Philadelphia is giving the classic bagel spread a bold new twist, and this time, there’s some heat involved. The brand has teamed up with Mike’s Hot Honey to create its first-ever sweet-and-spicy cream cheese in the U.S., blending its light and fluffy whipped cream cheese with honey infused with real chili peppers. The new spread is already turning heads with its unexpected mix of creamy, sweet, and spicy flavors, but there’s more to this launch than just a new tub on store shelves. Read on to find out where you can get it, what foods you can pair it with, and what other new flavors Philadelphia is adding this fall.
A sweet-and-spicy match made in culinary heaven
Philadelphia is putting a fiery spin on its familiar whipped cream cheese with the launch of Philadelphia Mike’s Hot Honey Whipped Cream Cheese. The new spread combines Philadelphia’s light and fluffy cream cheese with the signature sweet heat of Mike’s Hot Honey, giving consumers a new way to add a spicy kick to everyday foods.
This “swicy” creation is designed for versatility. Beyond the classic morning bagel, the spread easily finds a place on charcuterie boards, serves as a creamy dip for pretzels, or works as a finishing drizzle on a hot slice of pizza.
A partnership years in the making
While the combination may sound like a trendy new culinary experiment, its origins go back more than 15 years. When Mike Kurtz founded Mike’s Hot Honey in 2010, he frequently used blocks of Philadelphia cream cheese as the primary testing canvas to showcase his chili-infused honey to early customers.
Over the past decade and a half, hot honey transformed from a niche culinary trend into an absolute menu staple. In fact, sweet-and-spicy flavor profiles have surged nearly 230% on restaurant menus in just four years, driven largely by millennial and Gen Z appetites. Now, the grassroots pairing that sparked a flavor movement is an official product line.
“Philadelphia has been part of the Mike’s Hot Honey story since the early days,” said Mike Kurtz, founder of Mike’s Hot Honey. “When I was first building the brand, I used to sample our hot honey on bricks of Philadelphia cream cheese to show people just how delicious and versatile the combination could be. To now bring that pairing to life in a partnership with Philadelphia feels like a full-circle moment. Together, we worked closely to get the balance of creamy, sweet heat just right, creating a schmear ready for everything from breakfast sandwiches to pizza — or straight from the tub.”
Crafted using real milk and cream with no artificial preservatives, dyes, or flavors, this debut marks Philadelphia’s very first sweet-heat offering in the United States.
Two more flavors join Philadelphia’s lineup
The hot honey collaboration isn’t the only addition making its way to store shelves this autumn. Recognizing that 85% of shoppers are guided by familiar, comforting profiles when choosing foods, the iconic brand is rolling out two complementary fall-inspired options:
- Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese: A bright, fruity seasonal spread available for a limited time.
- Salted Caramel Cream Cheese: A rich, indulgent variety arriving as a permanent fixture in the product lineup.
Both options are designed to effortlessly enhance seasonal baking, breakfast spreads, and sweet-and-salty snacking, from morning cinnamon rolls to afternoon pretzel dips.
“Philadelphia has set the cream cheese standard for over 150 years, and staying at the forefront means continuing to evolve with the way people eat and the flavors they crave,” said Maddy Zingle, Vice President of Marketing at Philadelphia Cream Cheese. “Hot Honey, Cranberry Orange and Salted Caramel are proof points in how we’re accelerating flavor innovation, with 10 new flavors joining our lineup in the last two years. We’re building on our legacy by bringing fresh energy, bold flavors and new possibilities to the cream cheese category.”
Where to find the new flavors
Eager shoppers can hunt down these new releases based on their retailer of choice:
- Philadelphia Mike’s Hot Honey Whipped Cream Cheese: Rolling out today exclusively at Walmart locations nationwide, before expanding to other major grocers in January 2027.
- Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese and Salted Caramel Cream Cheese: Available right now at major supermarket chains nationwide.
Additionally, food enthusiasts near Bentonville, Arkansas, and Wayne, New Jersey, can catch a special treat: Pedaler’s Pub and Pizza One are offering exclusive, limited-edition menu items featuring the new Hot Honey Whipped Cream Cheese for a short time.
More information about the new products is available at creamcheese.com, while Philadelphia and Mike’s Hot Honey are sharing updates through their social media channels.