How to soften cream cheese quickly in the microwave
Achieve a consistent cream cheese texture by softening cream cheese in the microwave! Softening cream cheese is usually required when you need to mix it with other ingredients evenly and to prevent lumps from forming.
Softening cream cheese is easy and takes just 15 to 20 seconds. I myself use cream cheese extensively in no bake desserts and achieving smooth layers is very desirable. By microwaving it for only 15 seconds, you have a beautifully soft cream cheese, ready to be mixed with the rest of the ingredients. My favorite recipe using softened cream cheese is No Bake Oreo Dessert.
How to Soften Cream Cheese
- Take cream cheese out of its foil wrapping and set it on a microwave-safe bowl or plate.
- Microwave on HIGH power for about 15 to 20 seconds.
STEP 1. Place unwrapped cream cheese on the microwave safe plate. As you can see I did not chop the cold cream cheese slab into chunks, even though some cooks do that as well. I find that it’s simply not necessary and always soften the whole slab all at once.
STEP 2. Microwave your cream cheese for 15 to 20 seconds and then remove it from the microwave. Once I take it out of the microwave, I also mix it thoroughly because it may be a little cooler in the middle, while warmer on the outside.
Why soften Cream cheese
- Softened cream cheese is easier to spread and work with whether you are baking with it or using it with other ingredients.
- I find it so much easier to blend it in when mixing with other ingredients, such as whipped cream, Cool Whip or pudding.
- Using softened cream cheese helps to avoid unpleasant lumps, which can occur when the cream cheese is cold in temperature.
How to sweeten cream cheese
Sweeten the cream cheese by sifting powdered sugar into it. I always use 1/2 cup of powdered sugar in one block of cream cheese. Make sure to use a sifter to avoid any clumps, and you will see how how much easier to mix it that way! The resulting texture is silky smooth, and the cream cheese is ready to be used for a multitude of desserts.
Recipes that use softened cream cheese:
Cinnamon Roll Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Icing
Peach and Blueberry Cream Cheese Tart
Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Filling
No Bake Oreo Dessert with Cream Cheese and Cool Whip
How To Soften Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 oz. cream cheese
Instructions
- Take cream cheese out of its foil wrapping and set it on a microwave-safe bowl or plate.
- Microwave on HIGH power for about 15 to 20 seconds.
