Imagine a spread so luxuriously smooth and intensely flavorful that it transforms ordinary bread into a gourmet experience. Our Garlic Confit Cream Cheese is not just a recipe—it's a revelation that will elevate your appetizers, sandwiches, and snacks to restaurant-quality delights. By slow-cooking garlic in olive oil until it becomes meltingly tender and golden, we've created a magical ingredient that turns simple cream cheese into a culinary masterpiece that will have your guests begging for the recipe.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 1 hrs
Total Time: 1 hrs 10 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup garlic cloves, peeled
- 1 cup olive oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Carefully peel all garlic cloves, ensuring no papery skin remains attached.
- Select a small, heavy-bottomed saucepan that will allow garlic cloves to be fully submerged in olive oil.
- Place peeled garlic cloves into the saucepan and pour olive oil over them, ensuring they are completely covered.
- Heat the pan over the lowest possible heat setting, maintaining a very gentle simmer. The oil should barely bubble, with temperature around 200-210°F.
- Cook garlic slowly for approximately 45-60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cloves become soft, golden, and completely tender.
- Remove pan from heat and allow garlic and oil to cool to room temperature.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer the soft, caramelized garlic cloves to a mixing bowl.
- Add softened cream cheese to the roasted garlic and mash together thoroughly until completely integrated.
- Season with salt to taste, mixing well to distribute seasoning evenly.
- Transfer mixture to a serving dish, smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Optionally, drizzle a small amount of the reserved garlic-infused olive oil on top for additional flavor.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld before serving.
Tips
- • Temperature is crucial: Use the lowest heat setting to prevent burning and ensure gentle, even cooking of the garlic. • Choose fresh, high-quality garlic cloves for the most robust flavor. • Use a candy or instant-read thermometer to maintain the ideal 200-210°F temperature range. • Don't rush the cooking process—slow cooking develops the deepest, sweetest garlic flavor. • Save the garlic-infused olive oil for drizzling on salads, bread, or other dishes. • For a smoother texture, you can blend the roasted garlic and cream cheese in a food processor. • This spread keeps well refrigerated for up to 5-7 days, making it perfect for meal prep.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 274kcal
Carbohydrates: 2g
Protein: 3g
Fat: 28g
Saturated Fat: 10g
Cholesterol: 45mg
