Spiced Cream Cheese Spread is a great flavor variation from the conventional cream cheese spread.
The cream cheese spread makes it easy to jazz up your sandwich. I use it as simple bread spread for breakfast or as a snack.
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What is this Cream Cheese Spread?
I have been disappointed by flavored commercial cream cheese such as Philadelphia in the past.
The plainly flavored cream cheese available in the market is alright, but the ones with herbs and spices or garlic are just plain boring!
So one fine day I just mixed cream cheese, some garlic, and spices and voilà my spicy cream cheese spread recipe was born!
Over the years, I have hardly changed ingredients, and that's because the spiced cream cheese spread is perfect as it is.
This dip is somewhat inspired by the Liptauer, which is a popular cottage cheese spread and dip in Central Europe.
Ingredients
- Cream Cheese — Get some creamy, plain flavored, quality cream cheese, or at least one that you enjoy.
- Garlic Cloves — Fresh, chopped.
- Cayenne Pepper — Alternatively, you can play with adding other hot ingredients, such as a few drops from a hot sauce. Try smoked ground cayenne pepper!
- Turmeric — Adds color.
- Salt & Black Pepper Ground
- Cilantro — Fresh, see further below for other herb ideas.
In terms of flavor, the garlic is dominating the recipe, followed by the chili and a bit of turmeric.
By adding cilantro as a topping, you improve the aesthetics of the spread and add another flavor dimension
📖 Recipe
Spiced Cream Cheese Spread
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoon Cream Cheese
- Garlic Powder pinch
- ½ Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper Ground
- ½ Teaspoon Turmeric Ground
- Pinch Salt
- Pinch Black Pepper Ground
- Cilantro Fresh to garnish, chopped fresh
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients except the cilantro in a bowl to a well incorporated spicy cream cheese.2 Tablespoon Cream Cheese, Garlic Powder, ½ Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper Ground, ½ Teaspoon Turmeric Ground, Pinch Salt, Pinch Black Pepper Ground
- Spread on your bread and garnish with the chopped Cilantro.Cilantro Fresh
Nutrition
Herb Topping Ideas
I like to top my bread slathered with this spicy cream cheese spread. My favorite toppings are usually green fresh herbs.
You are free to pick any herb of your choice. Choose between fresh parsley, cilantro, chives, garden cress and arugula.
Especially garden cress adds a lovely refreshing touch to the spread, and we commonly use this herb on cheese spreads and dips in Central Europe.
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover in a small covered container in the fridge. You can double the recipe and store in the fridge to use up during the week (work snack).
Uses
- As bread spread
- As a cracker dip
- As a sandwiche filling
More Cheese Dip Ideas
The post spiced cream cheese spread was first published at masalaherb.com on the 19th June 2013 and has been enhanced and updated ever since.
The spread looks lovely and spicy.
I used to use cream cheese in my Hungarian Paprika Spread but now I use goats cheese. Your recipe, flavoured with these flavours must be awesome, you really knocked it out of the park! Beautiful recipe.
This sounds like the perfect spread on a slice of bread or a whole wheat cracker. A cup of piping hot chai with it would great too!
The spread looks lovely and spicy. I am not a fan of American style cream cheese, but I would very well see it with some good quality quark... I always combine it with chives, so time to change!
Oh yeah quark but that's something rather rare here in india, if not a luxury. We have to live with cream cheese and that's ok. =) Thank you Sissi!
Delicious and perfect with homemade bread. That loaf looks really good.
Cheers,
Rosa
Mmmm I can see how one could dive into your spicy cream cheese, Helene. Garlic and tumeric are consumed almost daily by my husband, too. So, I'm very happy to know about this recipe =) Many thanks.
P.s. Wish I could send you some whole grain bread...There are so many varieties here in Southern California...Guess you'll just have to visit =)
Oh! How lovely! Usually I make a sweet cream cheese spread but I love the sound of this spicy one. Ryan and I love chili and tumeric so I'm sure we'd love this. Thank you so much for sharing it with us tonight!
A very creamy and delicious spread...I like mine with cumin or smoked paparika. Great with wholewheat bread.
Hi Helene, Popping by from your comment from my guest post at girlichef to say hello. It's nice to meet you too. 😉 I love the spicy flavors you have going on with this spread and the color from the turmeric is so pretty too. I'm glad to have found your blog-going to take a look at that mango jam now.
Aloha,
Deb, Kahakai Kitchen
That's great that you are finding ways to satisfy your cravings. I love spicy cream cheese and would love a slice of your bread with your cream cheese. Yum!
I love the flavor you've added to this! Such a great spread.
thank you Joanne I think you d enjoy it.
Oh that looks like some creamy happiness! It really sounds fantastic, and would be perfect for breakfast tomorrow! Yum, Hugs, Terra
Great, enjoy Terra! =)
wow, I love what you've done with ordinary cream cheese! I have to try this.
yeah do that and let me know what you think. 😉
I love cream cheese for so many things, from frostings to spreads and coffee cakes. Spicy, I like this recipe Helene!
Oh then you ll have a good time with this spicy cream cheese recipe. =)
Oh you little "devil" making me crave spicy cream cheese this early in the morning. I may just have it with some toast. Not to worry Helene, I'll have a few bites for you too!
Thank you so much for sharing...
P.S. Do you want to join us in the Picnic Game? It's going to be a GREAT one this year! Drop by my blog for a letter if you like. A taste of exotic flair would be just wonderful! (or any ol thing would be GREAT too:)
I didn't know you d be up so early. =P Well, enjoy!
I love cream cheese, but am guilty of serving it as-is too often. It takes so well to a little spicy enhancement, and you've done a great job. Really lovely post - thanks.
Agreed, same "problem" here too, but then maybe it isn't that bad for us no? 😉
LOVE your cheese spread! We have these little snacks for lunch sometime so I'll be giving your recipe a try real soon. Love the seasoning! What kind of bread is that? Looks like the perfect bread for this spread.
Oh that's a sourdough bread. I like it with the spicy cream cheese. ^.^ You have a point, the spread goes well with dark breads or even black bread.
Spicy cream cheese deliciousness!
yep just the way we like it!
Sigh, I miss cream cheese. I used to eat it with freshly made chunky strawberry jam on top.
However, I have never tried a spicy one before. I'm going to make a batch of this for my fella (he's lactose happy!) I just know he's going to love it!
Thanks Helene 🙂
Janie x
Really with strawberry jam? never thought of that. Sorry to hear that you can't eat milk products, that sucks Jane. At least your boy will enjoy it. =)
What about adding a little paprika [of whatever kind to make this a Liptauer of sorts - use that every day my life 😀 !]
I had already posted a liptauer recipe eha, here -> http://masalaherb.com/2012/03/liptauer-spread-dip.html . This one is different and more spicy. Has nothing to do with the real Liptauer. 😉
Thank you for the link: this came before 'my time' 🙂 ! Bothy interesting to use !!
lol yep that was way before your time ^.^
You make cream cheese to be one of the best spreads ever 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
=)