Cream Cheese

fresh · cow milk · United States · $

A rich, creamy texture, with melts decently.

Attribute scores

meltability 5/10

sharpness 2/10

creaminess 10/10

firmness 1/10

pungency 1/10

Best cheese wine pairing

Pair Cream Cheese with a dry sparkling wine or Champagne (or a light Pinot Noir) — the bubbles and acidity cut through its high creaminess (10) instead of getting lost in it.

Great for

Cheesecake

Substitutes for Cream Cheese

Cheese	Why it works
Mascarpone	similar overall, but less sharpness
Ricotta	similar overall, but less creaminess
Brillat-Savarin cheese	similar overall, but more meltability
Stracchino	similar overall, but less creaminess
Quark	similar overall, but less meltability
Boursin cheese	similar overall, but more sharpness