Block cream cheese. Where to buy?

[Paulineski]

I'm making (or rather hoping to make) a cheesecake from an American recipe book. Please tell me where I can buy the "block" cream cheese in England, rather than the "spreadable" stuff. They aren't the same (although I've seen people claiming they are in a zombie thread on this very topic) — aamongst other things, the spreadable version is 23% fat whereas the true original block version is 30% fat.

The American lady who gave me the recipe said she mistakenly used the spreadable version once and it wasn't the same at all.

I've looked at Sainsbury's, Ocado, M&S and Waitrose with no luck.

If I can't get the block cream cheese I wondered if mixing mascarpone with the spreadable Philadelphia would work—has anyone tried this?

Would something like mascarpone work?

It’s in a tub, but Longley Farm Yorkshire cream cheese is 30g fat per 100g, and I can confirm it is excellent, just like the cream cheese from a bowl at the deli counter.

Not sure how widely available it is (though my local shop sells it) but you might be able to buy online.

Does your major supermarket have a Polish section?

Sadly mine does not, but if yours does there may be a bit of Polish dairy in the chiller cabinet.

You are looking for twarog cheese which is the ultimate cheesecake cheese. Don't be put off by it having a lower fat content, it's amazing and what Eastern European, and then American cheesecakes are based on.

I am so excited to have found this:
longleyfarm.com/collections/cream-cheese/products/full-fat-yorkshire-cream-cheese]]
It has 30g fat compared to Philadelphia's 21g and the Asda cheese upthread of 25g. I cn only find it available at Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/Longley-Farm-Full-Cream-Cheese/dp/B07TNH414B/ref=sr_1_1_f3_0o_fs?adgrpid=53931820755&hvadid=259034690633&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1006496&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=7604434435175151856&hvtargid=kwd-354535883484&hydadcr=22547_1808135&keywords=full+fat+cream+cheese&qid=1659942431&sr=8-1

Sainsbury's have this one:

www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&productId=1418836&langId=44&istCompanyId=1e096408-041f-4238-994e-a7cf46bf9413&istFeedId=689af7a8-5842-4d88-be59-1ee5688a81b5&istItemId=ppwtprwlw&istBid=t&cmpid=cpc&gclsrc=ds&gclsrc=ds which has 24g fat

I used to get full fat cream cheese from makro /booker . Not sure if they still sell it

I have no idea about the fat content but I always make my chilled cheesecakes with mascarpone and double cream. No gelatine, they set very well and taste delicious.

This is ‘proper’ cream cheese and would work. Depends where you are as to whether it’s realistic, but it’s often in farm shops and sometimes Morrisons as well
longleyfarm.com/collections/cream-cheese/products/full-fat-yorkshire-cream-cheese

Another one who misses the old style crumbly Philly! The one in the tub is not a patch on it.

Petition to bring it back!

Cross posted @Desert76.
I live quite near Longley farm, but the farm shop near them doesn't sell this cheese.

iirc There is a version of almetta(Almette) which is higher in fat and lower in salt than philly. It’s crumbly. Available in your local Eastern European deli or aisle in asda/ tescos. It would be an expensive cheesecake though as the pots are quite small.

Well lo and behold I found some crumbly cream cheese today in Sainsburys. Possibly not up to old style Philadelphia standards but nice enough. It's called Paysan Breton.

Great news. Will send the husband down to our Sainsbury's tomorrow & hope they have it

See I do think Boursin is proper cream cheese. But it has damn garlic in it!!! I ❤️Garlic but not enough to have it in a cheesecake. I want a bagel with smoked ham and cream cheese like I used to get from a bagel shop in Nottingham on our work outing - even paid for!! I’m always nosing over cheese departments in case they miraculously have it. I will damn know it when I find it. It’s got that special piquant bite that Phili and the other pretenders don’t have. Check out the ingredients for the Asda one. It has one! Milk.
My mum used to give me cream cheese sandwiches every day for school packup. She bought it from Keymarkets. ❤️
I will be checking out Asda and Sainburys and Longley Farm!

Late to this but if you have a Jewish deli anywhere nearby, their soft cheese will be what you want. Cost you an arm and a leg but it's proper old style cream cheese and perfect for cheesecake.

@RinklyRomaine Thanks; that explains a lot.
I lived in a Yiddish area when I was taught how to make proper East European cheesecake. Never been the same since I moved, & now I know why.
Long way back to N15 to buy some !

www.amazon.co.uk/Longley-Farm-Full-Cream-Cheese/dp/B07TNH414B/

@Georgyporky I know! Nowhere locally for me either. Delicious stuff though, nothing like it for bagels either.

when this thread came up last time, someone recommended this from Ireland, which I saved in my Amazon basket

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B073V2P62Z/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_8?smid=ANZ1524JZRWVZ&psc=1

Thank you everyone! I will start looking for and trying some of these out.

In the meantime I tried this and it definitely didn't work! The cake tastes nice but it's more like a firm custard and impossible to slice.

www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/sainsburys-soft-white-cheese-300g

legophoenix I saw the Breton stuff but was put off by the sea salt. It might still be worth a try though!

RinklyRomaine No Jewish deli in my town, unfortunately. I wish there was as I would also kill for some proper corned beef — the kind that you boil for a few hours.

@MajorieEks @Pushmepullyou @RampantIvy I will look out for the Longley Yorkshire brand and. Kiri looks promising too, particularly as it's referred to as "pieces" of cream cheese.

twarog That one looks more like cottage cheese or ricotta to me? (Having said that I do have a recipe for an Italian cake made with ricotta that looks amazing...)

BigFatLiar I wondered about mascarpone but then read it isn't suitable for "American" style cheesecakes as it's not sharp enough.

The Payton Breton doesn't really taste salty. Worth a try?

I've now tried the Payson Breton following the recommendation here, and it's lovely. I don't find it too salty - but I am a person who adds salt to food sometimes so I might not be the best judge of that. Lovely flavour and texture. I just wish it was a little cheaper for the amount you get!

Waitrose deli counter do a triple cream cheese which is solid ish. And is delicious

Isn’t it a curd type cheese like this you need

try again!

@Paulineski That is what I would call salt beef and it isn't hard to do yourself, altho it is time consuming.

The cheese is another matter! Worth trying to make it? It's easy enough and should be heavy enough if you include cream and strain well?