These cream cheese wontons are easy to make at home and much better than any takeout appetizer at a restaurant! My Rangoon-style fried dumplings are filled with savory cream cheese filling, sealed in wonton wrappers, and perfectly fried! It's the perfect appetizer to prepare when you are craving Asian food!
I serve them whenever I have chow mein, lo mein, pad Thai, or drunken noodles.
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My family could eat Asian food all day, every day! So, I've gotten pretty good at making all our Chinese restaurant takeout favorites here at home.
These crunchy, creamy wontons are one of the easiest-to-make appetizers, so it's super easy to make a great 'full restaurant menu feel' at home! I combine my quick and easy wontons with our favorite entrees, especially when making Panda Express dinners!
🥘 Ingredients
It only takes a few basic ingredients to make this easy and delicious appetizer to share with your family! Feel free to check out my sweet and sour dipping sauce recipe to serve with.
- Wonton Wrappers - 24 wonton wrappers.
- Cream Cheese - 8 ounces of cream cheese (softened, at room temperature, or use a cream cheese substitute).
- Lemon Juice - ½ teaspoon of lemon juice.
- Garlic Powder - ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Egg White - 1 egg white (beaten, with 2 teaspoons water).
- Cooking Oil - cooking oil (for frying).
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make Cream Cheese Wontons
If you've never made wontons before, there's no need to worry because it's incredibly easy! To get started, take out your deep fryer (or large deep frying pan or Dutch oven), a medium-sized mixing bowl, some measuring utensils, a pastry brush, a few baking sheets, and some parchment paper.
This easy recipe will make 6 servings or 24 cream cheese wontons! There's plenty for everyone to enjoy several on their plate.
Fry The Wontons
- Preheat oil. Preheat the oil in your fryer or a large/deep frying pan or Dutch oven until it reaches 350°F (175°C).
- Make filling. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine 8 ounces of softened cream cheese with ½ teaspoon of lemon juice and ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder. Additional filling ingredients could include fresh-cut chives, salt & pepper, grated onions, or sugar (if you will not be dipping it into a sweet sauce).
- Fill wontons. Place wontons out in a single layer on a clean working surface. Fill each wonton wrapper with roughly 1- 1 ½ teaspoon portion of the cream cheese filling.
- Fold wontons. Mix the egg wash (beaten egg white and water) and use your finger or a pastry brush to spread a ½ inch border along two of the connected 'L shape' wonton sides. Fold the top half of the wonton over the filling and seal it onto the bottom egg wash-coated edge. Match up the edges and push out any air from the center of the wonton, sealing securely, or your filling will escape while frying. *If you are folding your wontons differently, you may need to use the egg wash on all 4 edges.
- Cook. Place the filled wontons carefully into the hot oil and cook in batches of 4-5 wontons at a time. Cook for 3-5 minutes, then remove golden browned wontons to a paper towel-lined plate until all of the batches are cooked. Serve immediately after done frying, and serve with tasty sweet and sour sauce.
(Optional) Baking Instructions
- Preheat oven. Preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C), line a baking sheet with parchment paper, then lightly grease the paper.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden browned, then remove from the oven and serve immediately.
These wontons are the perfect appetizer to enjoy before your favorite Asian-inspired entrees; try dipping in Chinese mustard or teriyaki sauce.
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- Choosing Cream Cheese: Opt for high-quality cream cheese, as it's the star ingredient of this recipe. Philadelphia cream cheese is a widely recommended brand that you can easily find in most grocery stores.
- Filling the Wontons: Be cautious not to overfill the wontons. Overstuffing can cause them to burst open during frying or baking, leading to a messy outcome.
- Draining After Frying: To ensure your wontons stay crispy, properly drain the excess oil. Use a slotted spoon to transfer them to a plate lined with paper towels, which will absorb any extra oil.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Allow your wontons to cool completely, then place them in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.
To freeze, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze for at least an hour. Once completely frozen, transfer them to a heavy-duty plastic bag or a freezer-safe container and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Reheating
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and place your wontons on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a non-sticking baking mat. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until they are hot and crispy. Be sure to check on them frequently to avoid burning.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
Cream cheese wontons are a popular appetizer that's made with a filling of cream cheese and seasoning. The filling is wrapped in wonton wrappers and deep-fried until golden brown. It's a versatile dish that can be customized with other ingredients like green onions, diced jalapenos, crab meat, or shrimp!
Yes! You can make cream cheese wontons ahead of time and freeze them before frying (or baking). They will keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months; all you have to do is thaw them and follow the reheating instructions above when you are ready to serve.
Great question! These cream cheese wontons taste extra delicious when dipped into a sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, or my homemade sweet and sour or ponzu sauce!
😋 More Tasty Appetizers
- Polenta Cakes - These polenta cakes are a unique and flavorful appetizer to make when you need to use your leftover polenta!
- Risotto Balls - An easy and delicious Italian appetizer that's deep-fried and full of savory flavors!
- Olive Dip - A quick and easy snack that's made with salty green olives, cream cheese, mayo, cheddar cheese, and seasonings!
- Instant Pot Artichokes - This recipe features tasty artichokes that cook quickly and effortlessly in the Instant Pot.
- Boxty Irish Pancakes - These savory pancakes are so incredibly delicious and will quickly become a new family favorite!
- Fresh Pineapple Salsa - An easy and refreshing salsa that's loaded with fresh pineapple, jalapeno, bell pepper, onion, cilantro, and lime!
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📖 Recipe Card
Cream Cheese Wontons
Ingredients
- 24 wonton wrappers
- 8 oz cream cheese (softened, at room temperature)
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 egg white (beaten, with 2 teaspoons water)
- cooking oil (for frying)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Preheat the oil in your fryer or in a large/deep frying pan or Dutch oven until it reaches 350°F (175°C).
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese with lemon juice and garlic powder. Additional filling ingredients could include fresh-cut chives, salt & pepper, grated onions, or sugar (if you will not be dipping it into a sweet sauce).
- Place wontons out in a single layer on a clean working surface. Fill each wonton wrapper with roughly 1- 1 ½ teaspoon portion of the cream cheese filling.
- Mix the egg wash (beaten egg white and water) and use your finger or a pastry brush to spread a ½ inch border along two of the connected 'L shape' wonton sides. Fold the top half of the wonton over the filling and seal it onto the bottom egg wash-coated edge. Match up the edges and push out any air from the center of the wonton, sealing securely, or your filling will escape while frying. *If you are folding your wontons differently, you may need to use the egg wash on all 4 edges.
- Place the filled wontons carefully into the hot oil and cook in batches of 4-5 wontons at a time. Cook for 3-5 minutes, then remove golden browned wontons to a paper towel-lined plate until all of the batches are cooked. Serve immediately after frying, and serve with tasty sweet and sour sauce.
To Bake Your Wontons
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper, then lightly grease the paper. Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden browned, then remove from the oven and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use good quality cream cheese for this recipe since it's the main ingredient. Philadelphia cream cheese is a popular brand that is readily available in grocery stores.
- Make sure to avoid overfilling the wontons. If you overstuff them, they might burst open when frying or baking.
- When frying, it's really important to drain the excess oil by using a slotted spoon to transfer them to a plate lined with paper towels. This will help keep the wontons crispy.
Michael S. says
Recette faite au air fryer et c'est excellent.
"Recipe made in the air fryer and it's excellent."