Trader Joe's Shoppers Are Getting Creative With Cocoa Cream Cheese

Cream cheese can be a bit of a blank canvas. Sure plain cream cheese is great as it is, but there are a plethora of other flavors and infused varieties from this three-cheese, herb, and honey cream cheese to this whipped everything bagel version. Now, even trader Trader Joe's is getting on the flavored cream cheese action, debuting its Hot Cocoa Inspired Cream Cheese Spread, which the packaging describes as "a schmear for bagels, graham crackers, and fruit," (via Instagram).

You already know how versatile cream cheese is. Properly softened, it can infuse a host of recipes with its tangy goodness from no-bake desserts to classic cream cheese frosting that can be used for everything from topping carrot cake to stuffing fresh strawberries — the ingredient can even be used to amp up savory dishes like grits or gnocchi. With cream cheese and hot cocoa combined, however, this new product promises lots of delicious options and adaptations of our favorite flavors. Recently, Instagram user @TraderJoe'sList recently shared the new flavored cream cheese, and followers contributed some seriously creative ideas.

Trader Joe's List sampled the new Hot Cocoa Inspired Cream Cheese Spread from Trader Joe's, which the fan account reports retails for $2.79. They tasted the spread on its own and also spread it on Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Half-Coated Rice Cakes, describing the flavor of the spread as milk chocolate, rather than dark.

Some great ideas popped up in comments from followers, such as the one from Instagram user @christinahollyjuarez who suggested rolling the ingredient into balls and topping with cookie crumbs and chocolate to make truffle-like chocolate cheesecake bites. Other users adore the cocoa cream cheese on brownie brittle, while another recommended using the ingredient to top an English muffin along with fresh strawberries for a sweet breakfast or easy dessert. One follower pointed out that the Trader Joe's local to them had been sampling the new cream cheese with its cinnamon graham crackers — with just two ingredients you can't ask for a much easier snack. If you really want to flex your kitchen expertise, you could also try putting a chocolatey twist on the classic New York-Style Cheesecake.

Honestly, no matter how you spread it, we're willing to bet chocolate cream cheese is going to be a win for Trader Joe's.