• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Daily Dish
  • About Me
  • Recipes
  • Vegan Guides
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Gluten-Free
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    Connect With Me

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About Me
  • Recipes
  • Vegan Guides
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Gluten-Free
  • Let's Connect

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About Me
    • Recipes
    • Vegan Guides
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Gluten-Free
  • Let's Connect

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Side Dishes

    Vegan Cream Cheese - Quick and Easy

    Published:Jun 27, 2021· Modified: May 11, 2022 by Keri Bevan

    • Share
    • Email
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Vegan cream cheese will satisfy those cravings for a creamy, cheesy ,spreadable bagel topping. It takes under 15 minutes hands-on time to make, and gets rave reviews from vegans and non-vegans alike!

    vegan cream cheese
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients You'll Need To Make Vegan Cream Cheese:
    • Recipe

    This recipe is great as it is, but the thing I love the most about vegan cream cheese is how easy it is to customize.

    Like spicy? Add a little paprika or chili pepper.

    Like garlic? Add a few minced garlic cloves with some chives.

    You can even throw in a handful of berries for a creamy, delicious breakfast treat! The possibilities are endless.

    Once you make this recipe, your creative juices will start flowing, and I guarantee you'll be dreaming up your own delicious flavors.

    ingredients in vegan cream cheese

    Ingredients You'll Need To Make Vegan Cream Cheese:

    • Cashews: I'm always astounded at how useful cashews are in making yummy, creamy vegan cheeses and sauces. They have a mildly sweet taste that's reminiscent of cheese so they really work. Plus, nut based cheeses are so much healthier than their dairy counterparts.
    • Lemon Juice: Adds that zesty tang that brighten this cream cheese up. If you want really bright and zesty, you could add a teaspoon of lemon zest. Yum!
    • Garlic Powder: I've only used ¼ teaspoon in this recipe, which will give a little bit of oomph to your vegan cream cheese, but if you love garlic, feel free to add more.
    • Nutritional Yeast: You can find nutritional yeast at most well stocked grocery stores. Not only is it super healthy, it has a deep umami flavor that is key in many vegan recipes. If you can't find it this recipe will still work, but I highly recommend using it.
    • Olive Oil: A few tablespoons of olive oil will make your cream cheese more spreadable. You could also use melted coconut oil.

    Method:

    • The first thing to do is to soak your cashews. Just put them in a bowl and cover with cold water. Ideally you should soak them overnight because the more water they soak up, the creamier your vegan cream cheese will be. But, if you're short on time you can use the quick soak method. Simply soak them in boiling water for one hour.
    • Drain and wash the cashews and transfer them to a food processor or blender along with the other ingredients. blend until you achieve a smooth, creamy texture. The amount of time you'll need to blend will vary with different blenders. A powerful blender like a Vitamix will turn your cream cheese creamy in no time. A food processor will take a bit more time, and you'll need to scrape down the bowl a few times. If you find that the mixture is clumping up a bit, add water one tablespoon at a time. Be careful not to add too much water or your cream cheese will turn out runny.

    vegan cream cheese

    Did You Make This Recipe?

    If so, I'd love to see it! Tag me on Instagram @thisdailydish. Or, leave me a comment below. It makes tmy day, and your feedback helps other readers!

    Questions:

    Can I omit the nutritional yeast?

    You can, but I don't recommend it. Nutritional yeast is widely available, so you should be able to easily find it. If not, the recipe will still work, it just won't have the same depth of flavor. In a pinch, you could substitute a tablespoon of white miso paste.

    How long will vegan cream cheese stay fresh in the fridge?

    If you keep it in an airtight container it should stay fresh for 4-7 days.

    Can you freeze vegan cream cheese?

    You can, but you'll lose the creamy texture. It will become more crumbly.

    Craving More Easy Vegan Recipes?

    Sriracha Cashew Cream Sauce

    Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce

    How To Make A Vegan BLT

    How To Make Creamy Hummus

    How To Make Vegan Provolone By The Hidden Veggies

    Recipe

    vegan cream xheese

    vegan cream cheese

    Keri Bevan
    Vegan cream cheese will satisfy those cravings for a creamy, cheesy ,spreadable bagel topping. It takes under 15 minutes hands-on time to make, and gets rave reviews from vegans and non-vegans alike!
    4.5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Total Time 10 mins
    Course dips, Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 201 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1¼ cups cashews
    • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
    • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil

    Instructions
     

    • Put cashews in a bowl of water and soak overnight. For quick soak method, see recipe notes.
    • Drain and wash the cashews. Transfer them to a blender or food processor with the rest of the ingredients and blend until creamy. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time to adjust the consistency.

    Notes

    Cashew Short Soak Method:  Cover in boiling water and leave to soak for 1 hour.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 201kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 6gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 3mgPotassium: 234mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword vegan cream cheese
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    « Easy Sweet Potato Salad
    Vegan Pumpkin Scones - Starbucks Copycat »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Peter

      June 29, 2021 at 12:16 am

      4 stars
      A good and quick yummy snack 😋 thanks!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome to my vegan kitchen! I hope you enjoy my collection of simple, flavorful vegan recipes.

    Keri Bevan profile picture

    Welcome!

    I'm Keri.

    I'm the food photographer and recipe developer behind Daily Dish. I have a passion for simple, fresh vegan dishes. I'm an ex-pat American who has lived all over the world. I currently live in London . Learn More

    • Visit Facebook account (opens in a new tab)
    • Visit Instagram account (opens in a new tab)
    • Visit Pinterest account (opens in a new tab)
    SUBSCRIBE

    Popular Posts

    • Avocado Nice Cream
    • Is Tofu Vegan? Everything You Need To Know
    • High Vibration Foods For Health And Vitality
    • Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
    as seen in

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Recipes

    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Sauces and Dips
    • Gluten Free

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Daily Dish