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    Home » Recipes » DIY

    Homemade Cream Cheese

    Updated: Oct 10, 2025 · Published: May 13, 2025 by Radwa ·

    Jump to Recipe

    Friends, are you ready to make the easiest yet most delicious cream cheese recipe? You will only need milk, lemon juice and salt to make super rich cream cheese, and I will also share how to flavor it.

    Homemade cream cheese in a bowl.

    Homemade Cream Cheese

    After I made Homemade Ricotta Cheese, which was AMAZING, I thought, why not make homemade cream cheese?

    I experimented with this recipe A LOT until I came up with this simple and creamy recipe, which I really like, and I am so excited to share with you.

    I made this quick and easy recipe only with 3 simple ingredients and a food processor.

    The recipe is SUPER easy to make, tastes better than the store-bought and can be customized to your liking! I will show you how to flavor it with fresh herbs and garlic.

    I use this recipe to make cream cheese frosting, which I use in lots of my dessert recipes, such as White Chocolate and Raspberry Blondies, Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake, Chocolate Buttermilk Pie and Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake.

    Spreading homemade cream cheese on croissant.

    You'll Need

    labeled ingredients on table.

    Note: This is an overview of the ingredients. See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

    Milk: I use full-fat milk for a creamier and richer texture.

    Lemon juice: (Use fresh lemon juice only) Do not use store bought lemon juice cans or bottles as they may contain other substances that may affect or worsen the flavor of this cheese.

    Salt: To flavor.

    How To Make The Recipe

    Heat the milk, bring to a boil, then add the lemon juice and stir.

    One: Heat the milk in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, bring to a boil, then add the lemon juice, stir and turn off the heat. Set aside (Photo 1 & 2).

    Pour curdled milk through a cheesecloth and squeeze to strain all the liquid whey.

    Two: The milk will curdle, and you will see curds forming in the milk; this is normal (Photo 3).

    Pro Tip: Curdle the milk for at least 10 minutes: This will give you enough time to be able to separate the curds and whey excellently.

    Squeeze to strain the curdled milk.

    Three: Now, pour all the curdled milk through a cheesecloth and then squeeze to strain all the liquid whey (the yellow-ish liquid) (Photo 4 & 5 & 6).

    Pro Tip: Use a fine-mesh cheesecloth: This is to prevent the solids from escaping and to strain out all the liquid whey allowing a smoother and creamier texture.

    Add the curdled milk in the food processor and blitz until creamy.

    Four: Put the strained curdled milk and salt into the food processor and blitz for 1-2 minutes until light and fluffy cream cheese forms (Photo 7 & 8).

    Tip: Adjust the salt to your preference: Gradually add salt and taste the cheese until it reaches the best taste for you.

    Steps of making flavored cream cheese.

    Flavor your Cream Cheese with Herbs and Garlic:

    Once you have prepared the cream cheese, add some fresh herbs such as parsley, cilantro, basil or chives; I used ¼ cup fresh parsley and cilantro and 3 cloves minced garlic.

    Make sure these are all finely chopped and evenly distributed.

    Freezing

    Yes, you can freeze cream cheese for up to 3 months. Just make sure to thaw it in the fridge before using it.

    Garlic cilantro flavoured cream cheese in a bowl.

    How To Use Cream Cheese?

    You can use this fresh cream cheese recipe in a variety of food serving ideas, such as:

    Use it to make the best cream cheese frosting for cakes, cupcakes, and muffins such as Pumpkin Sheet Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting and Carrot Cake Cupcakes.

    Spread on sandwiches, bagels, and even on bread such as Gyro Bread - Greek Pita Bread.

    Top or inner filling for crepes and pancakes such as Fluffy Oat Milk Pancakes and Almond Milk Pancakes.

    In making cheesecakes such as Biscoff Cheesecake Recipe, Oreo Cheesecake Bites and Philadelphia Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe.

    Homemade cream cheese in a bowl and croissant in a plate.

    Thanks for dropping in! Follow me on Pinterest and Instagram to keep up-to-date with all new recipes. Also, you can subscribe to my Newsletter to recipe all the latest recipes once published.

    homemade cream cheese.
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    5 from 1 vote

    Homemade Cream Cheese

    This quick and easy homemade cream cheese recipe is made with only 3 ingredients and a food processor. It is super creamy and tastes better than the store-bought
    Course DIYs, Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Diet Vegetarian
    Prep Time 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time 25 minutes minutes
    Servings 40 Servings
    Calories 30kcal
    Author Radwa

    Equipment

    • Saucepan
    • Measuring spoons
    • Measuring cups
    • Cheesecloth
    • Sieve
    • Bowl

    Ingredients

    • 8 cups full-fat milk
    • 5 tablespoon lemon juice
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    Instructions

    • Heat the milk in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, bring to a boil, then add the lemon juice, stir and turn off the heat. Set aside.
      8 cups full-fat milk, 5 tablespoon lemon juice
    • The milk will curdle, and you will see curds forming in the milk; this is normal.
    • Now, pour all the curdled milk through a cheesecloth and then squeeze to strain all the liquid whey.
    • Put the strained curdled milk and salt into the food processor and blitz for 1-2 minutes until light and fluffy cream cheese forms.
      ½ teaspoon salt

    Notes

    Use fresh lemon juice only: Do not use store-bought lemon juice bottles for better taste.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 30kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 48mg | Potassium: 75mg | Fiber: 0.01g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 79IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 0.002mg
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    About Radwa

    Hi, I am Radwa! I've always been fond of food—seriously, it's my love language. I share my tried-and-true recipes and provide easy, step-by-step recipes that anyone can follow.

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    Healthy Life Trainer

    Hello! I’m Radwa, A wife and mother. Also, I am the recipe maker and food photographer behind Healthy Life Trainer. I love making new, simple and quick recipes every day.

    More about me→

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