Cream Cheese Kicker Recipes

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Combine the butter, vanilla, 4 ounces of the room-temperature cream cheese and 1 teaspoon of the salt in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Add 2 cups of the sugar and beat until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and beat until smooth, then add the flour and beat on low until the dough just comes together. Remove the frozen cream cheese from the freezer and chop into 1/4-inch cubes. Add the cubes to the dough, quickly stirring with a rubber spatula to evenly incorporate them into the dough. Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.
• Using a 1-ounce ice cream scoop or 2 tablespoons, scoop 12 portions of dough, roll into balls and transfer to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly apart. Lightly flour the bottom of a 1/2-cup measuring cup and use it to flatten each cookie into a disk about 1/2 inch thick, re-flouring the cup after each cookie.
• Bake, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, until the cookies look set but are still pale and barely brown on the bottom, 20 to 24 minutes. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 1 minute, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining cookie dough.
• Meanwhile, combine the remaining 2 ounces room-temperature cream cheese, 2 cups sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the mixture forms a thick paste. Add the milk and stir slowly until a thick glaze forms.
• When the cookies are cool, dip the entire surface of the top of each cookie in the glaze and lift up, letting the excess glaze drip off, then flip the cookie right-side up and onto the cooling rack. If the glaze is too thick, add another teaspoon of milk to loosen it. If using the cranberries or lime zest, sprinkle on top of the cookies while the glaze is still wet. Allow the glaze to set before serving, at least 10 minutes. Store the cookies in a single layer in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Steps:

• Mix pineapple relish and cream cheese together. Fold in grated cheese. Form mixture into ball or dome; roll in chopped nuts. Use as a dip with crackers, chips, fruits or veggies, or as a filling for celery, jalapenos or tortilla pinwheels. Serves 4.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9 (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray. Cook rice as directed on package; set aside.
• Meanwhile, in 10-inch nonstick skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add onion, mushrooms, thyme, salt and pepper; cook and stir 4 to 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in flour until well combined. Slowly add milk, and heat to simmering, stirring to prevent lumps. Add chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce, sour cream, cream cheese spread and poppy seed; simmer 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened.
• In large bowl, mix chicken, cooked rice and sauce mixture; transfer to baking dish. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until 165°F in center. Meanwhile, in large resealable food-storage plastic bag, mix crackers and 2 tablespoons melted butter, shaking to combine. Sprinkle on top of casserole during last 5 minutes of baking.
• If making ahead to bake and serve at a later date: Line 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with 2 layers of plastic wrap, leaving enough overhang to completely enclose assembled casserole. Spread rice mixture in large shallow pan; cool mixture completely, covered, 30 to 45 minutes in refrigerator. Spoon rice mixture into baking dish; cover with another layer of plastic wrap. Freeze unbaked casserole about 8 hours or until completely frozen. Transfer frozen casserole to labeled 2-gallon resealable freezer plastic bag. Remove air; seal and freeze up to three months. To bake: Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray. Remove plastic wrap from casserole; place in baking dish. Cover tightly with foil; thaw completely in refrigerator, 24 to 48 hours. Heat oven to 350°F. Uncover; bake 50 minutes. Sprinkle cracker mixture on top of casserole; bake 5 to 10 minutes longer or until crackers are golden brown and casserole is heated through (165°F in center).

Steps:

• Beat softened butter and cream cheese until well blended.
• Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat until creamy.