Pirkei Avot 5:6 says:
עשרה דברים נבראו בערב שבת ... והשמיר
"10 things were created on Erev Shabbat. (among the list is) the schmeer ("spread" - as in "a schmeer of cream cheese on the bagel."
Why were spreads specifically created on Erev Shabbat? If it was so that you could use it as part of the Shabbat meal, I don't see the purpose of that as it is a melacha (memarech) to spread on Shabbat.