Calories in Cream Cheese
342 calories per 100g (103 cal per 2 tbsp)
On This Page
One tablespoon of regular cream cheese has about 50 calories (342 per 100g), so a 2-tablespoon serving or 1-ounce portion is roughly 100 calories. A real-world bagel schmear is where it adds up: a deli spreads 2–4 tablespoons, or 100–200 calories, before the bagel itself. Lighter options cut that meaningfully — whipped cream cheese runs about 35 calories per tablespoon (it's aerated, so you get less per scoop), 1/3-less-fat (Neufchâtel) about 35–40, and fat-free versions 15–30.
Cream Cheese contains 342 calories per 100g (103 cal per 2 tbsp). Contains 5.9g of protein per 100g.
Get the complete nutrition breakdown, macros, serving sizes, and health benefits below.
Nutritional Highlights
Low Carb
Just 4.1g carbs per 100g
Low Sugar
Only 0.4g sugar per 100g
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving
Macronutrient Distribution
Calories by Serving Size
Calories in Cream Cheese by Type (per Tbsp)
Regular cream cheese is about 50 calories per tablespoon, but the style you pick — and how much you spread — changes the total far more than the brand does. Whipped and reduced-fat versions genuinely save calories, while flavored tubs and mascarpone run higher. Here's how common options compare per tablespoon:
| Type | Calories | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Regular (brick or plain tub) | ~50 cal | Philadelphia & store brands are the same |
| Whipped cream cheese | ~35 cal | Aerated — less product per tbsp |
| 1/3 less fat / Neufchâtel | ~35–40 cal | Near drop-in swap for regular |
| Fat-free cream cheese | ~15–30 cal | Lowest cal; softer texture |
| Chive & onion / garden veggie | ~45–50 cal | Watch added sodium |
| Flavored (strawberry, honey) | ~50–70 cal | Added sugar bumps it up |
| Mascarpone (Italian cream cheese) | ~120 cal | The rich outlier — much higher |
| 1 oz / 2 tbsp serving | ~100 cal | Standard Nutrition Facts serving |
| Bagel schmear (deli, 3–4 tbsp) | ~150–200 cal | Before the bagel itself |
Shop Cream Cheese & Essentials
Stock up on cream cheese and the gear that makes it easy to enjoy.
Cream Cheese on Amazon
Get cream cheese delivered to your door
Est. price: Varies
Airtight Storage Containers
Keep your cream cheese fresh longer
Digital Kitchen Scale
Weigh portions for accurate calorie tracking
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices are estimates and may vary. This helps support free nutrition data on CalorieData.
You Might Also Like
Popular foods from other categories:
Compare Cream Cheese with Similar Foods
See how Cream Cheese stacks up against other foods in nutritional value:
Explore More Nutrition Lists
About Cream Cheese Nutrition
Cream cheese is a soft, mild, spreadable fresh cheese made from milk and cream, with a fat content around 34% — which is why the number people actually want is the per-tablespoon count, not the per-100g figure (342 calories, far more than anyone spreads at once). A level tablespoon of regular cream cheese is about 50 calories, and the standard 1-ounce (2-tablespoon) serving is roughly 100 calories, with about 10 grams of fat, 1 gram of protein, and only 1 gram of carbohydrate. In practice the biggest variable is how much you spread: a generous bagel schmear of 3–4 tablespoons quietly adds 150–200 calories. The style matters too. Whipped cream cheese has air beaten in, so a tablespoon holds less product and runs about 35 calories; 1/3-less-fat (sold as Neufchâtel) drops to roughly 35–40; and fat-free versions fall to 15–30 but change texture. Flavored tubs (strawberry, honey, chive) add a little sugar or oil and land around 45–70 calories per tablespoon. The one outlier is mascarpone, an Italian-style cream cheese that's much richer at about 120 calories per tablespoon.
With 342 calories per 100 grams, Cream Cheese provides 5.9g of protein,4.1g of carbohydrates, and 34g of fat.
Macronutrient Breakdown
- Protein: 5.9g - 7% of calories
- Carbohydrates: 4.1g - 5% of calories (including 0g fiber)
- Fat: 34g - 89% of calories
Health Benefits of Cream Cheese
- Low in carbohydrates — about 1g per tablespoon — making it keto- and low-carb-friendly
- Provides a small amount of fat-soluble vitamin A
- Contains a little calcium and phosphorus from the dairy base
- Rich, satisfying flavor means a thin layer often satisfies, helping portion control
- Light and fat-free versions offer the same taste for far fewer calories
- Naturally gluten-free and a good fit for low-carb spreads and dips
How to Eat Cream Cheese
Because cream cheese is calorie-dense, spread it thin and let the flavor do the work — a level tablespoon (about 50 calories) covers half a bagel nicely, while a heaping deli schmear can be 3–4 times that. Use it where its tang shines: a scrape on toast or a bagel, folded into dips, or as the base for cheesecake and frosting. To cut calories without losing the creaminess, reach for whipped (about 35 calories per tablespoon since it's aerated) or 1/3-less-fat Neufchâtel, or blend it half-and-half with Greek yogurt or cottage cheese for a higher-protein, lower-fat spread. Bring it to room temperature before spreading so a little goes further.
Selection and Storage
Cream cheese is sold in foil-wrapped bricks (denser, best for baking and cheesecake) and soft tubs (easier to spread; whipped tubs are the lightest per tablespoon). Keep it refrigerated and use within about two weeks of opening; it doesn't freeze well for spreading because it turns grainy, though it's fine frozen if you'll bake with it. When choosing for calories, read the label per tablespoon rather than the front of the tub: 'whipped' and '1/3 less fat' genuinely save calories, while 'flavored' versions usually add sugar. Neufchâtel is simply American-style reduced-fat cream cheese and works as a near drop-in swap.
Dietary Considerations
Cream cheese fits low-carb and keto diets well — about 1g net carb and 50 calories per tablespoon — but it's calorie-dense fat, so portion it if you're managing weight. It's naturally gluten-free and vegetarian, though it contains dairy and lactose (small amounts per serving, usually tolerated). Protein is low at roughly 1 gram per tablespoon, so it's a flavor and fat source, not a protein food — blend it with Greek yogurt or cottage cheese if you want more protein. Watch sodium in flavored and 'garden vegetable' tubs, and added sugar in sweet varieties like strawberry or honey.
Related Foods & Further Reading
Cream cheese calories come down to how thick you spread it: a level tablespoon is about 50 calories, so a bagel with a deli schmear can carry 150–200 calories of cream cheese before the bagel's own 250–350. Compared with butter (about 100 calories per tablespoon), cream cheese is lighter spoon-for-spoon and much lower in carbs, but it's also far lower in protein than cottage cheese or Greek yogurt — blending it with either makes a creamier, higher-protein spread for fewer calories. On toast or a bagel, choosing whipped or 1/3-less-fat cream cheese trims 100+ calories off a generous serving. Use the type chart above to see exactly where your cream cheese lands per tablespoon.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cream Cheese
How many calories are in a tablespoon of cream cheese?
One level tablespoon of regular cream cheese has about 50 calories (342 per 100g), with roughly 5g of fat, 1g of protein, and 1g of carbohydrate. Two tablespoons — about a 1-ounce serving — is close to 100 calories. Whipped cream cheese is lighter at about 35 calories per tablespoon because air is beaten in.
How many calories are in cream cheese on a bagel?
It depends entirely on how much is spread. A modest 1-tablespoon layer adds about 50 calories, a typical 2-tablespoon schmear about 100, and a generous deli-style 3–4 tablespoons 150–200 calories — before the bagel, which is usually 250–350 on its own. So a bagel with cream cheese commonly totals 350–550 calories. Ask for it 'light' or scraped to cut 100+ calories.
Is cream cheese keto and good for low-carb diets?
Yes. Cream cheese has only about 1 gram of carbohydrate per tablespoon, so it's a staple on keto and low-carb diets as a spread, dip base, or ingredient in fat bombs and cheesecake. Just remember it's calorie-dense fat at ~50 calories per tablespoon, so it fits your fat budget rather than being 'free.' Avoid sweetened flavored tubs, which add sugar.
What's the difference between whipped, light, and regular cream cheese calories?
Regular (brick or plain tub) is about 50 calories per tablespoon. Whipped is about 35 because air is beaten in, so a tablespoon holds less cheese. '1/3 less fat' or Neufchâtel runs roughly 35–40 calories, and fat-free versions drop to 15–30 but have a softer, sometimes gummier texture. Whipped is the easiest swap when you want the same taste and spread for fewer calories.
Is cream cheese good for weight loss?
In small amounts, yes — its low carbs and rich taste make a thin layer satisfying, and light or whipped versions cut the calories further. The catch is portion: at ~50 calories per level tablespoon it's easy to spread 150–200 calories on a bagel without noticing. Measure it, choose whipped or 1/3-less-fat, or blend it with Greek yogurt for a higher-protein, lower-calorie spread.
Quick Nutrition Facts
More Foods to Explore
Data Source
Compiled from product labelCream Cheese has no matching record in USDA FoodData Central, so these values were compiled from the manufacturer's published Nutrition Facts panel. They are not USDA-verified.
Learn how to use this data →Nutrition Guides
Continue Exploring
Data Accuracy Note: Most nutrition values are based on USDA FoodData Central laboratory analysis; the rest are taken from the manufacturer's published Nutrition Facts panel, and each food page says which applies. Actual values may vary based on growing conditions, preparation methods, and specific product brands. Values are rounded to one decimal place.