How To Soften Cream Cheese (5 ways)

Whether you're whipping up a luscious cheesecake or a fluffy cream cheese frosting, it's essential to learn how to soften cream cheese properly for the most delicious results! This baking guide will teach you how to choose the best cream cheese for baking and walk you through five foolproof methods. So get ready to kiss those lumpy batters goodbye and say hello to creamy delights!

Jump to:

• What is softened cream cheese exactly
• Why soften cream cheese
• How to soften cream cheese quickly without melting it? - 5 ways
• 1. How to soften cream cheese in the microwave
• 2. How to soften cream cheese at room temperature
• 3. Soften cream cheese in warm water
• 4. Soften cream cheese with a warm bowl
• 5. Soften cream cheese with your hands
• What cream cheese to use in baking
• Can you leave cream cheese out overnight?
• Do I always need to soften cream cheese before using?
• Expert tips for softening cream cheese
• Softening cream cheese FAQs
• More Baking Guides
• How to Soften Cream Cheese (5 ways)

What is softened cream cheese exactly

Softened cream cheese means that it has been brought to the ideal temperature for baking, which is typically at room temperature. When done properly, the process allows the cream cheese to soften without melting. This results in cream cheese with the perfect smooth and creamy texture for incorporating into recipes.

Why soften cream cheese

Knowing how to soften cream cheese is a fundamental technique that can make or break your baking endeavors. When you take the cream cheese out of the refrigerator, it's firm and challenging to work with, often resulting in clumps and an uneven texture in your baked goods.

However, softening cream cheese ensures that it blends seamlessly with the other ingredients in your recipe. Whether you're making a scrumptious Basque burnt cheesecake or a pumpkin cream cheese pie, achieving the perfect softened cream cheese consistency is key for the most successful outcome.

How to soften cream cheese quickly without melting it? - 5 ways

Now, you might be wondering, what are the ways to soften cream cheese? Not to worry! It’s very similar to how to soften butter and is super easy.
So whether you need to know how to soften cream cheese for cheesecake, spreading, or cream cheese frosting, this baking guide has got you covered!

1. How to soften cream cheese in the microwave

Softening cream cheese in the microwave is a quick and convenient method that comes in handy when you need softened cream cheese in a pinch. However, you need to do it in short bursts of time to avoid melting the cream cheese. 

1. Unwrap the cream cheese from its packaging and place it on a microwave safe plate.
2. Microwave it on high in short bursts of 10 second bursts. Keep in mind, microwave ovens can vary in power, so watch it closely. 
3. Flip the cream cheese over after each 10 second interval.
4. This process typically takes about 30 seconds.

2. How to soften cream cheese at room temperature

Softening cream cheese at room temperature is a classic and foolproof method. It’s perfect for cheesecake because it allows for a natural and gradual softening process without any risk of altering the cream cheese's texture. It takes a bit longer, yet it's an effortless method.

But, how long does it take to soften cream cheese at room temperature? Well, it depends on whether you want to soften it as a whole block or speed up the process by cutting it into cubes. The temperature of your kitchen also plays a role in how long this method takes. 

1. Whole Block

1. Take the cream cheese out of the refrigerator.
2. Allow it to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes to an hour.

2. Cubes

1. Remove the packaging and place the cream cheese on a plate.
2. Use a sharp knife to cut the cream cheese into large cubes.
3. Let it sit for 15 minutes at room temperature. 

3. Soften cream cheese in warm water

Learning how to soften cream cheese with warm water is a quick and effective way to achieve the perfect consistency without the need for a microwave or waiting for it to come to room temperature on your kitchen counter. However, it's important to note that this method only works if your cream cheese is still wrapped in its foil packing.

1. Take the cream cheese out of the cardboard packaging, but leave it in the foil wrapping.
2. Fill a medium-sized bowl with very warm water. The water should not be boiling hot.
3. Submerge the block of cream cheese into the warm water bath.  
4. Let the cream cheese sit in the warm water for about 10 to 15 minutes. You should check the block every 5 minutes or so to see how soft it is. 
5. If the water in the bowl becomes too cold at any point, you can replace it with warm water to continue softening the cream cheese.

4. Soften cream cheese with a warm bowl

If you want to know how to soften cream cheese quickly in the most gentle and gradual way, this is it! The warm bowl technique is a simple approach that uses radiating heat to bring the cream cheese to room temperature without melting it.

1. Cut the cold cream cheese into small cubes and place them on a plate.
2. Fill a glass bowl with water and heat it in the microwave on high power for 2 to 3 minutes or until the water is boiling. You can also boil water in a kettle and fill the bowl with hot boiling water.
3. Carefully remove the bowl from the microwave and dump out the hot water.
4. Use the empty warm bowl to cover the plate of cubed cream cheese. Don’t let the rim of the bowl touch the cream cheese.
5. Let the cream cheese soften under the warm bowl for about 5 to 10 minutes. 

5. Soften cream cheese with your hands

The best way to soften cream cheese without microwave is to use your hands! This simple method uses the heat from your hands and only requires a little bit of effort.

1. Leave the cream cheese in its original foil wrapper. 
2. Take the wrapped cream cheese in your hands and begin applying gentle pressure by squeezing and rolling it between your palms. As you do this, the heat from your hands will gradually transfer to the cream cheese, softening it over time.
3. To speed up the softening process, you can run your hands under warm water for a few seconds before handling the cream cheese. 
4. This method takes between 10 to 15 minutes. But the exact time is also dependent on the warmth of your hands.

What cream cheese to use in baking

In the world of baking, knowing the best cream cheese to use is just as important as knowing how to soften cream cheese for a recipe. Choosing the wrong cream cheese can result in less than optimal results in both taste and texture. Here are the key factors to look for when buying your cream cheese.

• Choose regular high-fat cream cheese for creamier and richer baked goods.
• Use block cream cheese instead of whipped or spreadable varieties. Block cream cheese is easier to measure accurately and incorporates better into recipes.
• Select plain, unflavored cream cheese. While flavored versions like strawberry cream cheese can be tempting to use, sticking to the original allows you to customize the taste of your desserts more.  

Can you leave cream cheese out overnight?

Leaving cream cheese out overnight on the kitchen countertop might seem like a convenient choice, but it's not advisable. Cream cheese is a dairy product and is susceptible to bacterial growth when kept at room temperature for an extended period. 

So, how long can you leave cream cheese at room temperature? In general, once the cream cheese is softened, you should use it right away and then promptly return it to the refrigerator. 

Do I always need to soften cream cheese before using?

The primary purpose of softening cream cheese is to achieve that perfect blend with the rest of the ingredients that are also normally at room temperature. However, you will be pleased to know that for example when making my cream cheese frosting without butter, which is made of cream cheese, mascarpone, and powdered sugar, there is no need to soften cream cheese. You can simply whip up all the ingredients cold and use the frosting straight away on your cakes and cupcakes.

Expert tips for softening cream cheese

1. Avoid using cold cream cheese to prevent lumps in your baked goods, especially if the recipe calls for room-temperature ingredients.
2. For the best results, allow enough time to properly soften the cream cheese.
3. If frozen, remove the cream cheese from the freezer and let it thaw before attempting any of the softening methods.
4. To speed up the softening process, you can slice the cold cream cheese into smaller cubes for quicker heat absorption.
5. Place the cream cheese on a microwave-safe plate when softening it in the microwave to ensure even heating.
6. Never expose it to direct or excessive heat. The goal is to gradually soften it to maintain its creamy texture.
7. If your recipe calls for softened cream cheese, make sure the other ingredients like eggs and butter are also at room temperature. This facilitates emulsification and produces a smoother mixture.

Softening cream cheese FAQs

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