This cashew-based cream cheese is a great plant-based swap for regular cream cheese! Use it as a bagel spread or stir it into soups and sauces to make them rich and creamy!

vegan cream cheese
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I love bagels and obviously cream cheese is a bagel’s best friend. But as I was trying out different breakfast sandwich ideas, I wanted more vegan options. I love using hummus as a bagel spread, but I also wanted something with a neutral flavor that could be paired with other things. That’s when I discovered how easy it was to turn my cashew cream recipe into cashew cream cheese!

How to Use Cashew Cream

The texture of this cream cheese is similar to whipped cream cheese or hummus, so it’s perfect for stirring into soups and sauces. I don’t recommend swapping this in for baking recipes that call for cream cheese as the results may not be the same. But this recipe works great for everything from vegan soups like this creamy quinoa soup to pasta sauce like my sun-dried tomato pasta.

How to Make Cashew Cream Cheese

There are two ways to make cashew cream cheese. Since I don’t always plan ahead, I often use the quick method. This works just fine, especially because I have a high-powered blender. If you don’t have a quality blender, I recommend soaking the cashews for at least 2 hours.

  1. Traditional method: Soak the cashews in one cup of water overnight or for 4-5 hours. Drain, then combine with lemon juice, miso, and salt and blend on high until smooth.
  2. Quick method: Add the cashews to a heat-safe bowl. Cover with one cup of boiling water and cover the bowl with a plate. Let it sit for 10 minutes. Drain, then combine with lemon juice, miso, and salt and blend on high until smooth.
vegan cashew cream cheese
Add the soaked cashews to a blender or food processor.
vegan cashew cream cheese
Blend until crumbly.
vegan cashew cream cheese
Add lemon juice, miso, and salt and continue to blend until smooth.
vegan cashew cream cheese
Transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I use a nut other than cashews? Unfortunately, this doesn’t work with other nuts. Cashews are uniquely buttery and creamy and you won’t get the same results if you use other nuts.
  • Can I store this in the fridge? Yes. This will last up to 5 days in the fridge.
  • Is cashew cream healthier than cream cheese? While cashews aren’t low in calories, they’re packed with healthy fats. So compared to cream cheese, it’s a healthier option.
  • What does cashew cream cheese taste like? It has a very mild flavor and in most recipes, you won’t be able to taste any cashew flavor.
cream cheese
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vegan cream cheese

Vegan Cream Cheese

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  • Author: Liz Thomson
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Soaking Time: 2 hours
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 cup 1x
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Blender
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

This creamy cashew based cream cheese is a great plant-based swap for regular cream cheese! Use it as a bagel spread or stir it into soups and sauces to make them rich and creamy!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups cashews, soaked (raw or roasted is fine)
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon miso paste (or 2 teaspoons soy sauce)

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. In a high-speed blender or food processor, combine the soaked and drained cashews, lemon juice, miso paste, and salt.
  2. Blend until smooth and creamy, adding a small amount of water if necessary to reach your desired consistency. You may need to stop and scrape down the sides, then continue blending.
  3. The mixture should be thick but spreadable.