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 ounces 1/3-less-fat Neufchatel cream cheese, softened
- 6 tablespoons chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- 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.
Notes
Nutrition
Amanda N - Wine and a Spoon
Yum… and easy! I’m with you, nothing like a good cream cheese spread when it’s a little hot out. No cooking required.
Rebecca @ How the Cookies Crumble
Why Is cream cheese so freaking good – and not in that healthy I should eat you everyday every meal kinda way?!!
Tracy
What a perfect spread for summer! I can’t wait to get some fresh basil from our CSA and try this!
Lori @ RecipeGirl
I love how simple and perfect this appetizer recipe is!
Michelle @ Brown Eyed Baker
This sounds delicious! And a perfect use for my thriving basil plant!
sharon
wow, 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!!
Kristi Rimkus
I 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!
Jannett
great sounding recipe..for the summer ahead of us.. ;o)
Celeste Jenkins
Drooling right now. This just look amazing! I love anything with sun dried tomatoes and cheese 🙂
marla
Dara, 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’!
Katrina
This sounds perfect! Love trying new spreads 🙂
Vicki @ WITK
This is so simple and perfect! Turning on the oven these days is so hard, I could totally eat this with some bread for dinner 🙂
Pretend Chef
You had me at sun-dried tomatoes. This spread sounds so delicious. Yummy!
Kathleen
This 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 😉
Jen at The Three Little Piglets
I 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!
Drick
yup, nuttin’ better that a cool vent and a glass of ice tea… of course, this spread would of too…
Lindsey@Lindselicious
Oooh love the basil in there- that sounds so good. I have a massive weakness for cream cheese spreads/dips.
Carolyn
This 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.