Two Cream Cheese Holiday Desserts

In Costa Rica, if you are looking for a product similar to Philadelphia cream cheese, you might want to try Queso Crema from local brands like Dos Pinos. While Philadelphia cream cheese is available in Costa Rican supermarkets, it tends to have a slightly different taste and consistency compared to local options. Many locals prefer the Dos Pinos brand, which is noted for its excellent quality and is often considered a good alternative to the imported Philadelphia product.

Queso Crema is versatile and can be used in various dishes, much like Philadelphia cream cheese. However, it’s important to note that the local varieties may have a different flavor profile due to the differences in production methods and ingredients used in Costa Rica.Peppermint Cookie Balls

Prep

15-30 mins

Total

1 HR 30 MIN

Servings

48 Servings

Ingredients

1/3 cup

finely chopped candy canes (about 6 small), divided

1 pkg

(8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

36 

vanilla creme-filled chocolate sandwich cookies, finely crushed

4 pkg

(4 oz. each) BAKER’S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, broken into pieces, melted

Instructions

Step 1

Reserve 1 Tbsp. chopped candy. Mix remaining candy with cream cheese and cookie crumbs until blended.

Step 2

Shape into 48 (1-inch) balls. Freeze 10 min.

Step 3

Dip cookie balls in melted chocolate; place on waxed paper-covered rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with reserved candy.

Step 4

Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.Double-Layer Pumpkin Pie

Prep

15-30 mins

Total

1 HRS 20 MIN

Servings

10 Servings

Ingredients

1 pkg

(8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

1 tbsp

sugar

1 cup

plus 1 Tbsp. milk, divided

1 tub

(8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided

1 

ready-to-use graham cracker crumb crust (6 oz.)

1 can

(15 oz.) pumpkin

2 pkg

(3.4 oz. each) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding

1 tsp

ground cinnamon

1/2  tsp

ground ginger

1/4 tsp

ground cloves

Instructions

Step 1

Beat cream cheese, sugar and 1 Tbsp. milk in large bowl with whisk until blended. Stir in half the COOL WHIP. Spread onto bottom of crust.

Step 2

Whisk pumpkin, dry pudding mixes, spices and remaining milk in medium bowl 2 min. (Mixture will be thick.) Spread over cream cheese layer.

Step 3

Refrigerate 4 hours or until firm.

Step 4

Serve topped with remaining COOL WHIP.

More related articles

THANK YOU!

Costa Rica Rainy Season Guide: What You Need to Know

Costa Rica Rainy Season Guide: What You Need to Know

By midafternoon in much of Costa Rica, the sky can change its mind fast. A bright blue morning over the Pacific gives way to rolling gray clouds, the trees glow a deeper green, and then the rain arrives - hard, warm, and theatrical. That rhythm is the heart of this...

How to Plan a Costa Rica Itinerary Right

How to Plan a Costa Rica Itinerary Right

The mistake most travelers make in Costa Rica happens before the suitcase is zipped. They try to do too much. A map makes the country look manageable, but anyone who has spent real time here knows that planning a Costa Rica itinerary days is less about distance and...

Costa Rica Turtle Nesting: Where and When

Costa Rica Turtle Nesting: Where and When

Moonlight changes everything on a turtle beach. What looks quiet and empty by day can turn into one of the most moving wildlife scenes in Costa Rica after dark - a slow, determined procession from sea to sand, repeated in near silence except for waves and wind. Costa...

Staff