Photographed by Michael Piazza | Kendra Smith
I don’t know about you, but cream cheese is something I always have stashed in my refrigerator drawer. That’s because it can do more than rescue breakfast. In the recipes ahead, cream cheese moonlights in two party snacks (anchovy spread; deviled eggs), masquerades as pasta sauce, plays a supporting role in cult-favorite avocado toast, and adds a tangy layer of flavor to pound cake. So go ahead, buy another block—we’ve got more than one way for you to use it.
1. Cream Cheese Pound Cake with Candied Carrots and Ginger Whipped Cream
2. Onion Dip Deviled Eggs
3. Rye Pasta with Cream Cheese Sauce and Chard

4. Anchovy, Cream Cheese, and Hot Pepper Spread

5. Cream Cheese Avocado Toast with Fried Eggs and Za’atar
Perfect for breakfast, lunch, or a snack, this one-handed meal is surprisingly creamy and rich for how simple it is to pull together.