5 cream cheese cheery recipes

No-bake lemon chiffon cheesecake made light with blended cottage cheese, nonfat cream cheese and lemon gelatin, folded fluffy with whipped cream and crowned with cherry pie filling. A cool, airy dessert with no oven required.

Petite cheesecakes baked in mini muffin tins with a vanilla wafer base and cherry pie filling on top. Bite-sized, freezer-friendly, and perfect for parties and potlucks.

Chocolate chip cherry drop cookies with cream cheese in the dough, maraschino cherries, and a half-cherry crown on each cookie. Holiday-bright bite-sized treats.

Spinach pesto appetizer: a sliceable, high-protein cheesecake-style savory loaf with spinach, cottage cheese, cream cheese, and Romano. Perfect make-ahead party food served chilled with crackers or crostini.

Chicken and chili stew with browned drumsticks, white beans, cherry tomatoes, and chili powder, finished with fresh cilantro. A make-ahead one-pot stew loaded with garnish options.