Simple Vegan Cream Cheese Recipe

Whether you have an allergy or follow a plant-based lifestyle, vegan cream cheese is an excellent swap for the dairy condiment. You can find vegan cream cheese at the grocery store, but it is simple to make your own. Homemade vegan cream cheese has high protein content and high fat content to achieve its creamy texture with non-dairy ingredients. The fat sources typically come from ingredients like coconut oil or raw cashews.

You can make vegan cream cheese using various milk alternatives, such as almond milk or coconut milk, but the two primary ingredients in vegan cream cheese are:

1. 1. Tofu: Tofu cream cheese is a popular vegan option.You can buy tofu (soy) with varying degrees of firmness. Softer tofu is a great source of protein and is malleable, which is good for vegan desserts such as soy ice cream, custards, or puddings. This is the best vegan cream cheese for those who are nut-free.
2. 2. Cashew nuts: If you are soy-free, you might want a nut-based vegan cream cheese, like cashew cream cheese. Cashews have high enough fat content to create that creaminess without additional oil.

Store-bought vegan cream cheese contains additives to help keep its creamy texture. Homemade vegan cheeses are not as malleable as store-bought ones, and they do not hold up well in baking. Instead, use a soft tofu to make desserts like a no-bake vegan cheesecake.

Vegan cream cheese is similar in flavor to real cream cheese. Consider adding these simple ingredient to your vegan cream cheese to boost the flavor:

1. 1. Chives or onion: A few tablespoons of chopped chives, onion powder, garlic powder, or scallions (green onions) are popular add-ins for cream cheese that pair well with plain or everything bagels. You can also sprinkle bagel seasoning on top of the cream cheese to emphasize the flavor.
2. 2. Berries: If you’re a fan of strawberry, blueberry, or other fruit-based cream cheese, mash a quarter cup of your favorite fruit and mix it into your homemade cream cheese.
3. 3. Powdered sugar: If you like your cream cheese a bit sweeter, mix in a few tablespoons of powdered sugar. (You can use granulated sugar, but it won’t be as smooth.)
4. 4. Vegetables: Finely chop a quarter cup of carrots, celery, or any other veggies and mix into the cream cheese. The key step here is to make sure you chop them very small so that they mix in cleanly.
5. 5. Nutritional yeast: This is a common ingredient in all non-dairy cheese sauces as nutritional yeast has high-protein content and has a nutty umami flavor that emulates cheese. Mix it in or sprinkle it on top.
6. 6. Jalapeño: If you like spice, finely chop up some jalapeños and mix them into your vegan cream cheese.
7. 7. Sun-dried tomatoes and red pepper: Mix in red pepper flakes and finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes for an added kick.

After making your homemade vegan cream cheese, you can store it in an airtight container for up to five days in the refrigerator. If you’d like to make a larger batch and store it longer, you can freeze vegan cream cheese for up to five months.