Homemade cream cheese.

Homemade cream cheese with just 3 ingredients. If you’ve ever wanted to make cream cheese and wondered how you can make it at home, then this cream cheese recipe is for you.

📝 Ingredients

• 1 liter (4 cups)of full-fat milk(also known as whole milk)
• 2 tablespoons of lime(substitute with lemon or white vinegar, make sure the vinegar has a strong smell)
• Salt to use as needed(start with 1/2 a teaspoon, taste and adjust)
• Herbs, such as garlic are optional ingredients to flavor the cheese.

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Have a dry empty bottle ready to store...: Have a dry empty bottle ready to store the cheese.
2. 2Place the straining cheesecloth(substitute materials mentioned below)over a...: Place the straining cheesecloth(substitute materials mentioned below)over a colander or large sieve. Place this over a pan to collect the whey liquid.
3. 3Substituting cheesecloth, if you are unable to find...: Substituting cheesecloth, if you are unable to find a cheesecloth, use a material that will strain and separate the whey from the milk curd. I tried a piece of stretchable material which worked well too.
4. 4Make sure the material is large enough to...: Make sure the material is large enough to cover the sieve or colander and then grip and squeeze out the whey comfortably.
5. 5Some other substitutes for cheesecloth are white linen(handkerchief...: Some other substitutes for cheesecloth are white linen(handkerchief material, not a handkerchief as it will not be big enough), a fine mesh bag, muslin, a clean and new cotton dish towel or a tightly woven mesh strainer.
6. 6Have the ingredients to make cream cheese ready.
7. 7Add the milk into a heavy-bottomed pan and...: Add the milk into a heavy-bottomed pan and heat the milk over low-medium heat.
8. 8Frequently stir the milk and bring it to...: Frequently stir the milk and bring it to a high simmer(not to a rolling boil).
9. 9Reduce heat to low and pour in the...: Reduce heat to low and pour in the lime juice(2 tbsp).
10. 10Continue stirring.
11. 11You’ll notice the milk curdling.
12. 12Further, reduce heat to low and stir gently...: Further, reduce heat to low and stir gently to help the curdling.
13. 13Stage 2 of curdling after a few seconds
14. 14Stage 3 of curdling where you will clearly see...: Stage 3 of curdling where you will clearly see the whey separating from the milk curd.
15. 15Remove the pan and pour the milk curd...: Remove the pan and pour the milk curd into the sieve.
16. 16Warning- the liquid and milk curd is hot,...: Warning- the liquid and milk curd is hot, pour gently to avoid splashing.
17. 17Gradually pour the milk curd onto the cheesecloth...: Gradually pour the milk curd onto the cheesecloth to strain.
18. 18Cover with the edges of the straining cloth...: Cover with the edges of the straining cloth and let the milk rest for 5 minutes.
19. 19Gather the material and let the milk curd...: Gather the material and let the milk curd bundle hang over the pan.
20. 20DO NOT THROW AWAY THE WHEY WATER.
21. 21Twist and gently squeeze the excess whey water.
22. 22Place the bundle in a bowl and remove...: Place the bundle in a bowl and remove the cloth from the milk curd ball.
23. 23Crumble the curd with a spoon.
24. 24Add salt, start with 1/2 a teaspoon and...: Add salt, start with 1/2 a teaspoon and add more as you need later. for this batch I added 1 teaspoon which made the cheese a little too salty, so be careful with the salt.
25. 25Transfer the curd into a food processor.
26. 26Add 2 tablespoons of the whey water and...: Add 2 tablespoons of the whey water and pulse until the cheese is slightly smooth. At least a minute.
27. 27Stage 1.
28. 28Cream cheese is still grainy.
29. 29Add 1 tablespoon of whey and blend for...: Add 1 tablespoon of whey and blend for a minute.
30. 30Check the texture and taste of the cream...: Check the texture and taste of the cream cheese.
31. 31Continue to work on the cream cheese texture...: Continue to work on the cream cheese texture and taste by adding whey and salt to reach the correct creamy consistency.
32. 32Once the cream cheese is done store it...: Once the cream cheese is done store it in a glass container.