The cheese is Smokin’ Good

Mike and Susan Wynn dreamed of having their own business someday, but they never thought it would be found with a smoker and a block of cream cheese. Smoking Good Cream Cheese was born from the purchase of that smoker and an interest in recipes of what could be created in it. 

The Wynns bought a pellet smoker in April so they could do their own smoked and barbequed meat. That led to researching recipes and soon they found a recipe for BBQ Smoked Cream Cheese. 

“We both love cream cheese so we decided to try it,” said Susan. “The recipe said to score the cheese, season and smoke until creamy. We were blown away with the flavor so we started brainstorming other flavors.”

The Wynns started sharing their cream cheese creations to test the market and see if people would be interested in buying the smoked cream cheese. The response was very positive and in July 2025, Smoking Hot Cream Cheese was born. 

“Business was a little slow to start with, there aren’t a lot of people who have tried smoked cream cheese, so once we realized that people needed to taste it to get the full experience and be able to buy it on the spot things really got to smoking, pun intended,” Susan said. “We started hitting the farmers markets and after they shut down we have been trying to hit all of the local community events that we can. We also have a Facebook page and do periodic drawings to promote it. Followers can be entered in a drawing this month for a free cheesecake from Epiphanies Cheesecake & Catering.”

They showcased their cheese at Home for the Holidays in Basin and will be at the Little Shoppers in Basin on Saturday, Dec. 13 as well as the Christmas Spectacular at the Historic Hotel in Greybull on Dec. 21. 

“We are joining Epiphanies Cheesecake & Catering, Carole’s Creations, and Dry Creek Delights for that show. It will be perfect for people to put together gift baskets with all of the goodies that will be there,” Susan said. 

There have been some clear favorites in the flavors of the cheese. Such flavors as Cowboy Candied Jalapeno, Garlic Bagel Everything on the savory side; and for the dessert or sweeter flavors people love Death by Chocolate, S’mores, Apple Pie and Strawberry Rhubarb. The flavors have grown out of experimentation and also requests from customers and friends. 

“After we tried the BBQ-flavored cream cheese, it didn’t take long until I opened up our kitchen cabinets to see what I had hiding in there,” Susan said. “Sometimes I would wake up and as I lay there in bed, an idea for a flavor would come to mind. I have to thank my Father in Heaven for his help. I couldn’t have thought this all up myself.”  

The Wynns will do custom flavors, but do suggest trying some of the flavors they offer first. After knowing how the flavors work with the smoke and cream cheese, then customers will have a better idea of what a custom flavor will taste like. They also offer blocks that are half and half. Every order has to be a full 8-ounce block, but they can put different seasonings on each half. 

“People have asked us what to do with it, how we eat it,” Susan said. “For that, we pass along suggestions of eating it with crackers like a dip, of topping pasta with it, and for the sweet varieties to use vanilla wafers or graham crackers with it. People will discover that there is really no wrong way to eat it.”

So where do the Wynns go now with Smoking Good Cream Cheese? They will continue to do shows, use the Facebook page to promote it, but hope to expand into a food truck at some point in the future. 

“We are enjoying meeting people at the gatherings and markets, we have decided we would like to explore having a food truck or trailer where we can sell the different flavors and also serve recipes that showcase the smoked cheese. We love seeing the looks on the faces of people who try it for the first time and are amazed at how good it is,” said Susan. 

In the meantime, pictures can be seen on the Smoking Good Cream Cheese’s Facebook page and orders can be texted to 435-218-5262. The orders will be confirmed as soon as it is on the schedule. And don’t forget this Saturday they will be at Little Shoppers Bazaar at the Big Horn County Fairgrounds in Basin. They will also be in Greybull next weekend at the Christmas Spectacular at the Historic Greybull Hotel. You won’t be disappointed when you try Smoking Good Cream Cheese.