As commercial cookies go, graham crackers are a pretty good value. They're lower in sugar than many cookies and contain some whole grains. The once 16-oz boxes have now shrunk to 14.4 oz (or thereabouts), but for $1.70 to $2.00 (less when on sale) per box of store-brand wafers, that's not a bad price.
My first thought was that I would just make a couple of tablespoons of some cheesecake spread. My second thought was the whole family might enjoy this. And I was right. The cheesecake spread on graham crackers got rave reviews.
The spread is a less-sweet version of cream cheese frosting, with butter, cream cheese, vanilla extract, and some powdered sugar to sweeten, but not enough to make the spread thick like frosting. Then I added a few generous spoonfuls of homemade blueberry jam (from last summer) to the top. Again, another way for me to use up some of those jams and jellies. The blueberry jam, by the way, was made with frozen blueberries and not fresh ones. Using commercial frozen berries made this jam more affordable for me, and it was just as good as jam from fresh berries.
That is a wonderful idea. My daughter saw a cheesecake lasagna recipe that we tried which is similar to your idea but sadly after a few days the graham cracker crust got soggy. I will try this instead and it's a ton easier to make.
ReplyDeleteAlice
Hi Alice,
DeleteCheesecake lasagna sounds interesting. I think I see how graham crackers would get soggy, though.
What I made was definitely easy. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!
What a great idea! I recently bought graham crackers--we had some leftover frosting and I remembered my mom spreading frosting on them. Definitely a hit. Do you have a recipe for the cheesecake spread?
ReplyDeleteHi Kris,
DeleteWhen my kids were little, on the days following their birthdays, I would use the leftover frosting from birthday cakes on graham crackers for their afternoon snacks. They loved those and so did I!
For the cheesecake spread, I just mixed it until I liked it. I started with butter and cream cheese that I softened in the microwave for a few seconds. Then I stirred in a few drops of vanilla and powdered sugar to thicken. But I didn't make it as thick and pasty as frosting. I wanted the cream cheese flavor to come through and not be overly sweet. So, I'd say do it to taste.
Enjoy!
I'm jumping on the bandwagon. This is a great idea. We don't regularly stock cream cheese or graham crackers, but I think they will be on our next grocery list.
ReplyDeleteHi Live and Learn,
DeleteThese were delicious and so easy. I hope you enjoy them, too!
Definitely a quick tasty snack! I like this idea as well. I've got the cream cheese but may need to pick up the graham crackers. I think I have some of the freezer strawberry jam that would be delish in this as well. Kris, I think frosting on graham crackers is what the commercial Dunkaroos were all about-not sure if they are still around or not. I just remember my children begging for that particular treat for lunch boxes.
ReplyDeleteLili, I used your scratch cake recipe for my mother's 90th (!) birthday dinner last weekend. (Just 4 of us in keeping with quarantine numbers, though she was fine with that as she did NOT want a big party anyway!) Made buttercream icing and it was well received by all. Thanks for posting that and for the recent link. It was perfectly timed for that occasion.
Have a good weekend all!
Hi Lynn,
DeleteHappy birthday to your mom! I pray that she'll have many, many more celebrations to share with you. That cake recipe is a good one. I've always had success with it.
If you make this cream cheese and graham cracker treat -- enjoy!
Graham cracker cookies are among our favorites. I love this idea - a great way to use up that little bit of cream cheese sitting in my fridge. You truly have a gift to elevate ordinary things. Have a great weekend Lili!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ruthie! That's about the kindest thing anyone has said to me in a long while.
DeleteHave a great weekend, yourself!
Mmm, that sounds good. I remember when I was in elementary school, the cafeteria ladies would serve graham crackers with either peanut butter or a white icing, sorta like a sandwich. They were heavenly! I'm going to try your idea.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
Shelby
Shelby, did you see my comment above? The funny thing is that my mom was a cafeteria lady ��.
DeleteMy niece had her first birthday, and of course there's no way we could have celebrated it in a normal way. So we had a garden party ( well, it was only -10C that day!)and my sister had made cheesecakes in jars: crackers, crean cheese and strawberry jam. It was really good, she had made a normal no bake cheesecake a day before, but it was inferior.
ReplyDeleteHi Ulvmor,
DeleteBrrrr, -10 C is very cold for a garden party! You're heartier than I am.
I've seen photos of those cheesecakes in small jars. They look adorable. What a great idea for a birthday celebration! I may have to "steal" that idea for a birthday in my own family.
Thanks for sharing the idea!