Honey Nut Cream Cheese

The products you see in the photo above are all you need to make the most delicious cream cheese you've ever tasted. I don't care if honey nut cream cheese isn't even your flavor of choice to top your bagel with... (mine is strawberry...) I promise this recipe will change your mind.

You see, I believe cream cheese, like so many other foods, is just one of those things that was meant to have things added into it. Like... vanilla ice cream, pasta, or yogurt. They're all good by themselves, but adding the right ingredients just makes them magical.

So, here's how to create some downright magical cream cheese.

Start off with a small handful of your favorite type of nut. I chose pecans, but walnuts, almonds, or even peanuts would work, too. Grab a REALLY SHARP knife and chop them up into tiny little pieces. (If you're lazy, you can also toss them into a food processor and pulse them a few times.)

Into your mixing bowl, add the following things:

+ 8oz of softened cream cheese
+ 2 tablespoons (ish) of honey
+ 2 tablespoons (ish) of brown sugar
+ 1 teaspoon (ish) of vanilla
+ A few dashes of cinnamon
+ The itty bitty pieces of nuts you chopped up a minute ago

I know I'm getting real scientific with my measurements in this one but that's because it's really all just to your taste... I didn't really measure, just guessed and threw it all in and hoped for the best.

Blend. Start off on low speed but eventually crank it up to medium-high. You want to make sure everything is mixed in well.
 

You may need to stop a time or two and scrape off the beater to make sure it's all mixing evenly.

Once everything is nicely incorporated, scrape off the sides of the bowl and give the cream cheese a final stir with your utensil of choice.

Grab a bagel. Toast it. Slather it with your newest genius creation. (I include this step because it will, inevitably, happen. It is impossible to make this and NOT enjoy it immediately.)

Store the rest in an airtight container and place it in its new happy home in the fridge. If you don't want to share, you may have to cover it with another food item that no one will be moving any time soon or menacing notes telling of the demise of whoever steals it.