How to Soften Cream Cheese for Mixing: 5 Easy Tips

As a busy mom of young children, I often find myself going the extra step in creating meals for my family from scratch. There are occasions when life gets in the way and the pre-planning for meals does not go as planned and you are stuck finding shortcuts to unforeseen challenges. This article will walk you through 5 different options on how to soften cream cheese.

So, when faced with an instruction to soften cream cheese before adding to your other ingredients, you may just have a worried look on your face. No worries here though. We have put together an easy step-by-step guide to help you along with this process. So, let us get going.

Accessories Needed to Soften Cream Cheese

There are various tips on how to soften cream cheese for mixing and we will run through those shortly.
For now, this is what you will need for each option:

Soften Cream Cheese in The Microwave

1. A microwave
2. A microwavable bowl
3. A spoon

Soften Cream Cheese with Warm Water

1. Cooled kettle water or lukewarm water from the tap
2. A glass or ceramic bowl
3. A spoon

Soften Cream Cheese by Thinning

1. A glass or ceramic bowl
2. Milk
3. Cream
4. Melted butter
5. Lemon juice
6. A spoon

Soften Cream Cheese by Mixing

1. A glass or ceramic bowl
2. Marshmallow Fluff like Cool Whip or any variety you can find
3. Or mascarpone

Soften Cream Cheese by The Blending

1. An electric beater
2. Mixing Bowls
3. A spoon for scraping

We will give you all the options step-by-step but as a preferred method we do choose the Hot Water Option. This is the most natural manner in which to smooth out your cream cheese. There is no adding in of other ingredients which can sometimes smooth it down too much or change the taste of your cream cheese.

No one method is wrong or right, but that is our preference. However, when in a hurry, and the guests are a-coming, try one of the quicker alternatives from our list. No one will wiser to it. Only you!

1. The Microwave Option

• Step 1 – scoop out the desired amount of cream cheese
• Step 2 – place the cream cheese into a microwavable bowl
• Step 3 – place the bowl into the microwave
• Step 4 – microwave on high for 30 seconds
• Step 5 – check after 30 seconds and push down into the cream cheese with the back of a spoon
• Step 6 – keep microwaving in 10 second bursts till the cream cheese is
  softened sufficiently

2. The Hot Water Option

• Step 1 – either boil the kettle and wait for water to cool to lukewarm or pour lukewarm water from the tap into a glass or ceramic bowl
• Step 2 – place your sealed cream cheese container into the bowl of lukewarm water
• Step 3 – give it about 10 minutes then check to see if cream cheese is softened by opening and pressing down with the flat of a spoon
• Step 4 – if not, then leave it for a little long and/or top up with more lukewarm water

3. The Thinning Option

• Step 1 – scoop out the desired amount of cream cheese into a glass or ceramic bowl
• Step 2 – dependent on which ingredient you would prefer, put a little of this into the bowl (just a little) and mix with a spoon till the consistancy is smoother

4. The Mixing Option

• Step 1 – scoop out the desired amount of cream cheese into a glass or ceramic bowl
• Step 2 – scoop a little of either marshmallow fluff or mascarpone (a level teaspoon) into the cream cheese
• Step 3 – mix with a spoon till smooth and creamy

5. The Blending Option

• Step 1 – scoop out the desired amount of cream cheese into a plastic bowl deep enough to take a blender
• Step 2 – holding the bowl firmly blend on low and increase speed without splashing the cream cheese out
• Step 3 – you can add a little water just to get the consistancy really smooth
• Step 4 – use the spoon to scrape the remaining cream cheese from the blender points

In short, if you have forgotten to take the cream cheese out of the fridge or freezer and need to smooth it out in a hurry for your next creative baking project, you now have 5 awesome options to choose from.
Baking is an artform and many find it a cumbersome process, what with all the measuring, checking and analyzing, so finding quick and easy ways to speed up your project, is always a godsend.

How to soften cream cheese couldn’t be easier with our 5 super methods.
We hope you enjoyed our little tutorial and if you did, please share with like-minded bakers or foodies. We would also love to hear from you, so pop us a comment and tell us about your latest baking endeavors. Check out this article if you are looking to save and prolong extra cream cheese. You can always freeze it!