Go Back
–+ servings
whipped cream in a bowl with a spoon.
Print Recipe

How to Make Cream Cheese

Follow our step-by-step how to make cream cheese tutorial and enjoy your own cream cheese in no time at all. It's easy!
Prep Time35 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: Spread
Cuisine: American
Keyword: homemade cream cheese
Servings: 6
Author: Emily Richter

Ingredients

  • 4 cups whole milk
  • 3-4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring the milk to a soft boil.
    a pan with milk in it on a white background.
  • Once the milk has started to boil, add the lemon juice. Using a slotted spoon, stir everything together. The curds should start to separate from the whey almost immediately. Remove from the heat.
    white rice in a pan on a white background.
  • Strain the curds using a cheesecloth and strainer.
    ricotta cheese in a cloth bag on a white background.
  • Squeeze out any excess liquid and transfer the curd to a food processor. Add the salt and process for at least 3 minutes.
    a close up of a food processor with whipped cream.
  • Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
    whipped cream in a bowl with a spoon.

Video

Notes

  • The cream cheese may be a bit stiff when used after refrigeration, just stir with a spoon to loosen it up.
  • We only used fresh lemon juice for this recipe
  • When adding lemon juice the milk should start to turn within 15-30 seconds. Start with 3 tablespoons. If curd doesn’t start to form add an additional tablespoon of lemon juice.

Nutrition

Calories: 100kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 5g | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 8g