Our homemade flavored cream cheese recipes are simple to make at home. All you need is a block of cream cheese and a few mix-ins to create spreads that taste just like the kind you'd find at a New York bagel shop and deli. These flavored cream cheese spreads are perfect for bagels, toast, and sandwiches.
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Our favorite cream cheese flavors are scallion, smoked salmon with dill, and veggie cream cheese. Here are the recipes for popular deli and bagel store creamy cream cheese spreads.
History of Cream Cheese
The creamy spread we love to schmear on a bagel, stir into dips, or sweeten for cheesecake got its start in New York. In the late 1800s, dairyman William A. Lawrence developed a way to produce cream cheese on a larger scale. His method became the foundation for what we now know as Philadelphia Cream Cheese.
Flavored cream cheese came later, as bagels rose in popularity in New York City during the early 20th century. Jewish delis and bagel shops began mixing scallions, smoked salmon, and fresh vegetables into plain cream cheese to pair with bagels and lox.
By the mid-1900s, companies like Kraft were selling pre-flavored tubs, making cream cheese spreads a staple in American homes.
Top Tips for Flavored Cream Cheese
- Soften first: Let the cream cheese sit at room temperature for an hour before mixing. It will be much easier to stir.
- Chop small: Finely chop vegetables, herbs, or smoked salmon so they blend evenly without big chunks. No food processor needed, just a rough chop works.
- Use fresh herbs: Fresh dill, parsley, or chives add the best flavor. Dried herbs work in a pinch, but fresh always tastes better.
- Chill before serving: Refrigerate the cream cheese for at least 30 minutes before serving so the flavors come together.
- Choose quality cream cheese: Philadelphia is my go-to because it has the smoothest texture and cleanest flavor. Store brands will work too, but they sometimes have less fat, which makes them a little less creamy and not quite as white.
- What about whipped cream cheese? You can use it, but the texture is lighter and less sturdy. It works fine for herbs or honey, but block cream cheese holds up better with heavier mix-ins like smoked salmon or chopped vegetables.
Scallion Cream Cheese
Scallion cream cheese is smooth, tangy, and filled with fresh green onion flavor. You can stick with scallions, or mix in chives for a version that's similar to Philadelphia chive and green onion cream cheese spread.
Chives are a delicate herb with thin, hollow stems and a mild onion flavor, usually sprinkled on as a fresh garnish. Green onions, or scallions, are young onions with white bulbs and green tops that have a sharper bite and more crunch, great for cooking or eating raw.
Most chefs stick to the white and light green parts, but you can trim the ends and use the darker greens too if they're not too tough.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- ⅓ to ½ cup thinly sliced scallions (about 1 bunch) or a mixture of half chives and half green onion.
How to Make Scallion Cream Cheese
- Place softened cream cheese in a medium bowl.
- Add scallions (or scallions and chives). Start with ⅓ cup, taste, and add more if you'd like a stronger onion flavor.
- Mix well until onions are evenly distributed.
Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese
Cream cheese with lox is a reminder of simpler times when I was a kid, just starting to explore new foods. A bagel with Zabar's belly lox and a thick layer of cream cheese felt like pure joy. I don't think anyone loved it as much as I did. Those early tastes shaped my love of seafood and the way I cook today.
Smoked salmon is salmon that has been cured and then smoked, giving it a salty flavor with a hint of smokiness. Most of what we eat today is Nova, short for Nova Scotia-style smoked salmon.
Nova is less salty and milder than belly lox. Belly lox was the traditional favorite in New York until people began to reduce their salt intake.
This spread is my way of bringing that memory into the kitchen. Smoked salmon, fresh dill, and lemon zest turn plain cream cheese into something special.
You can mix onions and capers right into the mixture so you get all the flavors in every bite.
This is great for keeping in the fridge because all your favorite flavors are mixed right in and you'll have less cutting to do for repeat meals.
The dill and lemon zest are optional, but I like to add them for extra flavor. You can also stir in a tablespoon of chopped red onions or scallions.
How To Make Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 3 ounces smoked salmon, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
- 1 teaspoon fresh dill, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Mix until smooth and everything is well combined.
- Place the softened cream cheese in a medium bowl.
- Add the smoked salmon, lemon zest, and dill.
Veggie Cream Cheese
This spread is full of crunch from celery, carrots, and red bell pepper. Fresh and delicious, it's one of those easy mixes you'll want to keep in the fridge.
If you like this, you'll also enjoy my Veggie Tuna Salad and Veggie Egg Salad.
Rinse the vegetables, pat dry, and cut them into ¼-inch dice.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 tablespoon chopped onions: green onions, red onions or chives
- 1 tablespoon grated carrot, rinsed and squeezed dry
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped celery
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped red pepper
- 1 teaspoon chopped dill
How To Make Veggie Cream Cheese
- Place softened cream cheese in a medium bowl.
- Add all the onions, carrots, celery, bell pepper, and dill.
- Mix until evenly combined.
- Chill for 30 minutes before serving for the best flavor.
Serving Suggestions
The best way to enjoy flavored cream cheese is on a fresh bagel but that's just the start.
- Spread on bagels, bagel chips, toast, or sandwiches.
- Use as a dip with garlic butter pita crackers, cucumber slices, or celery sticks.
- Add to wraps or pita pockets for extra flavor.
- Pair with smoked fish or lox for a classic deli-style sandwich.
Storage
Store flavored cream cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should be good for 5-7 days.
What's a Schmear?
A schmear is a thick spread of cream cheese slathered on a bagel.
The literal meaning of "schmear" comes from Yiddish, where it means to smear or spread.
In German, schmieren means to smear, spread, or grease.
Over time, New Yorkers turned it into shorthand for cream cheese on a bagel.
From a simple scallion spread to smoked salmon with dill and a veggie-packed mix, these recipes hit all the classics. They're easy to make and store well in the fridge.
These tasty spreads are perfect for brunch or just upgrading a morning bagel.
More Deli-Style Classic Recipes
We've recreated many of your favorite deli classics. Here are some of our favorites.
Smoked Fish in Florida
If you like smoked fish and appetizing, there's a Florida delicacy worth trying called Smoked Fish Dip.
Smoking fish began as a way to extend shelf life, just like bagels and lox came from preserving salmon in Eastern Europe.
Here in Florida, wahoo, amberjack, and mahi mahi are smoked and blended with mayo, cream cheese, celery, onions, and Old Bay seasoning.
Fish dip has been around for years and is a staple at bars, seafood shacks, and backyard parties across the state. It's usually served with crackers, tortilla chips, or fresh veggies on the side.
Interested? Try our Florida Smoked Fish Dip.
FAQ
No. Cream cheese is already salted, and most mix-ins (like smoked salmon, olives, or capers) add extra salt on their own. You won't miss it.
Yes. Flavored cream cheese can be made a day or two in advance. In fact, the flavors get stronger after sitting overnight in the fridge.
Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Stir before serving.
Yes. Light or Neufchâtel cream cheese works. The texture will be a little softer and less rich.
Nova, short for Nova Scotia-style smoked salmon, is cured and lightly smoked, giving it a milder, less salty flavor. Lox, often called belly lox in New York, is cured in a salty brine but not smoked, making it much saltier than Nova.
Yes. Cream cheese does contain a small amount of carbs, but it's naturally low compared to many spreads. A two-tablespoon serving has about 1-2 grams of carbs. Even with add-ins like scallions, smoked salmon, or vegetables, flavored cream cheese stays a good option if you're watching carbs.
Homemade Flavored Cream Cheese Recipes
Ingredients
Scallion Cream Cheese
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup thinly sliced scallions about 1 bunch or a mixture of half chives and half green onion.
Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 3 ounces smoked salmon finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
- 1 teaspoon fresh chopped dill (optional)
Veggie Cream Cheese
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 tablespoon chopped onions (green onions, red onions or chives)
- 1 tablespoon grated carrot
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped celery
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped red pepper
- 1 teaspoon chopped dill
Instructions
- Place softened cream cheese in a medium bowl.
- Add your mix-ins (scallions, smoked salmon with dill and lemon, or diced veggies).
- Using a rubber spatula, stir until everything is evenly combined and smooth.
- Chill for about 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors come together.
Michael says
Making today! Love these combos.