You read that right, there’s a shortage of cream cheese this holiday season and Kraft is paying customers to buy desserts that do not contain cream cheese! Get all the details, plus 10 Christmas dessert recipes that don’t call for cream cheese!
a critical cream cheese shortage
Supply chain woes have caused a critical shortage of cream cheese this season. Shelves are empty and customers are super annoyed that they can’t find the main ingredient for some of their favorite holiday desserts, so Kraft came up with a creative solution ~ they’re paying you to NOT TO MAKE CHEESECAKE! (Get all the details at the bottom of this post…)
In the meantime, check out my favorite cream cheese substitutions, plus lots of festive holiday desserts that don’t require any cream cheese at all!
common cream cheese substitutions
If you can’t find cream cheese, don’t stress, there are several ingredients that make great substitutions for cream cheese in many recipes, here are some you can try…
- Mascarpone cheese ~ an Italian soft cheese that is a very close cousin to cream cheese. It’s higher in fat, and a little softer in texture. You can make mascarpone cheese at home, too, to save money, because it’s pricey.
- Neufchâtel ~ it’s a French cream cheese that’s a little lower in fat and a bit higher in moisture, but a good all around substitute.
- Quark ~ a spreadable European cheese that’s a perfect substitute for cream cheese.
- Cottage cheese ~ simply whiz this up in a blender to smooth it out.
- Ricotta cheese, another fresh Italian cheese, makes a great cheesecake!
- Silken tofu ~ blended until smooth this makes an excellent vegan substitute.
- Crème fraîche ~ you can make crème fraîche at home, but the thicker store bought variety of this cultured cream is a better substitute for cream cheese.
- Greek yogurt ~ it can be used instead of cream cheese in dips, spreads, dressings, and frostings.
10 FAVORITE HOLIDAY DESSERT RECIPES THAT DON’T CALL FOR CREAM CHEESE
Bûche de Noël Layer Cake
This classic Christmas cake is not only beautiful, it’s super delicious thanks to a rich hazelnut cake recipe and a fabulous Nutella enriched frosting. I’ve made it so much more doable in this simple layer cake format.
Cranberry Gingersnap Pie
This vibrant dessert is the Christmas equivalent of Thanksgiving’s ubiquitous pumpkin pie. The colors are perfect for Christmas and the punch of acidity is welcome after a heavy meal.
Classic Crème Brûlée
Make the custards ahead and stash them in the fridge, then brûlée the tops after dinner while, hopefully, somebody else is doing the dishes.
Modern Christmas Fruitcake Recipe
My colorful cake brings a smile to everyone’s face. None of us ever dreamed we’d be saying ‘Another slice of fruitcake, please!’
Nutella Tiramisu
If you can’t have cheesecake, tiramisu is a great alternative because it’s got that same creamy texture and sumptuous mouthfeel.
Chocolate Cake with Cranberry Buttercream
Nobody will be expecting this cake with its fabulous combination of chocolate and tart cranberry. It’s almost too pretty to cut in to.
Gluten Free Tangerine Cake
Oranges and tangerines have been associated with Christmas from way back, and this flourless cake is a perfect finale to a grand holiday dinner.
Holiday Gingerbread Cake
Ok, you caught me, this stunning cake happens to have cream cheese in the frosting ~ no problemo! Just substitute creme fraiche, mascarpone cheese, or one of the other substitutes listed above. It will be just as delicious.
Dark Chocolate Truffle Tart
Nobody’s going to be thinking about cream cheese with this decadent dark chocolate tart is around, trust me.
Jewel Box Truffles
Sometimes less is more, and that’s especially true when it comes to dessert after a huge meal. One exquisite truffle is plenty!
HOW TO RECEIVE YOUR $20 DIGITAL REWARD FROM PHILADELPHIA:
- RESERVE: Starting on 12/17 and 12/18 at 12pm EST each day, be one of the first to reserve your spot to claim a limited dessert reservation.
- BUY: Once your dessert reservation is confirmed with a unique one-time use link that is sent to you (do not share), buy any dessert with dated receipt between 12/17 – 12/24
- REDEEM: Starting on 12/28 at 9am EST through 11:59pm EST on 1/4/22, use your unique link to submit your dessert receipt for your chance to receive a $20 digital reward.
Visit the site here for details.
All available $20.00 offers from Philly are already gone! We’re on our own. “You snooze, you lose”!