If you find yourself in this situation, don’t panic.

Delicious desserts are still in your future.

Here are three quick and easy ways to bring cream cheese to room temperature.

Chocolate-Peppermint Cheesecake

Credit: Hector Sanchez

And you have to dirty a dish.

However, it isn’t as easy if the cream cheese is in a tub rather than a package.

Softened cream cheese makes these recipes betterno lumps and no overmixing.

Chocolate-Peppermint Cheesecake

Credit: Linda Pugliese, Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas, Buffy Hargett Miller