So if you’re looking for an easy and effective recipe, you’re in for a treat. Keep reading to uncover a list of ingredients for the perfect smoked cream cheese recipe.

What Is Smoked Cream Cheese?

Smoke cream cheese is seasoned and smoked cream cheese. Cream cheese itself is a soft type of cheese made from milk cream. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines cream cheese as containing at least 33% fat with a significantly higher water content of about 55%. 

Cream cheese is a popular treat for many Americans. According to Statista, approximately 140 million Americans used a variation of cream cheese in 2020. In this article, however, we’ll be discussing smoked cream cheese.

This type of cheese is typically smoked but seasoned first. To make a smoked cream cheese recipe, you’ll need to fire up the grill. Then, you can serve this appetizer with chips, bread, crackers, and even raw veggies.

Here are a few of the best ingredients to make the perfect cheese appetizer.

How To Smoke Cream Cheese

First, gathering your ingredients to make smoked cream cheese. We recommend using full-fat cream cheese for this recipe.

Some people prefer having cold smoked cream cheese, while some prefer having it hot. Either way, this dip is excellent when served hot or cold.

Here are other ingredients to consider to make the perfect smoked cream cheese dip.

Smoked Cream Cheese

Smoke cream cheese is seasoned and smoked cream cheese. Cream cheese itself is a soft type of cheese made from milk cream. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines cream cheese as containing at least 33% fat with a significantly higher water content of about 55%. This appetizer combines perfectly with chips, bread, crackers, and raw veggies.

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Prep Time 2 mins

Cook Time 1 hr

Total Time 1 hr 2 mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Servings 8

Calories 97 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 8 oz Cream cheese
• 1 Tbsp Dry rub
• 1-2 teaspoons Olive oil
• Shallot (Optional)
• Head of Garlic (Optional)
• Favorite Seasoning Dry ranch seasoning mix, taco seasoning, Greek seasoning, bagel seasoning, BBQ rub and Montreal seasoning,...

Instructions

 

Seasoning

• Season your cream cheese with a dry seasoning mix or onion soup mix. If you want a more barbequed flavor, try a couple of spoons of barbeque rub. Other season ideas include the dry ranch seasoning mix, taco seasoning, Greek Seasoning, everything bagel seasoning, and Montreal seasoning.

Rubbing

• Brush it with olive oil before sprinkling it with a couple of tablespoons of your seasoning rub.
• Use neutral-tasting oil if you don't fancy olive oil.
• Season the block of cheese according to your preferences.

Grilling

• The next step is smoking the cream cheese. You can use a grill oven or smoker. We recommend using a smoker as it produces the best results. However, smoked cream cheese in the oven also tastes excellent.
• You'll want to heat the grill or smoker to 225°F or 107 °C. Place the entire aluminum pan in the smoker or over.
• Let it cook for about 1.5 hours to 2 hours. Once this time is up, gently remove your smoked cream cheese and serve.

Keyword smoked cream cheese recipe

Tips and Tricks When Preparing Smoked Cheese

Smoked cream cheese has an unparalleled flavor, making it the perfect appetizer in any household. It packs a fiery and delicious punch, making it the best party center. With these tips written below, you will find it relatively easy to achieve the warm cheesy dip you desire:

1. Use full-fat cream cheese that doesn’t have a lot of preservatives. This type of cheese has more flavor compared to the others. You can also substitute with low-fat cheese. Do not use fat-free cheese since it will not soften properly.
2. Make sure you select a rub that compliments the spices you chose to add. 
3. You should note that cold cheese will better absorb the smoke. Therefore, you should wrap the cheese in foil and store it in the fridge for about ten minutes. 
4. Make shallow slits on the top of the cheese. Scoring the cream cheese will ensure it opens up the block and allow the smoky flavor to reach the middle of the block. In addition, it will also make it easier to eat. You will easily reach for the gooey parts with your crackers when dipping. 
5. To properly score the cheese, you should wet the knife you will use, which will help you cut through the cream cheese without rubbing off the dry rub. Use a paper towel to clean off the blade after each slit.

      6. Instead of using aluminum foil on your smoker, you can substitute it with an iron skillet, allowing you to serve it directly. 

      7. Check the edges of the grilling cream cheese to know whether it is ready. The score lines will pull from each other, and the inside of the cream cheese will be warm. 

      8. Place the leftovers in an airtight bowl to store the smoked cheese and cover it with plastic wrap. Ensure that the wrap touches the top of the cheese to prevent moisture from getting to the cheese. Refrigerate until subsequent use.

      9. You can serve your cream cheese hot or cold, depending on your preference. 

    10. For a crowd of ten people, two or three blocks of smoked cream cheese dip are sufficient. 

Nutrition Information of Smoked Cream Cheese

Smoked cream cheese is a somewhat healthy appetizer. If you are doing a keto diet, you can easily nimble on this without affecting your dietary restrictions. However, what you serve your smoked cream cheese with will majorly affect your caloric intake. Most people serve smoked cream cheese with pepper jelly, tacos, dessert, bacon, or bagel.

Below you will find the nutritional information on smoked cream cheese:

• Saturated fat 6 g
• Trans fat 0.2 g
• Cholesterol 30 mg
• Sodium 230 g
• Total sugars 2 g
• Carbohydrates 2 g
• Protein 2 g
• Calcium 20.10 mg
• Sodium 200.10 mg

Conclusion

Smoked cream cheese is a delight paired with different kinds of dishes. The dish’s versatility makes it an exceptional serving for parties or small gatherings. According to the National Library of Medicine, you can substitute cream cheese for a non-dairy plant-based cheese alternative. With more consumers looking for a plant-based alternative to improve health, you can easily purchase plant-based cheese for your next recipe.