I’ve always considered the months between Halloween and New Year’s the Ultimate Dessert Time. First you’ve got Halloween candy—then you have all that Halloween candy leftovers—then by the time you finish them it’s almost Thanksgiving, which means more dessert and more leftovers. This leads to hot cocoa season, and gingerbread house season, and sugar cookie season, and then it’s the holidays and you’ve got dessert from Christmas and New Year’s parties left and right. Long story short: there are a lot of prime dessert opportunities during these next two months. The best way to take full advantage of all of them? Incorporate cheese, of course! To keep you on top of your dessert game during these next few months, we’ve gathered up some cream cheese dessert recipes that you can whip up for your next holiday party or on those days when you feel like staying home and baking simply because the days are getting shorter and colder and dessert is always great.
1. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Bars
Photo Credit: Sally’s Baking Addiction
There’s only a few weeks left of the pumpkin craze, so make sure you jump on this one fast. This twist on the classic pumpkin bar with cream cheese frosting from Sally’s Baking Addiction is a buttery fall delight.
2. Peppermint Oreo Truffles (Crack Balls)
Photo Credit: The Crazy Craft lady
Don’t let the name alarm you—the only similarity between these chocolate-dipped Oreo and cream cheese balls and actual crack is how crazy addictive they are. Bonus: take the advice of The Crazy Craft Lady and add peppermint to get all of your friends hooked at your next Christmas party.
3. Cream Cheese Brownies
Photo Credit: “Brownie Cheese Cake” by atichart wongubon | Shutterstock
Honestly, brownies are a good idea any day, any time. Make your next match even more exciting by adding cream cheese to the mix.
4. Red Velvet Cheesecake Cookies
Photo Credit: Two Peas and Their Pod
A mix of cheesecake, red velvet cake, and cookie is almost too many good things happening at once. These cheesy, cakey cookies from Two Peas and Their Pod will steal the spotlight at any holiday party.
5. Mini Sugar Cookie Fruit Pizzas
Photo Credit: Six Sisters’ Stuff
If you’re feeling something sweet but on the lighter side, these mini sugar cookie fruit pizzas—brought to you by Six Sisters’ Stuff—will totally hit the spot.
6. Salted Caramel Cheesecake Cupcakes
Photo Credit: Pink Parsley
Salt and caramel have to be one of my favorite food pairings of all time. Throw in cream cheese, and I’m sold. These salted caramel cheesecake cupcakes from Pink Parsley have it all.
7. Mason Jar Salted Caramel Cheesecake
Photo Credit: POPSUGAR
If you wanna get real fancy with your salted caramel cheesecake, follow the advice of POPSUGAR and put it inside a mini mason jar.
Feature Photo Credit: Two Peas and Their Pod
Sarah Cummings
Sarah Cummings is a native New Yorker braving the Boston winters to study Writing, Literature, and Publishing at Emerson College. In her spare time, she can often be found rock climbing, cuddling the neighborhood cats, or integrating goat cheese into her every meal.
