What cheeses go well with cream cheese?

We all know cream cheese makes a stellar artichoke or onion dip and a sweet-tangy frosting (not to mention the perfect cheesecake). But did you know that the bagel spread is also the secret to fantastic homemade ice cream? Here are 10 less expected ways to use cream cheese.

1. Miso spread: Cover a block of cream cheese with miso and cure it for a few days for an exceptional and unusual two-ingredient spread.

2. Soup: Make pureed soups — such as this broccoli one — both creamy and tangy by adding a bit of cream cheese.

3. Mac and cheese: Scatter cubes of cream cheese on top of your mac and cheese before baking to make it extra luscious.

4. Moussaka: Use cream cheese as a béchamel shortcut when making this classic Greek casserole.

5. Pasta sauce: Toss cream cheese with hot pasta to make an instant cream sauce.

6. Crêpe filling: Spread cream cheese on these thin French pancakes and top with smoked salmon and spinach salad. Or go sweet, and top with jam instead.

7. Pastry dough. Use cream cheese in an easy dough for strudel or a gluten-free pie dough.

8. Brownies blend: cream cheese with an egg yolk and sugar to swirl on top of brownies before baking.

9. Puff pastry filling: Stuff cream cheese and some guava paste into store-bought puff pastry for an incredibly delicious quick-prep dessert.

Like a surprise party for your taste buds! Elevate snacking with these surprising and delightful combos, made with more than 10 flavors of Philadelphia® cream cheese spreads!

by Philadelphia Cream Cheese

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1. Kimchi & Cheese

Unexpected? Yes. Unheard of? Not anymore. Kimchi and cheese forever please!

* 3 large cheddar cheese snack crackers (1 inch)

* 1½ tsp. Philadelphia® Chive & Onion Cream Cheese Spread

* 1 Tbsp. chopped kimchi

2. PC & PBJ

Jelly, we gonna upgrade ya!

* 4 potato chips

* 1 Tbsp. Philadelphia® Blueberry Cream Cheese Spread

* 2 tsp. creamy peanut butter

3. Avocado & Chocolate

Avoca-don't mind if we do!

* 2 chocolate wafer cookies

* 1 Tbsp. Philadelphia® Original Cream Cheese Spread

* 1 Tbsp. mashed ripe avocado

4. Apricot & Basil

Apricot is bae-sil. ;)

* 3 dried apricots

* 1 Tbsp. Philadelphia® Original Cream Cheese Spread

* 1½ tsp. sliced basil

5. Basil Pesto & Cream Cheese

And just like that, pesto's not just for pasta anymore!

* 5 whole-wheat crackers

* 1 Tbsp. Philadelphia® Garden Vegetable Cream Cheese Spread

* 1 tsp. basil pesto

6. Bacon & White Chocolate

One bite of this, and it'll be like when you're suddenly struck with the realization that those two were meant to be all along.

What goes good with cream cheese?

What cheeses to pair together?