Kamil Perry
The Laughing Cow is a brand of processed cheese products made by Fromageries Bel since 1921. The Laughing Cow cheese is made by mixing milk powder, cheeses, and butter with emulsifying salts. The cheese is then heated to a temperature higher than 100 °C, melted, and combined to give it its signature creamy texture and fresh taste. The Laughing Cow cheese is available in its original flavour, a light version with 7% fat, and an ultra-light version with 3% fat. In addition, flavoured versions of the cheese (such as ham, gruyère, garlic, and paprika) are also available in various markets worldwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Cream, milk, fresh and aged cheeses (including comté, cheddar, gouda, edam, emmental, and comté), milk powder, butter, emulsifying salts |
| Additives | No enzymes, colours, preservatives, or animal products other than milk or its derivatives |
| Vitamins | A and D |
| Flavours | Original, light, ultra-light, ham, gruyère, garlic, paprika, mushroom, chèvre, bleu, hazelnut, pizza, jalapeño, onion |
| Serving Suggestions | Spread on crackers, toast, sandwiches, bagels, or eaten on its own |
| Storage | Refrigerate after opening; do not freeze |
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What You'll Learn
Ingredients
The Laughing Cow cheese is made from a blend of specially selected cheeses, including skimmed milk and a variety of cheeses (Cheddar, Gouda, Edam, Emmental, and Comté). The cheese is then melted and blended in a similar way to a cheese fondue. The cheese is pasteurized to stop the ripening process, which also makes it versatile and gives it a longer shelf life.
The cheese is made by bringing the specially selected cheeses and milk products to a temperature higher than 100 °C (212 °F). They melt and combine to give The Laughing Cow its creamy texture and fresh taste. This mixture is then poured into triangular wedges, packaged, and cooled. The cheese is spreadable and can be enjoyed on crackers, toast, sandwiches, bagels, or straight from the wedge.
The Laughing Cow cheese is also enriched with vitamins A and D for improved nutrition. It does not contain any gluten, animal rennet, or enzymes, and the only animal product used in its manufacture is milk or its derivatives.
The original flavour comes in a light version with 7% fat and an ultra-light version with 3% fat. In addition, flavoured versions are also available, such as ham, gruyère, garlic, paprika, mushroom, chèvre, bleu, hazelnut, pizza, jalapeño, and onion.
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Flavours
The Laughing Cow cheese is made from a blend of specially selected cheeses and milk products, including skimmed milk and a variety of cheeses such as Cheddar, Gouda, Edam, Emmental, and Comté. The cheese is then melted and blended, similar to a cheese fondue, to create its signature creamy texture and fresh taste. The mixture is then poured into triangular wedges, packaged, and cooled.
The Laughing Cow cheese comes in a variety of flavours to suit different tastes and preferences. Here is a list of some of the flavours available:
- Original
- Light
- Garlic & Fine Herbs
- Jalapeño
- Smoked Cheese
- Lactose-Free
- Creamy Asiago
- Original Swiss
- Creamy Smoked Gouda
- Blue Cheese
- Cheddar
- Strawberry
- Chocolate
- Tomato and Ham
- Blue
- Ham
- Salmon
- Chili Pepper
- Olive
- Indian
- Tex-Mex
- French Onion Soup
The Laughing Cow also offers different formats of their cheese products, such as triangles, squares, or rectangles, as well as slices and dips, to cater to various consumption occasions and preferences.
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Packaging
The Laughing Cow cheese is packaged in a variety of ways depending on the format and flavour of the cheese. The archetypal Laughing Cow cheese comes in individual serving-sized foil wedges, packaged in a round, flat box. The box is decorated with the brand's logo, a red and white cow appearing jovial, with blue and white stripes and the cow's ear tags, which resemble the round boxes the cheese comes in. Consumers pull on a little red thread to open the box, and the foil packaging also features a red tab for easy opening. The cheese wedges are individually wrapped.
The Laughing Cow also offers double-pack round boxes, which contain 16 individually wrapped cheese wedges, as well as larger slicing blocks with a harder consistency, similar to butter. In addition, there are pods of cheese spread designed to be eaten with a spoon, especially for younger children, and processed cheese slices, similar to Kraft Singles. For those who enjoy bite-sized snacks, The Laughing Cow offers bite-sized cheese cubes in various flavours, which are perfect for serving as aperitifs at cocktail parties. These cubes are packaged in 24- or 48-cube boxes, usually of a single flavour.
The brand also offers Dip & Crunch (or Pik & Croq in mainland Europe), previously named Cheez Dippers, which are snacks consisting of breadsticks and cheese spread. These come in four varieties: original, light, hazelnut, and pizza. Each variety has its own unique packaging design, with vibrant colours and eye-catching graphics.
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History
The Laughing Cow is a brand of processed cheese products made by Fromageries Bel since 1921. The cheese is a blend of cream, milk, and fresh and aged cheeses, particularly comté, which are pasteurized to stop the ripening process. The cheese is made by mixing milk powder (which is blended with water to return it to a milk-like state), various cheeses, and butter with emulsifying salts. The mixture is heated to a very high temperature, which ensures that the cheese spread has a longer shelf life than regular cheese. The cheese is then poured into triangular wedges, packaged, and cooled.
The inspiration for the Laughing Cow cheese spread recipe came from Fondue Savoyarde, a delicacy from the French alpine region of Savoie. Leon and Jules Bel, the founders of Fromageries Bel, enjoyed this traditional fondue—a blend of wine and cheese—in nearby Jura in the early 20th century. They noticed that the wine, when heated, helped the cheese melt smoothly without separating into layers, resulting in a creamy texture. This realization led them to create a cheese spread with a similar creamy consistency and a long shelf life.
The name "The Laughing Cow" refers to the brand's most popular product, the spreadable wedge, and was trademarked as "La Vache Qui Rit" in France on April 16, 1921, by Léon Bel. The concept of a laughing or smiling cow in advertising may predate the brand, as a 1903 American newspaper advertisement featured a smiling cow promoting "Star Brand Butter" and "Milton's Ice Cream." The current logo, featuring a red and white cow, uses the Droste effect, with the laughing cow appearing inside the ear tags that resemble the round boxes the cheese comes in.
The Laughing Cow cheese has become a popular snack in various countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and France. It is known for its versatility and convenience, offering quick and easy snack options for consumers. The cheese is available in different formats, such as triangles, squares, or rectangles, and comes in a range of flavors, including original, light, and ultra-light versions, as well as flavored varieties like ham, gruyère, garlic, and paprika.
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Similar products
The Laughing Cow cheese is a blend of cream, milk, and fresh and aged cheeses, such as comté, cheddar, gouda, edam, and emmental, melted and blended in a way similar to cheese fondue. The cheese is pasteurized to halt the ripening process, giving it a longer shelf life and allowing it to be stored without refrigeration for a limited time.
- Dairylea - a similar popular spreadable cheese in the UK and Ireland.
- Kraft Singles - slicing blocks of The Laughing Cow have a harder consistency, similar to butter, and can be likened to these.
- Swiss Knight - another brand of spreadable cheese wedges.
- Neufchâtel cheese - can be mixed with fresh herbs, dried dill, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and lemon to create a spreadable lighter cheese.
The Laughing Cow also has a range of products with similar formats to the above, including:
- Dip & Crunch (or Pik & Croq in mainland Europe) - previously named Cheez Dippers, these are snacks consisting of breadsticks and cheese spread, and they come in four varieties: original, light, hazelnut, and pizza.
- Ma P'tite Vache Qui Rit - pods of cheese spread to be eaten out of the pod with a spoon, aimed at children.
- Toastinette - processed cheese slices, similar to Kraft Singles.
- Cheez & Fun - bite-sized cheese cubes in various flavours, designed to be served as aperitifs at cocktail parties. They are also known as Snack Bites in the UK, Apéricube in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, PartyCubes in Canada, Mini Cubes in Australia and New Zealand, and Belcube in Japan and South Korea.
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Frequently asked questions
Laughing Cow Cheese is made by bringing specially selected cheeses and milk products to a temperature higher than 100 °C (212 °F). They melt and combine to give the Laughing Cow its creamy texture and fresh taste. The cheese is a blend of cream, milk, and fresh and aged cheeses, particularly comté, which are pasteurized to stop the ripening process.
Laughing Cow Cheese is available in its original flavour, a light version with 7% fat, and an ultra-light version with 3% fat. Flavoured versions of the cheese (such as ham, gruyère, garlic, paprika, mushroom, chèvre, bleu, hazelnut, pizza, jalapeño and onion) are also available in various markets worldwide.
Laughing Cow Cheese is a versatile snack that can be enjoyed in many ways. It can be spread on a cracker, toast, a sandwich, or a bagel. It can also be enjoyed straight from the wedge.
