Carrot Cake Flavored Cream Cheese
A schmear of sweet Carrot Cake Flavored Cream Cheese adds something special to your breakfast bagels or holiday brunch. Sweetened whipped cream cheese is flavored with a hint of cinnamon, and shredded carrots, walnuts, and raisins are mixed in for all the best parts of a slice of carrot cake. It also makes a great dip for fruit or graham crackers!
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: No-cook
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free
- Skill Level: Easy
With holidays like Easter and Mother’s Day, events like bridal showers and baby showers, and other occasions in the spring, you may be planning an epic brunch feast. There are lots of brunch recipe ideas, but one simple idea is to put out a spread of bagels and cream cheese.
Just because you go with something simple doesn’t mean it can’t be special. So add a little sweet, nutty flavor by blending up a quick batch of this easy flavored cream cheese recipe.
Take the basic premise of whipped cream cheese laced with honey and walnuts, then add some cinnamon, vanilla, shredded carrots, and plump raisins. Now you have all the components of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. It’s so good you might just be tempted to eat it with a spoon!
Flavored Cream Cheese That Tastes Like Carrot Cake
- Amazing textures and flavors. It’s super light and creamy, a little sweet and tangy, with a bit of crunch. Plus, there are bursts of sweetness from the raisins.
- So versatile. It’s a perfect springtime addition to a weekday breakfast or holiday brunch since it’s so simple, but feels special. You can also serve it as a lunchbox or after-school snack with apple slices, celery sticks, graham crackers, or even more carrots. Check out the Serving Suggestions for more ideas.
- Naturally gluten free. Yes, it tastes like cake, but there’s no flour or other gluten-containing ingredients.
Recipe Ingredients
In order to make this flavored cream cheese recipe, you’ll need just a few simple ingredients. Here is an overview, with a few notes and short tips. The full amounts and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Carrot. Wash, peel, and finely shred or grate your carrot.
- Cream cheese. Regular or light is fine. Do not use fat free. It doesn’t have a good flavor and texture for this recipe, and can turn out a bit watery. Make sure it is softened to room temperature.
- Vanilla extract.
- Cinnamon.
- Honey. Feel free to substitute maple syrup if you prefer.
- Walnuts. Chopped, and lightly toasted, if you like. You can also use pecans.
- Raisins.
Quick Tips
- Prep the carrots. After you wash, peel, and grate your carrot, make sure you use a paper towel or kitchen towel to squeeze out any excess moisture so your cream cheese isn’t watery.
- Toast the nuts. This gives them the best flavor. Place the chopped walnuts in a small skillet over low heat, and toast until the just start to give off a nutty aroma. Don’t burn them.
- Soften the cream cheese. You want it to come to room temperature to make it easy to whip until light and fluffy.
- Make it ahead. If you let the flavored cream cheese sit in the fridge overnight, the finely shredded carrots get super soft, and the raisins absorb some moisture and really plump up. This is my favorite way to enjoy it!
Storing Flavored Cream Cheese
You’ll want to keep your carrot cake cream cheese refrigerated. Store it in a container with a tight-fitting lid and it will last for 2 or 3 days. If you’ve had it out for over two hours, you’ll want to throw it away.
Do not freeze it. After thawing, it will be watery and won’t have an appealing consistency.
Serving Suggestions
The classic way to enjoy whipped cream cheese is by spreading it on bagels, like these Gluten Free Plain Bagels or even Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels. But it’s also great on English muffins or even rolled up in gluten free crepes.
It makes a great after-school snack too, whether you dip apple slices or carrots, or spread it on graham crackers or vanilla wafers. Ants on a log can be taken to the next level if you stuff it into celery sticks or add it to this kids’ snack platter inspired by that favorite childhood snack.
More Delicious Brunch Spreads
If you are putting out a brunch buffet and want to give people options, here are some ideas for your friends and family to slather on their bagels and breads:
Carrot Cake Flavored Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup finely shredded carrots
- 4 ounces cream cheese (regular or light), softened to room temperature
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 Tablespoons finely chopped walnuts , lightly toasted if desired
- 2 Tablespoons raisins
Instructions
- Using a paper towel or kitchen towel, squeeze the excess moisture from the 1/4 cup finely shredded carrots.
- Combine the 4 ounces cream cheese, 2 Tablespoons honey, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl.
- Beat with an electric hand mixer on medium speed until smooth and fluffy.
- Stir in the shredded carrots, 3 Tablespoons finely chopped walnuts, and 2 Tablespoons raisins.
- Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Notes
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Nice Post
Oh my gosh this looks amazing! I have been looking for ways that I can eat carrot cake for other meals and this is perfect! 🙂
This is great! You could absolutely use is as a dip at a party too! That would be fabulous. Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday this week!
A nice spread on bagels. Thank you.
Since we made friends with our neighbours we meet for breakfast on the weekend quite regularly. Lately I’ve been searching for something brand new to refresh our morning menu and this is it! (Obviously food is only a background to our meetings but still sets up everyone’s mood). I’m just wondering what would be the best alternative to bagels? Maybe some homemade muffins?! Yes, orange&carrot muffins for double carrot experience!