Chefs share the best and worst dishes to make with cream cheese

Sophia MitrokostasJan 2, 2021, 21:53 IST

Cream cheese can elevate brownies.Shutterstock

Insider asked chefs about their favorite ways to cook and bake with cream cheese, plus the dishes they'd never use it in.
They suggested adding cream cheese to macaroni and cheese or mashed cauliflower for extra richness.
Cream cheese can also upgrade macaroni and cheese or be the star of a frosting.
Chefs said cream cheese won't add much to Alfredo sauce or lasagna.

Cream cheese is soft cheese that's at least 33% milk fat, and it's good for much more than spreading on bagels.

Read on for some of the best (and worst) things to make with cream cheese, according to chefs.

Cream cheese can add body to macaroni and cheese.

Cream cheese can be added to boxed mac and cheese, too. Igor Dutina/Shutterstock

Cream-cheese frosting pairs well with a range of cake flavors. SingerGM / Shutterstock

Cream cheese can improve the texture of homemade ice cream. Eva Orlova/Shutterstock

Cream cheese can add a cheesecake flavor to your brownies. Ika Rahma H/Shutterstock

Mashed cauliflower can be served as a side dish. Julia Mikhaylova/Shutterstock

Cinnamon rolls can become even sweeter with a cream-cheese icing. Shirley Cheng/Business Insider, Clancy Morgan/Business Insider

Flavored cream cheese can elevate a piece of toast. Shutterstock

You can use creme patisserie to fill chocolate eclairs. Shutterstock

Use more parmesan instead of adding cream cheese to your sauce. Crystal Kirk/ Shutterstock

Cream cheese won't really add much flavor to a casserole. wsmahar/iStock

Cream cheese doesn't pair well with all types of sushi. Shutterstock

Consider adding parmesan to lasagna instead. Shutterstock

Spice up your pinwheels by using spreadable cheese instead. Shutterstock