If you’ve never tried smoked cream cheese, this cinnamon roll cream cheese version is about to blow your mind. It’s warm, gooey, smoky, sweet, and hands-down one of the easiest appetizers or dessert dips I’ve ever made. This recipe checks all the boxes: it’s low effort, packed with smoke flavor, and tastes just like a cinnamon roll fresh out of the oven.

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I love making this cinnamon roll cream cheese recipe when I’ve got friends over and want to toss something in the pellet smoker that doesn’t take much attention – it’s like something that’s easy, got even easier. This cinnamon roll cream cheese is the perfect balance of sweet and smoky, and the creamy texture turns every bite into a full-blown sweet treat. The best part? It only takes one block of cream cheese and a few pantry staples to make it happen.

This cinnamon roll cream cheese appetizer is easy enough for beginners, but it still feels like next level cooking when you pull it off the smoker and hit it with honey or apple pie filling. It’s one of those cream cheese recipes that instantly becomes a fan favorite. And once you make it, you’ll understand why everyone’s obsessed with blocks of cream cheese getting smoked low and slow.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

You only need one small bowl and a handful of ingredients to pull the cinnamon roll cream cheese recipe together. It’s the ultimate crowd-pleasing cream cheese appetizer that works for dessert or brunch. Smoking it brings out a rich, delicious smoky flavor that pairs perfectly with cinnamon sugar and graham crackers.

Ingredients / Tools You’ll Need

• 8 oz full-fat cream cheese (don’t go light here)
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp white sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• 2 Tbsp honey, optional for drizzle
• Aluminum foil or parchment paper
• Pellet smoker or grill with indirect heat
• Sharp knife

Instructions

Preparation:
Preheat your pellet smoker to 225°F using pecan wood or your favorite mild wood for the best flavor.
In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, and salt to make your cinnamon sugar seasoning. Unwrap your cream cheese block and set it on a flat surface like a disposable aluminum pan or foil-lined cast iron skillet.

Using a sharp knife, score the surface of the cream cheese in a shallow cross-hatch pattern. This helps the seasoning stick and lets the smoke flavor sink deep into the creamy texture.
There’s no need to use a binder like you would when cooking bbq meat, just coat the surface of the cream cheese evenly with your cinnamon sugar mix. Make sure the sides of the cream cheese are covered too.

Cooking:
Place the seasoned cream cheese onto the smoker over indirect heat. Let it smoke for 2 hours, keeping the temperature steady around 225°F. The goal is a warm, melty, slightly cracked top of the cream cheese that still holds its shape. Once the cream cheese melts just enough, remove it carefully and let it rest for 5 minutes.

Serving Suggestions:
Serve your cinnamon roll cream cheese warm with graham crackers, apple slices, or cinnamon pita chips.
If you want to take it up another notch, drizzle maple syrup or warm honey over the top right before serving. For an extra indulgent touch, spoon on some apple pie filling or peach preserves and let the heat melt it into the cracks.

Recipe Notes & Pro Tips

Let your cream cheese sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before scoring it – that makes it easier to work with. Always use full-fat cream cheese for the creamiest result. Low-fat versions don’t hold up as well and won’t deliver the same flavor. Be sure to use aluminum foil or a disposable aluminum pan so cleanup of the cinnamon roll cream cheese is a breeze. The sugar can caramelize as it cooks and get sticky.

If you want to turn this into a full dessert spread, serve it next to cinnamon rolls or make it a dip with cookies on the side. This also makes a great holiday appetizer – just wrap it up tight in an airtight container and reheat gently in the oven or smoker when ready to serve.

Variations

Add a pinch of chili powder to your dry rub for a sweet heat version of the cinnamon roll cream cheese recipe. Stir in a bit of maple syrup to your seasoning mix if you want a richer, deeper sweetness. Try it with crushed pecans or a sprinkle of cup cane sugar over the top for a fun crunch. Swap out the honey drizzle for a cinnamon roll glaze or cream cheese dip to make it even more indulgent.

This cinnamon roll cream cheese recipe is one of those simple things that somehow delivers big. It’s become a go-to for parties, lazy weekends, and anytime I’ve got a leftover block of cream cheese just begging to be smoked. Between the buttery cinnamon sugar crust, creamy inside, and warm drizzle of honey – it’s one of the best things I’ve ever thrown in the smoker. If you’re not making smoked cream cheese yet, this is the one to start with.

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