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    Oh My Veggies » Vegetarian Recipes » Sauces, Spreads and Condiments

    Homemade Vegan Cream Cheese

    Published: Feb 22, 2022 · by Nicole · Updated: May 19, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
    cashew cream cheese
    cashew cream cheese
    cashew cream cheese

    Creamy, thick, and packed with heavenly flavor, this Homemade Vegan Cream Cheese is easy to make and makes a perfect substitute for regular cream cheese.

    ramekin of homemade vegan cream cheese
    Jump to:
    • How To Make Homemade Vegan Cream Cheese
    • Tips, Tricks, & Variations
    • Homemade Vegan Cream Cheese FAQs
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    This cream cheese requires only a handful of simple ingredients and will please everyone, even non-vegan eaters. It's made with a special ingredient that gives it all the smoothness we expect from cream cheese. You can use this cream cheese in all the same ways you'd use traditional cream cheese. 

    Some of our favorite uses for this cream cheese are...

    • Vegan Bruschetta made with cashew cream cheese tastes divine!
    • Inside of a crepe (our favorite Vegan crepes)
    • Any dessert! (One we particularly adore is  The Best Vegan Cheesecake)

    This cashew cream cheese is so fantastic, you can use it anywhere. Even better, it's effortless to make. Simply soak the cashews and then toss all the ingredients into a blender. Finally, chill to allow the cream cheese to thicken.

    Homemade cream cheese can be used in all of your recipes that call for cream cheese. It has a great texture, perfect consistency, and turns out delicious every time. Some crucial steps produce a heavenly, thick, perfect cream cheese.

    This Homemade Vegan Cream Cheese recipe is...

    • Dairy-free
    • Made with cashews
    • Better than Philadephia brand (we promise even non-vegans will love it!)
    • Simple to make
    • Made with only a few ingredients
    • Completely vegan
    • Super creamy and delicious

    And if you're looking for even more tasty lunch ideas, go check out my new e-book Healthy Plant-Based School Lunches. It's loaded with all my favorite tips for making meatless school lunches that the kids will love!

    How To Make Homemade Vegan Cream Cheese

    ramekin of homemade vegan cream cheese on a wooden board with butter knife, cashews, and blue checked dish towel
    1. Soak the cashews in water for at least twelve hours.
    2. Drain and discard the water when finished.
    3. Blend all ingredients, pour into a ramekin or glass bowl, and cover.
    4. Chill the bowl of cream cheese for eight hours. 
    5. Let the cream cheese sit out for fifteen minutes before serving.
    6. Use the cashew cream cheese in any recipe that requires cream cheese.

    Full directions for how to make Homemade Vegan Cream Cheese are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

    Tips, Tricks, & Variations

    close up ramekin of homemade vegan cream cheese surrounded by cashews with wooden board and dish towel

    Soak Cashews

    Soaking these nuts helps to remove any unwanted particles. In addition, this step removes the phytic acid and softens the cashews, making them suitable for creamy recipes.

    This step—though it might seem long—is a critical one. Just toss the cashews in water overnight, and by the time you awake, the cashews will be ready for you.

    Swap Spices

    This cashew cream cheese is versatile and can be created precisely to your liking! The recipe calls for garlic powder, white pepper, and salt.

    If you're looking for a smokier or spicier cream cheese, you can change the spices to cumin and red pepper flakes. If you prefer an onion taste instead of garlic, then swap out the garlic powder for onion powder. 

    Use Glass

    Using a ramekin or glass bowl for the chilling step of the recipe is essential. These kinds of dishes will help to ensure that the cream cheese flavors melt together and texture thickens while in the refrigerator.

    We love this set of ramekin bowls. They are convenient, durable, and versatile. Alternatively, this set of 2 glass bowls is a great deal, and they're staples for a kitchen.

    Homemade Vegan Cream Cheese FAQs

    Is vegan cream cheese just as good as traditional?

    Vegan cream cheese is even better than the traditional kind! While that is a subjective opinion, here's what we're thinking:

    • It’s healthier 
    • It’s packed with protein
    • It maintains a great texture
    • It can be substituted for traditional cream cheese in any recipe

    So, yes, we think that vegan cream cheese is even better! This homemade cream cheese has a smooth, soothing taste and a thick creamy texture.

    Can I make vegan cream cheese without soaking the cashews all night?

    Soaking the cashews is an essential step in this recipe—you can't skip it or rush it. Soaking the cashews softens them and removes unwanted substances from the nut. So it's imperative that you don't skip this step. 

    What is this cream cheese made from?

    The base of this homemade cream cheese is made from cashews. That's why soaking the nuts before blending is such an important step; otherwise, the cream cheese won't turn out. This vegan cream cheese is made of cashews, pressed lemon, apple vinegar, water, garlic powder, white pepper, and salt. 

    Can I use this vegan cream cheese in all recipes that call for cream cheese?

    You can absolutely use this cream cheese for anything that you use regular cream cheese for! This vegan cream cheese has a great texture and closely mimics traditional cream cheese.

    While you're here, be sure to grab our FREE 5-Day Meatless Meal Plan. It's packed with tasty recipes to make vegetarian cooking easy and delicious!

    Recipe

    cashew cream cheese

    Homemade Vegan Cream Cheese

    Creamy, thick, and packed with heavenly flavor, this Homemade Vegan Cream Cheese is a perfect substitute for regular cream cheese.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Email Recipe
    Prep Time: 12 hours hours 10 minutes minutes
    Setting Time: 8 hours hours
    Total Time: 20 hours hours 10 minutes minutes
    Course: Basics
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: cashew cream cheese, how to make cream cheese, vegan cream cheese
    Servings: 1 cup
    Calories: 736kcal
    Author: Oh My Veggies

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup raw cashews unsalted
    • 2 tbsp lemon pressed
    • 2 tbsp apple vinegar
    • 3 tbsp water
    • ½ tsp garlic powder
    • ½ tsp white pepper
    • ½ tsp salt
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Soak cashews in a bowl of water for at least 12 hours. The more they soak, the creamier the vegan cream cheese will be.
    • After soaking, drain well and discard water.
    • Pour all the ingredients into the blender and blend for a few minutes until you have a creamy mixture.
    • Transfer to a ramekin or glass bowl and cover.
    • Chill the vegan cream cheese in the refrigerator for 8 hours before serving. This will let the flavors develop and the texture thicken a bit.
      cashew cream cheese
    • Use this cream cheese as you would regular cream cheese in your favorite recipes!

    Notes

    • The vegan cream cheese tastes best at room temperature, like most cheeses. I recommend letting it sit at room temperature for ~15 minutes before serving.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 736kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 24gFat: 57gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 10gMonounsaturated Fat: 31gSodium: 1184mgPotassium: 933mgFiber: 5gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 7IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 63mgIron: 9mg
    Craving more veg-friendly recipes? Shop our collection of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks, including our new Vegan Thanksgiving and Vegan Christmas cookbooks!
    « Vegan Whipped Cream
    Easy Marinated Tofu »

    Sauces, Spreads and Condiments, Vegan Recipes, Vegan Sauces, Spreads and Condiments, Vegetarian Recipes apple vinegar, cashews, lemon

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    Nicole is a life long vegetarian and the author of the popular vegan cookbook, Weeknight One Pot Vegan Cooking. She loves sharing her recipes and showing the world just how easy and delicious meatless meals can be!
    Learn more here.

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