How to Make Homemade Garlic Herb Cream Cheese Spread

Here’s a homemade cheese spread that is easy to make but certainly doesn’t taste that way! This spread is full of flavor. It’ll have people asking how long it took you to make it, and, “Can I have the recipe, please?”

Jump to:

• A Great Use for Homegrown or Local Garlic and Fresh Garden Herbs (Or Dried are Great, Too!)
• Garlic Herb Cream Cheese Spread Recipe (Fast, Easy, and Delicious!)
• To use dried herbs:
• Serving Suggestions for Garlic Herb Cream Cheese Spread
• Storing Garlic Herb Cream Cheese Spread
• Homemade Garlic Herb Cream Cheese Spread Recipe

A Great Use for Homegrown or Local Garlic and Fresh Garden Herbs (Or Dried are Great, Too!)

This recipe is the perfect way to shine a spotlight on your fresh, homegrown, and local herbs and garlic. Sure, you could use store bought, but if you garden, you can’t beat the taste of this cheese spread filled with fresh garlic and herb goodness.

And yes, you can prepare this recipe with dried herbs, too. It’s still delicious.

So if you’ve put up some of your herb garden goodness for the year, feel free to use that instead of fresh herbs. Instructions for quantity substitutions follow after the recipe.

Garlic Herb Cream Cheese Spread Recipe (Fast, Easy, and Delicious!)

Really, this recipe could hardly be easier. It’s really a matter of creaming and mixing garlic and herb ingredients together.

Here’s the how:

Ingredients:

• 16 ounces of cream cheese, softened; bars are best (2 standard 8-ounce bars)
• 2 sticks (½ pound) of unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cloves fresh garlic, crushed and minced
• 2 teaspoons fresh oregano
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves removed from the stem
• 1 teaspoon fresh marjoram
• 1 teaspoon fresh basil
• 1 teaspoon fresh dill
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Let the cream cheese and the unsalted butter sit out at room temperature for one hour or until soft and workable.
2. In a mixer bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and the butter.

3. Cream the cream cheese and butter together on medium speed until evenly mixed. This is easiest to do with an electric mixer, but if you don’t have one, you can do this just by hand and by stirring well, too.

4. Add the minced garlic cloves.
5. Add the herbs and black pepper.
6. Mix through once more until everything is evenly combined.

7. Transfer into jars or serving dishes.

8. Chill for one hour (or longer) before serving.
9. The spread is even better if it’s made a day ahead to allow the flavors time to combine.

To use dried herbs:

Dried herbs are very good in this recipe. To use dried herbs in place of the fresh, the measurements are as follows:

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• ½ teaspoon dried marjoram
• ½ teaspoon dried basil
• ½ teaspoon dried dill

*Garlic and black pepper are not included here as their measurements remain the same. Just don’t forget them!

Instructions are the same when using dried herbs as they are for using fresh herbs in the spread.

Serving Suggestions for Garlic Herb Cream Cheese Spread

There is really no mystery how to use this herb garlic cream cheese spread. It is excellent as a simple spread on crackers.

However, you could take it a step further and use this cream cheese spread in other ways, like:

• On baguettes
• On bagels
• On crostini
• Served on a charcuterie board
• With other appetizers like pickles and olives
• With roasted red peppers and/or olive oil
• In casseroles or sauces
• As a garnish and flavoring in soups, like tomato soup (just a dollop will do)
• In place of Boursin in any dish or serving suggestion
• To stuff cherry tomatoes
• To stuff celery slices

Storing Garlic Herb Cream Cheese Spread

This recipe makes one and a half pounds of spread, which is a generous amount. It’s an ideal size for a party appetizer or a cheese and cracker spread. If you’re just making it for the home, you may find it is more than you can use.

This spread will keep well in the refrigerator for up to a week. So, you can portion the spread out and save some for another day.

You can also package this spread to give as gifts or in gift baskets. It will travel for a short trip just fine, but should be refrigerated or served when it gets there.

Four ounce canning jars are perfect for this spread, and if you’re making it for gifts or hostess gifts, you should be able to get about eight four ounce containers.

Can you freeze extra garlic herb cream cheese spread?

Yes, you can actually freeze this cream cheese spread. Both butter and cream cheese freeze well (especially for dairy products, which are not known for their ability to freeze favorably).

The spread will be good for casseroles and cooking, and you won’t likely notice that it’s been frozen previously.

As a spread, it performs well, but it will not be exactly like when it was first made. As is common with dairy products, when this spread freezes, some crystallization and drying out is likely to occur. It’s harmless, but you may note a difference in texture, which may or may not be to your liking.

If you decide to freeze the spread, it should be frozen in an airtight container. It is best to use it within two months.

This spread is so easy to make, it’s easy to keep on hand for snacking or a small pre-dinner primer. Or, make it your “go-to” dish to take to parties or hostesses. But don’t be surprised if you’re always asked to bring it!