Well-smoked cream cheese is a perfect addition to your cheese plate, especially if it is smoked with spices, jellies, and herbs. It is a mouthwatering appetizer that anyone would want to try out. But what does it exactly take to prepare a smoked cream cheese?
While the options for making a delicious smoked cheese are endless, the simplest way to smoke the delicious appetizer entails adhering to the following steps;
- Adding mustard or oil
- Score the cheese
- Seasoning the cream cheese
- Setting the smoker at 200 degrees Fahrenheit and smoking the cheese for 2 hours.
Smoking cream cheese should never be a complex task as long as you have all the necessary equipment and little know-how to go through the entire process. Read on for more details on how to smoke a delicious cream cheese.
Smoked Cream Cheese Recipes
Sometimes smoking cream cheese requires that you have all the ingredients with you. Different variations may help make your smoking effort rewarding. They include;
Taco Seasoning
Having taco seasoning at your disposal is a game changer. A Mexican spice blend with an addition of dash ancho chile powder will make a fantastic bottom layer for a dip.
Garlic And Pepper Blend
You can decide to keep the seasoning of your cream cheese block simple by embracing a blend of pepper and garlic powder. Since the cream cheese already has salt, you need to avoid salt to avoid making it too salty.
Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pecan
The brown sugar Cinnamon Pecan can make an excellent seasoning for your cream cheese block. Coat the cream cheese block with a mixture of cinnamon, crushed pecans, and brown sugar for a delicious dessert of cream cheese. This recipe is best served with crisps and sliced apples made with dried fruit and nuts.
Mediterranean
The Mediterranean recipe involves topping your cream cheese block with herbs such as dill, thyme, and rosemary, a generous drizzle of cracked pepper, olive oil, and a pinch of sea salt. The Mediterranean-inspired cream cheese is best served with sliced baguette, pita chips, or fresh-cut veggies.
How Do You Smoke Cream Cheese
There are many different recipes for smoked cream cheese. It all depends on how you want to make it. The following recipe should make it easy for you to prepare a delicious cream cheese appetizer.
1. Add A Mustard Binder
The first step is to add oil or a mustard binder to your cream cheese. Adding a binder is crucial because it helps the seasoning stick well to the block of the cheese. The result is that you will have a uniform flavor layer in every part of the cheese. Either olive oil or a mustard binder will work well for this purpose.
2. Score The Cheese
Once you have added olive oil or a mustard binder, the next step is to take a knife and make thin slits on the top of the cream cheese block, following a uniform pattern. The significance of this step is that it makes it easier for the seasoning to penetrate deeper. Further, it makes the block of cheese appear more attractive. However, there is nothing wrong if you skip this step.
3. Season The Cheese
After adding a binder and scoring your cream cheese block, the next step is to season it with your favorite seasoning. Here, you can opt for your barbecue rub or any other seasoning of your liking. A handy bottle of pork rub will give you fantastic smoked cheese.
4. Fire Up Your Smoker
After ascertaining that you have the seasoning right, it is time to fire up your smoker and get ready for smoking. Set the temperature of your smoker at 200 degrees F. Remember that the key to smoking a delicious cream cheese appetizer is to smoke it slow and low. Smoke it for two hours at 200 degrees Fahrenheit before removing it from the smoker for serving.
Tips For Smoking A Cream Cheese
If you taste smoked cream cheese from different cooks, the chances are that you will notice different disparities. The following tips may prove helpful in ensuring that you smoke the best cream cheese.
Choose The Best Smoker
While it might not come out as an essential factor for some people, the truth is that the type of smoker you use will directly impact the quality of your smoked cream cheese. The pellet grills or smokers are user-friendly as they make it easy for you to regulate the temperatures while adding the extra smoke flavor to your cheese.
Pick The Right Wood
Besides ensuring that you are using the best smoker, you also need to ensure that you select the right wood. However good a smoker might be, the truth is that it will not be the best if you do not have suitable wood. It is important to note that different types of smokers need different kinds of wood. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that you choose the best type of wood for your specific grill.
Score The Cream Cheese
When smoking your cream cheese, it is a good idea to impart the smoky flavor and seasoning to the cheese, and the score best assists you achieve this objective. Generally, the slices you make on your cream cheese increase the surface area for smoke and seasoning to penetrate for a better delicious flavor.
How Long To Smoke Cream Cheese
Timing is a critical aspect of smoking a delicious cream cheese. In other words, if you do not get the timing right, the chances are that you will not get the best results.
If you set your smoker at 200 degrees Fahrenheit, it should take about 2 hours to smoke the cream cheese. The two hours are enough to impart a wonderful smoky flavor to the cheese and leave you with a delicious dessert.
Smoked Cream Cheese Rub Recipe
The smoked cream cheese rub recipe offers the easiest method to prepare a delicious appetizer for your guests. Most people love this recipe because it only requires three ingredients, easy to mix up and prepare.
The Ingredients
- Rub – you can use BBQ rub
- Cream cheese
- Olive oil
How To Smoke Cream Cheese Rub Recipe
When preparing a smoked cream cheese rub recipe, you need to follow these steps;
- Preheat your smoker to 250 degrees Fahrenheit
- Score the cream with a sharp knife. You are at liberty to make the designs that you find attractive.
- Season the cream cheese generously with your favorite rub and ensure that you take care of every side. To ensure that the rub sticks well on the surface of the cheese, rub it with olive oil before rubbing it with your favorite seasoning.
- The last step is to place the pan with the prepared cream cheese on the preheated smoker and smoke it at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for about two hours. Once you notice the scoring opening and cream cheese darkening, it is ready to serve.
How Long Does Smoked Cream Cheese Last?
After smoking your cream cheese, the chances are that you are going to have some leftovers. Therefore, it is essential to know how to store your leftovers.
Put the leftovers in an airtight container in a refrigerator. They can stay fresh for up to four hours in the refrigerator.
Conclusion
Smoked cream cheese makes the best appetizer. Interestingly, you can opt for multiple different flavor combinations, including sugar and Cinnamon, BBQ rub, Taco seasonings, or even steak rub seasonings. It is all about ensuring you are clear about the flavor you want. Moreover, smoking cream cheese is never a complex task.
Scot has loved smoking food in his free time for the last few years. Each major holiday or off-weekend, Scot spends days testing and prepping new recipes for perfection.