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Home » Recipes » Condiments

Honey Walnut Cream Cheese (Panera Copycat)

Published: Oct 19, 2022 by Kate

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Bowl of flavored cream cheese, list of ingredients and text: Panera Copycat Honey Walnut Cream Cheese.
Bowl of cream cheese with text: Panera Copycat Honey Walnut Cream Cheese.

Make copycat Panera Honey Walnut Cream Cheese from scratch in minutes! It tastes just like the original and is perfect to spread on fresh bagels.

Table with a bowl of honey walnut cream cheese with a knife resting on it and a bagel in the background.
Copycat Panera Honey Walnut Cream Cheese

If you love the Honey Walnut Cream Cheese from Panera, try making it homemade from scratch!

It is super simple to make in just a few minutes and it tastes even better than the original! This flavored cream cheese is perfect for spreading on fresh bagels.

Panera Bread is a popular chain restaurant known for its delicious pastries and baked goods. One of their most popular items is the honey walnut cream cheese, which can be enjoyed on bagels or used as a spread on other pastries!

While it's easy to head into your favorite restaurant chain, it's very simple to make at home from scratch! This honey walnut cream cheese recipe is simple and requires only a few ingredients.

To make this recipe, you'll toast up walnuts until nutty and fragrant - don't worry, it's really quick and easy. You just heat them in a dry frying pan for a few minutes.

Then chop or process them and add them to cream cheese along with honey, vanilla, and a touch of salt.

The result is a sweet, nutty, and tangy flavored cream cheese spread that's perfect for bagels or your favorite breakfast pastries!

It's ready in minutes and is soooo good. Heck, I've been known to eat it by the spoonful.

If you love copycat recipes of your favorite restaurant dishes, you'll also love Arby's Horsey Sauce, Alice Springs Chicken, Taco Bell Chipotle Sauce, and Texas Roadhouse Seasoned Rice.

Jump to:
  • Why Make This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Cook's Tips
  • Variations
  • Storage & Freezing
  • FAQs
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments
Close up of a bowl of honey walnut cream cheese with a few walnuts on top.

Why Make This Recipe

By making this recipe at home, you can control the quality and freshness of the ingredients. This honey walnut cream cheese is made with real honey, walnuts, and cream cheese - no preservatives or artificial flavors!

This recipe costs a fraction of what you would pay for store-bought honey walnut cream cheese.

This honey walnut cream cheese is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy with a nutty flavor from the toasted walnuts. It's an irresistible spread for bagels or breakfast pastries!

You can make it a day or two ahead, and it gets even better as the flavors blend.

Perfect on Panera Cinnamon Crunch Bagels.

Ingredients

  • Walnuts - Adds a nutty flavor and crunchy texture throughout the cream cheese.
  • Cream Cheese - Makes up the creamy and tangy base of the spread that allows all of the ingredients to come together.
  • Honey - Adds a natural sweetness to the cream cheese that pairs well with the cinnamon and walnuts.
  • Cinnamon - (OPTIONAL) Adds a light warming flavor throughout the cream cheese mixture.
  • Vanilla Extract - Gives the cream cheese a complimentary vanilla flavor throughout.
  • Salt - Helps balance and enhances the sweetness and tangy flavors in the cream cheese.

Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full quantities.

Instructions

Wondering how to make this Honey Walnut Cream Cheese recipe? It's easy!

Just follow this step-by-step photo tutorial. Then, scroll down for the recipe card for the full ingredients list and recipe method.

Toasting walnuts in a dry frying pan.

Toast and process the walnuts: Add the walnuts to a dry nonstick pan (no oil) over medium heat and toast, stirring often, for 3 minutes or until golden and fragrant.

Whizzing walnuts in a food processor.

Whiz the walnuts: Pour the toasted walnuts into a food processor and pulse a few times to break them up.

Cream cheese, honey, vanilla and salt added to the walnuts in the food processor.

Assemble the cream cheese: Add the cream cheese, honey, vanilla and salt and pulse just until combined. There will still be small chunks of walnut.

Processed honey walnut cream cheese.

Chill and store: Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours to firm it up. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

Cook's Tips

Toasting the walnuts helps add flavor and prevents them from turning the cream cheese mixture brown.

Use unsalted walnuts so the salt flavor doesn't overpower.

Pulse the food processor a few times to break up the walnuts, so they're evenly distributed but still in small pieces. You don't want them to be too finely ground, or they'll turn the cream cheese mixture brown.

It's important to let the cream cheese chill for at least a few hours so it can firm up. This will make it much easier to spread!

Variations

  • Add in other spices: Try adding in other spices like nutmeg, allspice or cloves for a different flavor profile.
  • Use different nuts: You could also use pecans, almonds, or hazelnuts instead of walnuts.
  • Add in dried fruit: Mix in some diced dried apricots, cranberries, or raisins for a sweet and tangy flavor combination.
  • Make it vegan: Use a vegan cream cheese like Kite Hill brand in place of regular cream cheese. Swap the honey for vegan honey, or agave or maple syrup.
  • Use different flavor extracts: Try using almond extract or orange extract instead of vanilla extract.
Table with bagles, bowl of cream cheese and walnuts scattered around.

Storage & Freezing

Once processed, add the cream cheese to a clean, airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to one week.

You can also freeze honey walnut cream cheese! Add it to a freezer-safe, airtight container and store it in the freezer for up to two months. Let it thaw overnight in the fridge before using.

FAQs

Does freezing change the texture of cream cheese?

Yes, freezing cream cheese will change the texture. Once thawed, it will be a little bit drier but can spread easily.

Can I make honey walnut cream cheese without a food processor?

Yes, you can! Just finely chop the walnuts by hand and mix everything together in a bowl. The texture won't be as smooth, but it will still taste great!

How can I use honey walnut cream cheese?

This cream cheese is delicious on bagels, toast, or even mixed into oatmeal or smoothies for a sweet and tangy flavor. You can also use it as a filling for cakes or cupcakes.

📖 Recipe

Table with a bowl of honey walnut cream cheese with a knife resting on it and a bagel in the background.

Honey Walnut Cream Cheese (Panera Copycat)

Make copycat Panera Honey Walnut Cream Cheese from scratch in minutes! It tastes just like the original and is perfect spread on fresh bagels.
5 from 9 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Breakfast, Condiments
Cuisine: American
Keyword: homemade honey walnut cream cheese, honey walnut cream cheese, panera honey walnut cream cheese
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Chill Time: 2 hours hours
Total Time: 2 hours hours 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 105kcal
Author: Kate | You Say Potatoes
Prevent your screen from going dark

Equipment

  • Food processor

Ingredients

  • ⅓ cup walnuts
  • 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature 225g
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Small pinch of salt
  • Optional: ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Add the walnuts to a nonstick pan over a medium heat and toast, stirring often, for 3 minutes or until golden and fragrant.
  • Pour the toasted walnuts into a food processor and pulse a few times to break them up a little.
  • Add the cream cheese, honey, vanilla and salt and pulse a few times until it’s all combined. There will still be small chunks of walnut. Chill to firm it up.
  • Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
Tried this recipe?Head down to the comments and give it a star rating!

Notes

Toasting the walnuts helps add flavor and prevents them from turning the cream cheese mixture brown.
Use unsalted walnuts so the salt flavor doesn't overpower.
Pulse the food processor a few times to break up the walnuts, so they're evenly distributed but still in small pieces. You don't want them to be too finely ground, or they'll turn the cream cheese mixture brown.
It's important to let the cream cheese chill for at least a few hours so it can firm up. This will make it much easier to spread!

Nutrition

Calories: 105kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 102mg | Potassium: 94mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 157IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 0.2mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    5 from 9 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Shashi

    October 19, 2022 at 10:53 am

    5 stars
    Your photos are gorgeous and this cream cheese was perfect for me as I adore walnuts! SO easy to make.

    Reply
  2. Janessa

    October 19, 2022 at 12:37 pm

    5 stars
    Yum, this cream cheese is so good spread on almost anything!! I could eat it straight off the spoon.

    Reply
  3. Deb

    October 19, 2022 at 1:47 pm

    5 stars
    Your photos make me want to jump into my computer screen and take a bite! Have never tried this but will definitely do so now that I found this recipe

    Reply
  4. Aimee Mars

    October 20, 2022 at 11:24 am

    5 stars
    The walnut cream cheese is always my favorite! I am so excited that I can now make this at home. We've got guests coming this weekend and I tested it out first and it was PERFECT! Just like the one from Panera Bread. Far easier that I though it would be!

    Reply
  5. Amanda

    October 21, 2022 at 1:29 pm

    5 stars
    What a gorgeous combination of flavours and it was so easy to make too. This was lovely on croissants too.

    Reply
  6. Jody Sniff

    August 31, 2023 at 7:32 pm

    5 stars
    We love this recipe and, when we host people for breakfast, they gobble it up! We go through more bagels than we used to!

    Reply

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Kate cooking.

Hi, I'm Kate! You Say Potatoes, I say, well, potatoes. I'm a cookbook author and journalist from the Pacific Northwest. Here you'll find easy, budget-friendly recipes made from scratch.

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