This soy free vegan cream cheese recipe is a real keeper. Satisfy those cravings for a creamy, cheesy ,spreadable bagel topping that's dairy and soy free. It takes under 15 minutes hands-on time to make, and gets rave reviews from vegans and non-vegans alike!
This recipe is great as it is, but the thing I love the most about vegan cream cheese recipe 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. If you're not opposed to soy, you might also want to check out my popular tofu cream cheese.
Reasons You'll Love This Vegan Cream Cheese Recipe
✅It's easy to make and it's soy, gluten and dairy free.
✅It's just as creamy and spreadable as a cream cheese made with dairy.
✅It's a great topping on bagels and sandwiches.
Ingredients
- 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. And, cashews means we can bypass the tofu and keep your vegan cream cheese soy free.
- 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.
Instructions
- 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.
Serving Suggestions
If you're looking for creative ways to use this vegan cream cheese, here's a few suggestions:
- Cream cheese is a welcome addition to a Charcuterie board. Serve it with a mix of crudites and falafel for a real crowd pleasing appetizer board.
- Vegan cream cheese livens up any sandwich. Try it on my popular Panera Meditteranean sandwich or my rainbow sandwich.
- Serve it with some healthy chickpea crackers for dipping heaven.
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 my day, and your feedback helps other readers!
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
If you keep it in an airtight container it should stay fresh for 4-7 days.
You can, but you'll lose the creamy texture. It will become more crumbly.
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📖 Recipe
Soy Free Vegan Cream Cheese Recipe
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.
Peter
A good and quick yummy snack 😋 thanks!