For the fruity types where you can use jam, preserves or jellies, I just skip mixing it. I whip it up with some milk, but save the fruits for day of. I just spread a thin layer of jam, preserves or jelly over the bagels then the whipped cream cheese on top. This way I’m not locked into one flavor or one type.
Jennifer Millward
The bagel place i love has an olive cream cheese as well…so good!!!!! And they have a bacon scallion cream cheese. Just finely chopped bacon pieces and fresh scallion mixed in. It’s really delish!!
Breanna
I LOVE to use roasted garlic (roast your own, or buy the Christopher Ranch brand near the mushrooms/oriental noodles in the produce dept.), a little italian seasoning, and about 1/4 cup of grated fresh Parmesan cheese.
Jessica Fisher
sounds delish!
cwaltz
Target’s brand no longer has the hormone free label on it(little cow with line through it). My assumption is that anything without that label may very well have those hormones. As a matter of fact, Vermont just got a hefty settlement after Cabot admitted that the cheeses that don’t have labels on them specifically stating hormone free have hormones in them. So be careful.
Jessica Fisher
Thanks for the tip! I will check here. Maybe it varies by region.
Jessica
Brilliant! I can’t believe I never thought of this! Thank you for sharing!
Karen
When I was in college, my favorite bagel place had an Italian cream cheese that I just loved. Then I discovered it was nothing more than cream cheese mixed with spaghetti sauce seasoning. So I got the big jar at Costco and started mixing up my own. i haven’t made it in years (don’t eat bagels much anymore) but I remember it fondly!
Jessica Fisher
Isn’t that great? And you can even unpack the spaghetti sauce mix which is likely just herbs and cornstarch.
Jen
Jalapeno and cilantro!
Susan
My boys love honey almond cream cheese on cinnamon raisin bagels so I keep a container of finely chopped almonds on hand (I ran them in the blender for a few seconds) so I can easily mix up some. I don’t measure but it’s probably a teaspoon of almonds and a teaspoon or so of honey for every ounce of cream cheese.
Nicole
I am so glad you are doing this series, it is these little tricks that makes eating at home satisfying. I was so proud of myself because I made my own brown sugar when I ran out instead of going to the store. Took a minute to mix and worked great.
One of my favorite treats is salsa and cream cheese on crackers. Or for a really treat pepper jelly. I love pepper jelly!
Yum!
Kristen @ Joyfullythriving
See…this is why I enjoy you so much! Such a simple idea, but why have I never thought about doing this? I’m going to be trying this soon because (like you) I stock up on cream cheese when I get it for $1. It’s always in my fridge, too!
Brenda
I do various jams; prepared pesto or cinnamon sugar.
Cherie
Here’s one from NY deli world – I get very reasonable smoked salmon (sometimes called kippered salmon it’s hot smoked) and mix it into cream cheese for a fab spread with bagels – so much less than the bagel store!
Vanessa B
These all sound delicious. I see a bagel purchase in my future.
Claire
My children are going to love this!!!!!
Me too 🙂
sarah
These look yummy! My favorite is cream cheese with finely chopped green olives so good!!!
Sarah
Marjori
This is my favorite also!! Olive/Pimento cream cheese on an everything bagel. YUUUUM!!! I could eat the cream cheese with a spoon…and sometimes do! 😉
Jessica Fisher
I don’t know that I’ve ever had that. Interesting.
sarah
Everything bagel with this spread is the best… but plain bagel with olive cream cheese and a tiny sprinkle of garlic powder hits the spot too. you should try it if you like green olives. Or any olives for that matter. love them ALL:)
Brigid
I make my own version of Boursin cheese with regular cream cheese, parsley, and garlic. To gild the lily a bit, I usually beat in some heavy cream, which makes it a bit more spreadable and adds some richness.
Jessica Fisher
Yep, I created our own version, too. So good and cheap!
magnoliasouth
For the fruity types where you can use jam, preserves or jellies, I just skip mixing it. I whip it up with some milk, but save the fruits for day of. I just spread a thin layer of jam, preserves or jelly over the bagels then the whipped cream cheese on top. This way I’m not locked into one flavor or one type.
Jennifer Millward
The bagel place i love has an olive cream cheese as well…so good!!!!! And they have a bacon scallion cream cheese. Just finely chopped bacon pieces and fresh scallion mixed in. It’s really delish!!
Breanna
I LOVE to use roasted garlic (roast your own, or buy the Christopher Ranch brand near the mushrooms/oriental noodles in the produce dept.), a little italian seasoning, and about 1/4 cup of grated fresh Parmesan cheese.
Jessica Fisher
sounds delish!
cwaltz
Target’s brand no longer has the hormone free label on it(little cow with line through it). My assumption is that anything without that label may very well have those hormones. As a matter of fact, Vermont just got a hefty settlement after Cabot admitted that the cheeses that don’t have labels on them specifically stating hormone free have hormones in them. So be careful.
Jessica Fisher
Thanks for the tip! I will check here. Maybe it varies by region.
Jessica
Brilliant! I can’t believe I never thought of this! Thank you for sharing!
Karen
When I was in college, my favorite bagel place had an Italian cream cheese that I just loved. Then I discovered it was nothing more than cream cheese mixed with spaghetti sauce seasoning. So I got the big jar at Costco and started mixing up my own. i haven’t made it in years (don’t eat bagels much anymore) but I remember it fondly!
Jessica Fisher
Isn’t that great? And you can even unpack the spaghetti sauce mix which is likely just herbs and cornstarch.
Jen
Jalapeno and cilantro!
Susan
My boys love honey almond cream cheese on cinnamon raisin bagels so I keep a container of finely chopped almonds on hand (I ran them in the blender for a few seconds) so I can easily mix up some. I don’t measure but it’s probably a teaspoon of almonds and a teaspoon or so of honey for every ounce of cream cheese.
Nicole
I am so glad you are doing this series, it is these little tricks that makes eating at home satisfying. I was so proud of myself because I made my own brown sugar when I ran out instead of going to the store. Took a minute to mix and worked great.
One of my favorite treats is salsa and cream cheese on crackers. Or for a really treat pepper jelly. I love pepper jelly!
Yum!
Kristen @ Joyfullythriving
See…this is why I enjoy you so much! Such a simple idea, but why have I never thought about doing this? I’m going to be trying this soon because (like you) I stock up on cream cheese when I get it for $1. It’s always in my fridge, too!
Brenda
I do various jams; prepared pesto or cinnamon sugar.
Cherie
Here’s one from NY deli world – I get very reasonable smoked salmon (sometimes called kippered salmon it’s hot smoked) and mix it into cream cheese for a fab spread with bagels – so much less than the bagel store!
Vanessa B
These all sound delicious. I see a bagel purchase in my future.
Claire
My children are going to love this!!!!!
Me too 🙂
sarah
These look yummy! My favorite is cream cheese with finely chopped green olives so good!!!
Sarah
Marjori
This is my favorite also!! Olive/Pimento cream cheese on an everything bagel. YUUUUM!!! I could eat the cream cheese with a spoon…and sometimes do! 😉
Jessica Fisher
I don’t know that I’ve ever had that. Interesting.
sarah
Everything bagel with this spread is the best… but plain bagel with olive cream cheese and a tiny sprinkle of garlic powder hits the spot too. you should try it if you like green olives. Or any olives for that matter. love them ALL:)
Brigid
I make my own version of Boursin cheese with regular cream cheese, parsley, and garlic. To gild the lily a bit, I usually beat in some heavy cream, which makes it a bit more spreadable and adds some richness.
Jessica Fisher
Yep, I created our own version, too. So good and cheap!