Smoked Cream Cheese
Here is how I created the smoked cream cheese that we served at Atlanta Grill Company's Fire Show on June 04, 2022.
Smoked Cream Cheese
Rated 4.0 stars by 2 users
Category
appetizer
Cuisine
grilled
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
2 hours
Our popular smoked cream cheese pairs wonderfully with our pepper jelly as an easy entertaining appetizer or as part of your charcuterie board.
Ingredients
-
8 ounce block of cream cheese
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Unicoi Preserves Cherry Jalapeno Spread
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Unicoi Preserves Apple Cider Pepper Spread
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apple wood chunks for smoking
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hickory wood chunks for smoking
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aluminum foil
Directions
Slice each block of cream cheese into 2 equal pieces. You can lightly score the top of the cheese in a diamond pattern, just don't cut too deep. This allows the rub and smoke to penetrate the interior of the cheese easier.
Generously dust each edge of the cheese with your preferred rub. I used Lane's BBQ rubs to pair with our spreads. Sweet Heat Rub pairs well with our Cherry Jalapeno Spread, and Homemade Apple Pie Seasoning pairs well with our Apple Cider Pepper Spread.
Set up your grill for indirect cooking. I use a kamado style grill and lump charcoal. Place several chunks of apple wood and one chunk of hickory in your charcoal. Milder fruitwoods are better here, as too much hickory overpowers the other flavors.
Light your grill and keep the temperature very low. If you are using a kamado style grill, put in your heat deflector before placing the grill grate in. Place a piece of aluminum foil on your cooking grate, and place your cheese on top of the foil. Make sure you leave a bit of room between pieces so the smoke can get to all sides. I place the blocks of cheese on my grill once it reaches around 150 degrees and keep the temperature at or just below 200 degrees.
The longer you leave the cream cheese on the grill, the more smoke it will take on. I personally like the flavor of the cheese after it has smoked for 1.5 - 2 hours, but feel free to experiment with times and different types of wood chunks.
When you are removing the cheese from the grill, it will be very soft. I just pull the whole sheet of aluminum foil off the grill onto a sheet pan and allow it to cool. Serve at room temperature, or cover and refrigerate for a later date.
To serve, simply top with your favorite Unicoi Preserves spread and serve alongside your favorite crackers or pita chips.