How to make smoked cream cheese

Learn the process for smoked cream cheese. Then try one of my 12 different sweet and savory flavor combinations for the perfect party dip.

What is smoked cream cheese

The idea of smoked cream cheese has gone viral over the past few years, but it’s actually nothing new.

Cream cheese is a soft cheese that’s really creamy and used in sweet dishes like cheesecakes or in savory dishes like lox and bagels.

People have smoked cheese for centuries to preserve it, just like smoking meats. Usually, hard cheeses like gouda, cheddar or provolone are used. But soft cheeses like cream cheese were also smoked and sold at delis and meat markets in the U.S. as far back as the 1940s.

When its smoked, the cream cheese takes on the gentle smoke flavor of whatever type of wood you use, which makes it more complex.

What to do with smoked cream cheese

Once you have a brick of smoked cream cheese, you can use it in so many ways.

The most popular option is to top it with something sweet like hot honey, maple syrup, fig jam, cranberry sauce or red pepper jelly. Serve it with chips or crackers.

For a more savory option, you can also top it with salsa, enchilada sauce or chili.

I have listed 12 different flavor combinations below.

Try folding into macaroni and cheese or my smoked cream cheese crack dip or smear it on a burger. The options are only limited by your imagination.

Ingredients

• Cream Cheese: The main ingredient is a block of cream cheese. You can use full-fat cream cheese or the reduced-fat kind.
• Seasoning: Use whatever type of seasoning you want based on the flavors you’re going for. For a savory block use taco seasoning, seasoned salt, bagel seasoning, ranch seasoning, cajun seasoning or your favorite BBQ rub. For a sweeter block of cheese, use cinnamon sugar.
• Toppings: To serve the cream cheese as an appetizer, you’ll likely want fig jam, honey or salsa.
• Chips or Crackers: Some popular options include pita chips, tortilla chips, wheat crackers, bagel chips, graham crackers or nilla wafers.

See the full recipe card below for servings and a full list of ingredients.

How to smoke cream cheese

Heat your smoker or pellet grill to 200F degrees with an indirect heat zone. Hickory and cherry wood chunks or pellets go great with cream cheese. If you’re using a gas grill, use wood chips in an aluminum foil pouch.

1. STEP ONE: Place the block of cream cheese on a cast iron skillet or baking sheet. Score diamonds on the top with a sharp knife.

2. STEP TWO: Sprinkle the seasoning on top of the cream cheese block.

3. STEP THREE: Place the pan of cream cheese into the grill over indirect heat and smoke for 90 minutes.

4. STEP FOUR: After 90 minutes, the diamonds will start to separate and the cheese will have a nice amber color.

How to serve smoked cream cheese

Once your cream cheese is smoked, you can serve it on sandwiches or burgers as a spread. It’s awesome on BLTs.

Or keep it on the pan and pour on jam, salsa or honey. For added color and texture you can also sprinkle on some fresh herbs or green onions.

Serve with crackers, chips, apple slices or fresh veggies.

12 fun smoked cream cheese recipes

By mixing up any of the below flavor combinations, you have so many options for easy appetizers or desserts.

Savory smoked cream cheese pairings

• Mexican Smoked Cream Cheese
  • Season with taco seasoning.
  • Top salsa or enchilada sauce.
  • Serve with tortilla chips.
• Smoked Cream Cheese and Lox
  • Season with everything bagel seasoning.
  • Top with smoked salmon, capers and sliced red onions.
  • Serve with bagel chips.
• BBQ Smoked Cream Cheese
  • Season with your favorite BBQ Rub.
  • Top with your favorite BBQ sauce and shredded BBQ meat.
  • Serve with barbecue potato chips.
• Chili Smoked Cream Cheese
  • Season with chili powder.
  • Top with leftover chili.
  • Serve with Fritos corn chips.

Sweet smoked cream cheese pairings

• Pecan Pie Smoked Cream Cheese
  • Season with cinnamon sugar.
  • Top with maple syrup and chopped pecans.
  • Serve with shortbread cookies.
• Cheesecake Smoked Cream Cheese
  • Season with cinnamon sugar.
  • Top with chocolate syrup and sliced strawberries.
  • Serve with graham crackers.
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoked Cream Cheese
  • Season with brown sugar
  • Top with chocolate syrup, melted peanut butter and peanuts.
  • Serve with nilla wafers.
• Lemon Smoked Cream Cheese
  • Season with granulated sugar.
  • Top with lemon curd and blueberries.
  • Serve with shortbread cookies.

Sweet and savory smoked cream cheese pairings

• Simple Hot Honey Smoked Cream Cheese
  • Season with your favorite BBQ rub.
  • Top with a drizzle of hot honey.
  • Serve with chips or crackers.
• Fig and Blue Cheese Smoked Cream Cheese
  • Season with seasoned salt.
  • Top with fig jam, chopped walnuts and blue cheese crumbles.
  • Serve with wheat crackers.
• Christmas Smoked Cream Cheese
  • Season with seasoned salt.
  • Top with cranberry sauce and chopped pistachios.
  • Serve with crackers and sliced apples.
• Sweet Red Pepper Jelly Smoked Cream Cheese
  • Season with your favorite BBQ rub.
  • Top with red pepper jelly.
  • Serve with tortilla chips or crackers.

Storage

Store leftover smoked cream cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to seven days. You can enjoy it cold or reheat it in the microwave.