Cream cheese facts for kids

Cream cheese is a soft, white cheese that tastes mild. It has at least 33% fat from milk and not more than 55% water. You can find it in a block or a small tub. Some types have extra flavors like garlic, dill, or olives.

Unlike many other cheeses, cream cheese is not aged. It is meant to be eaten fresh. It is a main ingredient in cheesecake and other sweet treats. People often spread it on bagels, sometimes with lox (smoked salmon). When put on bagels, cream cheese is sometimes called schmear, which is a Yiddish word.

How People Use Cream Cheese

Cream cheese is used in many different recipes.

In many European countries, people eat cream cheese as a regular cheese, not just a spread. It is often served on cheese platters. For example, in Italy, pieces of cream cheese are added to fresh salads. People in Japan enjoy putting cream cheese on crusty bread. Cream cheese bars, which first came from Russia, have become popular in other countries recently.

Related pages

• Fromage frais

Images for kids

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  A delicious honey cream cheese cookie.

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  A block of Philadelphia brand cream cheese.

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  Cream cheese on a bagel.

See also

In Spanish: Queso crema para niños