Cream Cheese Wontons are a favorite in many Chinese restaurants. These are so easy to make at home and with this recipe, I will show you how you can recreate your favorite Chinese appetizer at home.
Table of Contents
Cream Cheese Wontons
There are a few items I love when I got to a Chinese restaurant. While these cream cheese wontons may not be authentic in any sense of the word, they are definitely a favorite of almost everyone who tries these. These are actually fairly simple to make.
Are cream cheese wontons authentic?
Cream cheese wontons are not authentic to Chinese cooking. The wontons are authentic to American Chinese food. Chinese cooks adapted many of their authentic recipes for American palettes.
These wontons were invented in the 1950s at Trader Vic’s, a popular chain of Polynesian-style “tiki” themed bars and restaurants that have been around since the 1930s. Many other budget-conscious cooks left out the crab and served a sweetened cream cheese stuffed wonton.
One thing is for certain, while not an authentic Chinese appetizer, they are loved just the same.
What are cream cheese wontons made of?
Cream cheese wontons are made with four easy-to-find ingredients.
They are made of wonton wrappers, which you would normally get in the refrigerated section of your local produce department in the grocery store. Cream cheese is sweetened with granulated sugar. You also need vegetable oil to fry them in.
Wontons Ingredients
Here is what you need from the store to make them.
- Wonton Wrappers – You’ll find these in the produce section of the grocery store.
- Cream Cheese and Sugar – The filling is made with cream cheese and a touch of sugar.
- Egg – You will need a simple egg wash to seal the wontons together.
Recipe Variations
Want to make these a bit differently?
- Consider adding a teaspoon or two of sliced green onion to this recipe.
- If you don’t have green onion on hand, half a teaspoon of onion powder will also work very well.
- You may want to add a couple of teaspoons of canned crab meat to the cream cheese mixture.
- Half a teaspoon of garlic powder also tastes wonderful in these cream cheese puffs.
How to Make Cream Cheese Wontons
- Set cream cheese out on the counter to warm to room temperature.
- Preheat vegetable oil to 350 degrees.
- In a medium-sized bowl combine cream cheese, grated white onion, and sugar. Mix until the cream cheese filling is smooth.
- Prepare an egg wash by whisking the egg and the water together in a small bowl.
- Brush two sides of a wonton wrapper with the egg wash.
- Fill the center of the wonton wrapper with about a teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture.
- Fold over the edges of the wrapper and press together.
- Drop a few at a time into the hot oil, and fry until they are golden brown.
- Drain on a wire rack so they stay crispy. Draining on paper towels can make crispy shells steam and become soft.
The Best Dipping Sauces for Cream Cheese Wontons
These crispy wontons must be served with a dipping sauce. You may want to serve these with sweet and sour sauce. This is a great recipe for a sweet and sour sauce that is easy to make, this recipe actually has lemons and oranges in it. You may not need to go out for these anymore with this simple recipe.
These would also go great with Chinese mustard sauce. You could also dip these into your favorite hot sauce, Thai sweet chili sauce, or even sriracha sauce.
Use a Damp Paper Towel to Prevent Wonton Shells from Drying Out
When filling the wontons it is a good idea to place a damp paper towel or a towel over the wonton shells. The wrappers can dry out if you do not keep them covered.
Is Cream Cheese Rangoon the same as wontons?
Yes, they are very similar to each other. Both cream cheese rangoons and fried wontons use fried wonton wrappers stuffed with cream cheese. The difference is what they are stuffed with. When they have crab, they are called crab rangoons.
Easy Game Day Appetizer
Cream Cheese Wontons are a great appetizer and game day food. Make a double batch because these will disappear fast!
Cream Cheese Wonton Recipe Video
I love watching recipe videos. I made one showing you how easy it is to make these delicious Chinese appetizers. I hope the video helps you see the simplicity so you can make them yourself. Scroll down to see the video in the recipe card.
Want to change these into crab stuffed wontons? Simply add 6 to 8 ounces of real crab or imitation crab to this recipe.
Looking for more take-out favorites? Try these recipes!
If you love eating Chinese takeout, here are a few more recipes you can make at home. You will love them!
- Chinese Spareribs
- Egg Foo Young Recipe
- Authentic Sweet and Sour Chicken
- Chinese Buffet Shrimp Crab Casserole
- Honey and Walnut Shrimp
- Simple Lo Mein
- Fried Crispy Wontons
- Copycat PF Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Favorite Japanese Food Recipes
Be sure to check out more of the best appetizers and Asian food recipes.
Cream Cheese Wontons
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon white onion grated
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons water
- 48 wonton wrappers
- vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Preheat vegetable oil to 350 degrees. You can use a deep fryer or a pot filled with enough vegetable oil so the oil is 4 inches deep.
- Combine cream cheese, sugar, and grated white onion. Stir together the cream cheese mixture until it is well blended.
- Prepare an egg wash by combining one egg and water in a small bowl.
- To fill wontons with cream cheese mixture, brush egg wash on two sides of the wonton wrapper.
- Drop about a teaspoon of cream cheese onto the wonton wrapper.
- Wet the sides of the wrapper with the egg wash. Seal the edges of the wonton wrapper by lifting up the middle of the 2 opposite sides so that they meet. Squeeze lightly together Bring the middle of the 2 other sides to close the wonton Gently squeeze to close the wonton. The wonton will remain slightly open.
- Drop the wontons in a couple at a time until they are golden brown. Drain on a wire rack or on paper towels. Serve immediately.
Jennifer Cole
I’ve made these half a dozen times, sense finding this recipe!! (Maybe a month ago 😁). So good!
Q
When i made these my cream cheese sort of bubbles, it melts in a way? Any idea on solutions for this? The shells arent opening or anything, so its not that the filling is escaping!
Stephanie Manley
Make sure the edges are sealed very well, and you might want to make sure the edges get a chance to dry shut. I would seal these up, and then place a lightly damp towel over them, you don’t want the wontons to dry out completely, but you want those edges to seal. I hope this helps.
Luciana
Omitted the onion and added finely chopped fresh jalapenos and chopped, crisp bacon. OMG. Pairs fantastically with a raspberry dipping sauce.
Linda Nilsson
I add a little hot sauce in the cream cheese and also crab meat YUM
Bhavesh
A delicious and easy to make cream cheese wontons i have ever tried. One of the best ever cheese wontons recipe i have ever tried. Thanks for sharing this recipe with all of us. Even i have a special cheese wontons recipe as well.
Anna
Can these be made in an air fryer?
Stephanie
Not really, the wonton skins tend to burn. I haven’t found spraying them with some non-stick spray to work well.
Madonna
Yes, they can
Bethany
This recipe was super easy and tastes amazing!!! I added some crab meat to the recipe to have them more like a carb rangoon. This recipe is going to be a new must for every Chinese Food night.
Stever
I’ve been enjoying these beauties since I first tried them at a Chinese restaurant as a kid.
I just got a deep fryer and made them at home for the first time, and oh boy, they are just as good as I remember from that first time. I use a garlic+herb cream cheese, and next I’m going to fry up some bacon and add some crumbles to the cream cheese… I anticipate greatness.
Thanks Stephanie!
Stephanie
hope you enjoy them.
Rachel Jeannette
These cream cheese wontons are amazing!!! You can also cut the leftover pieces of wonton wrappers into strips and deep fry them also to make the crunchies for wonton soup. Would definitely recommend trying this recipe if you need a good one.
Trish - Mom On Timeout
We make these ALL the time! Love them so much!
Heather
This is just absolutely one of my favorite recipes! I can eat the whole thing myself!
Toni | Boulder Locavore
These are perfect appetizers!
Lori @ RecipeGirl
My family’s favorite at our little Chinese take-out place- yum!
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes
I love homemade wontons!
Jennifer Farley
These are so good!
Joanne
I LOVE these. This is definitely restaurant food at home, yum!
carrie
These are so yummy