Cream Cheese Holiday Board

Published 12/10/2023

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This cream cheese holiday board is as easy to make as it is to please. It’s our delicious take on the most recent “butter board” trend, except we take it up a few notches and use a delicious cream cheese spread that is sprinkled with fresh herbs, capers, red onions, and (the best part!) smoked salmon. Mmm.

a smoked salmon and cream cheese tart on a wooden cutting board.

Instead of having to buy varieties of cheese, dried meats, and fresh fruit, we decided to keep it simple yet elegant by using just a few ingredients. With just a few added toppings, this easy holiday cheeseboard will be sure to impress a large crowd while also keeping your stress levels low.

What’s in Cream Cheese Holiday Board

This cream cheese board is inspired by a lox bagel. We used classic ingredients like brined or smoked salmon, red onion, capers, cream cheese, and fresh herbs. Instead of a spoon or a knife, we just scoop everything up with a delicious bagel.

ingredients for smoked salmon bagel sandwich.

Variations and Substitutions

There are many different ways to adjust or add to this simple board to make it your own! For the salmon, we recommend using cold smoked salmon (the one that still looks raw), but any type of smoked salmon will work.

If you don’t have bagels, you can substitute them with a variety of crackers or sliced bread. And if you want to add more toppings, feel free to get creative and include other ingredients such as lemon zest, olives, pickles, or different types of cheeses.

How to soften cream cheese

Looking for a quick method to soften cream cheese? Check out our post – How to Soften Cream Cheese – 4 Ways! Here you’ll learn 4 unique (and quick!) methods to soften cream cheese to the perfect amount for baking and cooking.

a pizza with onions and cheese on a wooden cutting board.

Tips for Cream Cheese Holiday Board

If you want to use a wooden board for this recipe, we recommend placing a piece of parchment paper down before spreading the cream cheese.
For added flavor, you can mix some lemon juice and zest into the cream cheese before spreading it on the board.
To save time, you can prepare the cream cheese spread in advance and keep it in the fridge until ready to assemble the board.

Cream Cheese Recipes

If you love cooking or baking with cream cheese, check out all of our cream cheese recipes!

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smoked salmon pizza on a wooden cutting board.

Storage + Freezer Directions

Transfer any leftovers of your easy holiday cheese board to an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to one week.

We don’t recommend freezing this recipe, as cream cheese doesn’t freeze well. You can, however, freeze the smoked salmon if you wish!

Serving Suggestions

This beautiful cheese board is perfect for any holiday party or dinner party. It’s a great option for those who are looking for a lighter and more refreshing appetizer compared to traditional heavy cheese boards. You can also serve it as a light lunch or snack on its own.

For even more tasty festive goodies, accompany this cheese platter with other delicious appetizers like our Taco Dip, Cheesy Potato Skins, or Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers! As for mains, you’ll be the talk of the town with this Stuffed Turkey Breast, Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes, and Smoked Mac and Cheese.

Cream Cheese Holiday Board

Wow your guests (and yourself!) this holiday season with this cream cheese holiday board. The classic combination of rich cream cheese, smoked salmon, and fresh herbs is easy to put together and even easier to love!

By: Linley Hanson

Prep: 20

Total: 20

Servings:

a pizza with smoked salmon, onions and capers.

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Ingredients

▢ 16 oz. cream cheese, softened
▢ 3 tablespoons fresh dill, minced, divided
▢ 3 tablespoons fresh chives, minced, divided
▢ 3 tablespoons capers, divided
▢ ¼ small red onion, thinly sliced (~¼ cup)
▢ 8 oz. thinly sliced smoked salmon
▢ 2 teaspoons flakey sea salt
▢ 6 plain bagels, or any flavor

Instructions

Spread the cream cheese on a serving platter so it’s about ½ inch thick.
Add 2 tablespoons of dill and 2 tablespoons of chives to a bowl and stir to combine. Sprinkle on top of the cream cheese. Top with capers and red onions.
Tear the slices of salmon into smaller pieces and place them on top of the cream cheese.
Garnish with the remaining dill, chives, and flakey sea salt.
If the bagels are not already cut in half horizontally, do that. Then cut the bagel into 6’s to yield 12 pieces each. Place around the cream cheese.

Tips & Notes

We used cold smoked salmon (the one that still looks raw) in this recipe. Any smoked salmon will work.
If you want to use a wood cutting board for this recipe, we recommend placing a piece of parchment paper down before spreading the cream cheese.

Watch It

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