Go Back Email Link
+ servings
cream cheese in bowl on wooden table

Homemade Cream Cheese

This homemade cream cheese recipe is so easy to make! Here's step by step directions on how to make fabulous, flavorful cream cheese from scratch.
4.98 from 34 votes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Culturing Time + Draining Time 18 hours
Total Time 18 hours 10 minutes
Course Cheese
Cuisine International
Servings 16 ounces
Calories 473 kcal

Equipment

  • butter muslin
  • large non-reactive pot
  • colander

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 gallon whole milk not ultra-high pasturized
  • 2 quarts heavy cream
  • 1 package cream cheese starter culture
  • pinch sea salt
  • fresh herbs optional

Instructions
 

  • Put the milk and cream into the pot. Cover the pot and heat the milk to 86°. Then remove from heat.
  • Sprinkle the cream cheese starter culture over the top and allow to rehydrate for a minute or so.
  • Stir the culture into the mixture with an up and down motion to make sure it is disbursed through out. Don’t stir longer than 30 seconds.
  • Cover the pot and let it sit in a warmish (70° – 75°) spot to culture for 12 to 18 hours.
  • After culturing, ladle or pour the cheese and whey into the butter muslin lined colander.
  • Pick up the corners of the muslin and carefully tie them in knots, then hang drain.
  • Let the cream cheese drain for 6 to 9 hours. The longer it drains, the drier it gets.
  • Once it’s to the consistency that you like in your cream cheese, put it into a bowl and add salt to taste.
  • It you are using fresh herbs like basil, mix them in now. For a whole recipe, start with a teaspoon and add more from there.
  • Store, covered, in the fridge for a week.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ozCalories: 473kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 7gFat: 46gSaturated Fat: 29gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 148mgSodium: 77mgPotassium: 290mgSugar: 9gVitamin A: 1931IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 224mgIron: 1mg
Keyword cream cheese
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!