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Rochelle Begin
Rochelle Begin
Rochelle Bilow is a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and former social media manager at Bon Appétit and Cooking Light magazines. She has also worked as a chef on a small farm in central New York and a Michelin restaurant in New York City. Her first book, a food and farming memoir entitled The Call of the Farm, was published in 2014. Her second book, a romance novel set in Scotland, will be published in February 2023.
published July 7, 2022
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Ask almost any bagel lover: A slice of good cream cheese is a necessary part of any fresh bagelbagel. It is also an important ingredient in many pastries and sweets, e.gcheesecakeofglaze. But what if you run out of cream cheese? Or did you forget to pick up a package during your last shopping trip? What if it islack of cream cheeseand you can't find anyone?
Fortunately, there are plenty of great alternatives for a variety of cream cheese-related pursuits. Keep reading to find out which cream cheese substitute is best for the recipe you're working on.
What can you replace with cream cheese?
Not all cream cheese substitutes are created equal. Some work better as a topping or in onedive, and others do best in baked goods. Ten tested cream cheese swaps are thick strained yogurt, crème fraîche, Neufchâtel cheese, vegan cream cheese, mascarpone, ricotta, cottage cheese, fresh goat cheese, butter and silken tofu. Keep reading to learn about the ingredients that work when you don't have cream cheese.
When to replace cream cheese with strained yogurt?
Strained yogurt is thick and creamy – Greek yogurt or Icelandic skyr are examples. These work really well in place of cream cheese orbaked recipes like this casserole. And here's a crucial tip: Because cream cheese has a high fat content, it's a good idea to buy yogurt made with whole milk instead of 2% or skim milk. The texture will be much closer to traditional cream cheese.
When should crème fraîche be replaced by cream cheese?
Crème fraiche has a slightly tangier flavor than cream cheese, but adds a similarly delicious richness. It's best indoorsdipsIndish, unlike baked goods.
When to replace Neufchâtel cheese with cream cheese?
If your grocery store is out of cream cheese, chances are it's also lowNeufchatel. But it doesn't hurt to check or upgrade this when possible. The authentic French version of this cheese has a slightly floury rind (think Brie, but much less fat). American versions are very similar in taste and texture to cream cheese, but contain less fat than regular cream cheese. Essentially, it's the original low-fat cream cheese. You can substitute Neufchâtel for cream cheese one at a time in many recipes, including dips, spreads, sauces and desserts.
When to replace vegan cream cheese with cream cheese?
Jennifer Walls, one of the founders of All-Diets-Welcome BakeryThe sweet practicein Syracuse, New York, uses plant-based cream cheese for many of the bakery's treats. "Miyoko'sis very tasty,” she says, adding that she sometimes makes her own vegan cream cheese at home. Store-bought vegan cream cheese is the safest choice when it comes to baking because its texture closely matches the original stuff.
When to replace mascarpone cheese with cream cheese?
This Italian cheese is incredibly thick, creamy and sweet with a subtle flavor. Does that sound familiar? Mascarpone is very close in texture and taste to cream cheese, making it one of the best all-around substitutes. Try it on a bagel!
When to replace ricotta cheese with cream cheese?
Another Italian winner, ricotta, can be replaced with cream cheese with a little kick. Since it has curds in it, you'll want to blend it or put it in the food processor before baking with it. Of course, if there is onecheesecakeyou wanted to make, you could always drop itNew York styleexclusive to the Italian version, which relies on ricotta.
When should cottage cheese be replaced by cream cheese?
Think: ricotta, but faster. The curd in cottage cheese is large and pronounced, so you should definitely not skip the mixing step before cooking or baking with it.
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It also doesn't hurt to drain the liquid in thin or watery versions before mixing. You won't fool anyone into thinking that cottage cheese is a traditional bagel topper, but it can get the job done in both savory and sweet varieties.stews.
When should fresh goat cheese be replaced by cream cheese?
Goat cheese has a more distinctive flavor than cream cheese (fans and detractors alike call it "barnyard"), but it can be a good substitute. Fresh goat cheese, or chevre, is crumblier than cream cheese, so it may help to mix it with a little whole milk before using it in recipes. Try it in vegetable dips that call for cream cheese.
When to replace butter or vegan butter with cream cheese?
Walls says vegan butter is her bakery's trick for authentic-tasting plant-based frosting. "We also make an American buttercream for cream cheese frosting on cakesThe balance of the earthInstead of butter, we also add lemon juice and vanilla extract to mimic the taste of cream cheese,” she says. It's the icing on the cake for their vegan carrot cake.
When to replace silken tofu with lemon cream cheese?
Tofu, made from fermented soybeans, is not a flavor twin of cream cheese. (Adding lemon and a dash of vanilla helps.) But texture-wise, it works just as well in baked goods. Try it in a pudding and see for yourself. Make sure you buy silken, not firm or extra firm tofu.
How to make cream cheese substitutes when baking
Some cream cheese substitutes can be made free-form or by "pushing the eyes." As a general rule, recipes that rely on adding cream cheesescandalous wealth-like itstewsIndive-can be approached with creativity.
On the other hand, baked goods that require science and exact ingredient ratios - again withcheesecake- must be approached with precision. Look for recipes that involve the different ingredients and are formulated to accommodate their different chemistry. For example, instead of just using vegan cream cheese in place of cream cheese in your favorite NY-style cake,follow a recipe that includes plant-based thingsin the list of ingredients.
Final thoughts
It's frustrating when you run out of cream cheese in the middle of a recipe. To avoid headaches, you can add extra containers or cubes of cream cheese. Unlike another common elusive baking ingredient, buttermilk, cream cheese lasts a long time in the refrigerator. You can also freeze cream cheese; Just be sure to wrap it tightly in plastic and store it in a freezer-safe container.
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