This easy cream cheese spread comes together in less than 10 minutes and is flavored with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil.
When the thermostat edges toward the 100 degree mark in the middle of summer, I start to wilt like an under-watered flower and do whatever I can to stay cool. Of course, that often involves standing directly over an air-conditioning vent…wearing a skirt…but I have also been known to stick my head into the freezer or join my kids in the sprinklers for a speedy cool down. When it is that hot out, my energy reserves are pretty low. Okay, I get pretty cranky too. What can I say? I’m not a hot weather girl, yet somehow I ended up living in a desert climate. Crazy. Low energy reserves means I need plenty of recipes – appetizer, entree, you name it – that require few ingredients and little effort. This sun-dried tomato and basil cream cheese spread fits the bill.
All that is required for this recipe is stirring chopped sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil into softened cream cheese. Spread it on toasted baguette slices or crackers for an easy appetizer or use it to dress up bagels and wrap sandwiches. Now excuse me while I head back to my vent.
The recipe:
In a medium bowl, using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, press and stir the cream cheese until smooth.
Stir in sun-dried tomatoes, basil and salt. Serve with toasted baguette slices or crackers.
Other cream cheese spread recipes:
Farmgirl Fare’s Refreshing Radish Spread/Dip
Sippity Sup’s Dill and Chive Cream Cheese Spread
Gourmeted’s Endives with Lox & Cream Cheese Spread
One Perfect Bite’s Cream Cheese and Pepper Jelly Spread
Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Cream Cheese Spread Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 oz. 1/3-less-fat (Neufchatel) cream cheese, softened
- 6 tbsp chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- 2 tbsp thinly sliced fresh basil
- Pinch of salt
Directions
- In a medium bowl, using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, press and stir the cream cheese until smooth. Stir in sun-dried tomatoes, basil and salt. Serve with toasted baguette slices or crackers.
Recipe Notes
Maria says
Jun 10, 2011 at 8:10 amGreat summer spread! We planted a lot of basil and I can’t wait to use it!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Jun 10, 2011 at 11:01 amWe have a few plants as well and there were just enough leaves for this recipe.
Heather at Heathers Dish says
Jun 10, 2011 at 9:13 amDips and spreads are such a weakness of mine! This sounds amazing!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Jun 10, 2011 at 11:01 amMe too, Heather. I could snack on them all day.
claudia lamascolo/aka pegasuslegend says
Jun 10, 2011 at 9:14 amlooks great and has all the flavors I love!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Jun 10, 2011 at 11:02 amYes, I thought this might appeal to your Italian taste buds, Claudia.
Jenny Flake says
Jun 10, 2011 at 9:18 amNow this is my kind of cream cheese spread! Yum!! Have a great weekend!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Jun 10, 2011 at 11:02 amThanks, Jenny. You too!
Explora Cuisine says
Jun 10, 2011 at 9:39 amSoo good, I love sun dried tomatoes! this spread is perfect at breakfast, mmm, can’t wait! Have a great weekend!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Jun 10, 2011 at 11:02 amI actually had some spread on toast this morning and it was really good.
Maris (In Good Taste) says
Jun 10, 2011 at 9:41 amThis is a wonderful summer spread! Have a very nice weekend!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Jun 10, 2011 at 11:02 amThanks, Maris. I hope you have a great weekend, too.
Jean (Lemons and Anchovies) says
Jun 10, 2011 at 9:46 amWe have a good friend who lives in SLC so I’ve spent lots of weeks cycling in your neck of the woods in the summer. I know how hot it can be. We’d have to start our bike rides pretty early in the morning to make sure we’re back before my midday.
This dip would definitely satisfy on a hot day. I love the flavor combination you selected, too. Where are the crackers? 🙂
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Jun 10, 2011 at 11:03 amJean, you hit the nail on the head. Everything ambitious needs to be done by noon.
Asiya @ Chocolate & Chillies says
Jun 10, 2011 at 9:47 amLooks yummy and very easy to make! I don’t think I would be able to stop eating this 🙂
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Jun 10, 2011 at 11:03 amAsiya, I have the same problem. I can’t stop eating it.
Sanjeeta kk says
Jun 10, 2011 at 10:07 amLove this easy-peasy cheesy spread! Need to make this weekend.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Jun 10, 2011 at 11:03 amI hope you enjoy it, Sanjeeta.
Heidi @ Food Doodles says
Jun 10, 2011 at 10:25 amMmm, that looks so good. I love flavored cream cheeses and I love all the flavors in this 😀
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Jun 10, 2011 at 11:04 amThanks, Heidi. There’s something so good about flavored cream cheeses. They are a great way to make sandwiches more interesting.
Brooks at Cakewalker says
Jun 10, 2011 at 11:01 amYummeee! Hi Dara, I just came over from spotting this wonderful spread on Savory Sights. I love cheese spreads and so does my family. Other than you sharing this recipe, do you want to know what the best part is? I’ve got ALL the igredients, including fresh basil growing in the yard…thank you & happy munching! 🙂
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Jun 10, 2011 at 11:05 amThanks, Brooks. And do you know how I came up with this recipe? I had all the ingredients in my garden or fridge, too! You have to love recipes that don’t require a trip to the store.
Barbara | Creative Culinary says
Jun 10, 2011 at 11:14 amSo much of what I make is from seeing what I need to use up but I seldom think of those ‘dishes’ as post worthy…but this sure is. And reminds me; I need to GET some basil planted, this weekend…thanks!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Jun 10, 2011 at 11:17 amI go through that same thought process – “Why would anyone want to read about this?” But you know what, the simple, throw-together recipes end up being some of my most popular ones.
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
Jun 10, 2011 at 11:45 amI agree with you, in the hot weather, simple recipes are definitely preferred. Plus, I’d rather spend more time outside and out of the kitchen!
madge @ vegetariancasserolequeen says
Jun 10, 2011 at 11:51 amI bought a ton of boxes of Wheat Thins Stix. I bet those would pair well with this spread.
And I totally agree…I’m not a hot weather person, either. I catch myself missing the snow alot these days!!!
KalynsKitchen says
Jun 10, 2011 at 12:00 pmThis sounds so tasty and easy. In the summer something like this with crackers would be lunch for me!
Kelsey says
Jun 10, 2011 at 12:58 pmYUM! This looks perfect for the little gathering I’m having at my house tomorrow night! Thanks so much for sharing! Sending some Canadian love…!
Shannon says
Jun 10, 2011 at 1:25 pmI love this! We love cheese spreads and appetizers in our house. I can’t wait to try this for our fourth of July get together. Thanks!!
Belinda @zomppa says
Jun 10, 2011 at 1:36 pmWhen? You mean right now it’s already edging to 100! I need this spread!! Love it.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Jun 10, 2011 at 1:46 pmNot yet. But I know those temperatures will be here before we know it!
Jessica says
Jun 10, 2011 at 2:49 pmMmm I love the idea of combining sun dried tomato & basil to make a spread. Sounds delicious!
torviewtoronto says
Jun 10, 2011 at 4:20 pmdeliciously done spread looks wonderful
Nan says
Jun 10, 2011 at 5:03 pmWow love this dip! Had to try it and now they are begging for more. I think that’s the true sign of a hit!
Carolyn says
Jun 10, 2011 at 5:18 pmThis is my kind of spread. Our basil is just tiny shoots right now, but come mid-July, we will be overrun with it and this is a great recipe for it.
Lindsey@Lindselicious says
Jun 10, 2011 at 6:34 pmOooh love the basil in there- that sounds so good. I have a massive weakness for cream cheese spreads/dips.
Drick says
Jun 10, 2011 at 7:24 pmyup, nuttin’ better that a cool vent and a glass of ice tea… of course, this spread would of too…
Jen at The Three Little Piglets says
Jun 10, 2011 at 10:34 pmI am SO glad that I have fresh basil in my garden and sun-dried tomatoes in the fridge. This will be perfect on my bagel tomorrow morning. Thank you for a lovely way to start my Saturday!
Kathleen says
Jun 10, 2011 at 10:46 pmThis sounds totally delicious! A really great summer appetizer. Thanks so much for sharing. I just recently started following you on SU. Nice to meet you. Have a lovely weekend 😉
Pretend Chef says
Jun 11, 2011 at 5:36 amYou had me at sun-dried tomatoes. This spread sounds so delicious. Yummy!
Vicki @ WITK says
Jun 11, 2011 at 2:40 pmThis is so simple and perfect! Turning on the oven these days is so hard, I could totally eat this with some bread for dinner 🙂
Katrina says
Jun 11, 2011 at 3:20 pmThis sounds perfect! Love trying new spreads 🙂
marla says
Jun 11, 2011 at 3:30 pmDara, this spread looks wonderful. The simplicity of cream cheese, sun dried tomatoes and fresh herbs is always a hit. I can’t believe we are soon moving on to round 2 of Get Grillin’!
Celeste Jenkins says
Jun 11, 2011 at 7:26 pmDrooling right now. This just look amazing! I love anything with sun dried tomatoes and cheese 🙂
Jannett says
Jun 12, 2011 at 8:49 amgreat sounding recipe..for the summer ahead of us.. ;o)
Kristi Rimkus says
Jun 12, 2011 at 11:22 amI love it when I have everything I need to make a new recipe, and with fresh basil abundant right now, I can’t wait to try this. I wish we could share some of your sun here in Seattle!
sharon says
Jun 12, 2011 at 2:00 pmwow, can’t wait to try this!! i had laughing cow cheese and wheat crackers just last night. i think this would be good stuffed into celery sticks!! a family reunion or picnic, get tired of always taking deviled eggs!! but i know they will still hollar for the deviled eggs! lol!!
Michelle @ Brown Eyed Baker says
Jun 12, 2011 at 6:10 pmThis sounds delicious! And a perfect use for my thriving basil plant!
Lori @ RecipeGirl says
Jun 13, 2011 at 8:45 amI love how simple and perfect this appetizer recipe is!
Tracy says
Jun 13, 2011 at 3:37 pmWhat a perfect spread for summer! I can’t wait to get some fresh basil from our CSA and try this!
Rebecca @ How the Cookies Crumble says
Jun 16, 2011 at 3:58 pmWhy Is cream cheese so freaking good – and not in that healthy I should eat you everyday every meal kinda way?!!
Amanda N - Wine and a Spoon says
Jun 20, 2011 at 11:29 amYum… and easy! I’m with you, nothing like a good cream cheese spread when it’s a little hot out. No cooking required.