Source: Kraft Philadelphia cream cheese
Cream cheese is a soft, usually mild-tasting fresh cheese made from milk and cream. Stabilizers such as carob bean gum and carrageenan are often added to industrial production.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration defines cream cheese as containing at least 33% milk fat with a moisture content of not more than 55%, and a pH range of 4.4 to 4.9. Similarly, under Canadian Food and Drug Regulations, cream cheese must contain at least 30% milk fat and a maximum of 55% moisture. In other countries, it is defined differently and may need a considerably higher fat content.
Cream cheese is not naturally matured and is meant to be consumed fresh, so it differs from other soft cheeses such as brie and Neufchâtel. It is more comparable in taste, texture, and production methods to Boursin and mascarpone.
Ingredients
1 and 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
3 tablespoons sugar
3 packages of Philadelphia Cream Cheese, 8 ounces each, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs
Directions
To make these Holiday Cheesecake Presents bars, first mix crumbs, butter, and 3 tablespoons of sugar; press onto the bottom of a 13×9-inch baking pan.
Mix cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs; mix until blended. Pour over the crust.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until the center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. Cut into bars. Decorate bars with decorating gels and sprinkles to resemble presents. Store leftover bars in the refrigerator.
