Cream Cheese
Dairy$1.99 / 8 ozApproximate price based on US supermarkets.
Queso crema is a Mexican-style cream cheese, softer and less tangy than Philadelphia. It is used in Swiss-style enchiladas with green salsa and cream, in creamy corn soup, in tuna-stuffed chiles, and in Mexican-style cheesecakes. Its spreadable texture makes it ideal for enriching sauces and fillings.
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How it's used in Mexican cooking
Cream Cheese, part of the dairy section of the Mexican pantry, appears in 12 recipes in our collection, including Neapolitan Flan, Japanese-Style Cheesecake (Mexican Version) and Queso Napolitano Yucateco (Yucatecan Cheese Flan). Each recipe shows step by step how it is added, in what quantity and which other ingredients it is paired with — the most reliable guide to how it is actually used in Mexican cooking.
Recipes using cream cheese
Neapolitan Flan
Japanese-Style Cheesecake (Mexican Version)
Queso Napolitano Yucateco (Yucatecan Cheese Flan)
Sushi Burrito (Mexican-Japanese Fusion Roll)
Tricolour Enchiladas (Enchiladas Banderas)
Pay de Cajeta (Mexican Goat Milk Caramel Pie)
Cheese-Stuffed Chipotle Chillies
Birria Burrito
Barbacoa and Oaxaca Cheese Quesadilla
Mexican Mac and Cheese
Jalapeño Poppers
Chocoflan (Impossible Cake)
Storage and substitutes
How to store it
Keep cheese refrigerated and well wrapped, ideally in waxed paper or a container that lets it breathe. Fresh cheeses (panela, queso fresco) last only a few days once opened, while aged ones such as cotija or añejo keep considerably longer.
Substitutes
Common stand-ins outside Mexico: Oaxaca cheese is closest to fresh mozzarella, cotija to aged feta or Parmesan, and queso fresco to a mild white cheese. Not identical, but they work in most recipes.
Frequently asked questions
How many recipes use Cream Cheese?
Cream Cheese is used in 12 recipes in our collection, such as Neapolitan Flan and Japanese-Style Cheesecake (Mexican Version). The full list, with a photo and link for each recipe, is on this page.
Where can I buy Cream Cheese in the US?
You can buy Cream Cheese online via the Amazon link on this page, or look for it at Mexican and Latino grocery stores in the US.
How should Cream Cheese be stored?
Keep cheese refrigerated and well wrapped, ideally in waxed paper or a container that lets it breathe. Fresh cheeses (panela, queso fresco) last only a few days once opened, while aged ones such as cotija or añejo keep considerably longer.
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