Weekday Vegetarian: Spiced Pumpkin Cream Cheese

Photo: Kelly Rossiter

As a companion to the spicy pumpkin hummus I wrote about earlier, I made a sweeter pumpkin cream cheese for those who like their snacks on the sweet side, rather than savoury. The pumpkin flavour really stands out in this simple to make appetizer, especially with the pumpkin pie-style seasoning.
You can use vegetables or crackers for this dip, but I also added some sliced apples to the plate round things out. Despite the fact that I'm not really a sweet person, I really liked this. As with the hummus, it takes only a few minutes to make.

This recipe is from the website Ezra Pound Cake.

Spiced Pumpkin Cream Cheese

1 8-ounce package of cream cheese, softened in microwave for 15 seconds
1/2 cup pumpkin puree, homemade or canned
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/8 tsp. allspice or cloves
Dash of nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1. In a medium mixing bowl, mix the softened cream cheese, pumpkin and sugar until smooth. Add the pumpkin pie spice and vanilla.

2. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

More Great Pumpkin Recipes
Dal and Pumpkin Soup
Pumpkin Risotto
Pumpkin Butter