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It takes just 6 ingredients to make this rich, creamy, and tangy Vegan Cream Cheese. Just blend everything up and enjoy a taste of heaven!
Growing up, we always had a tub of cream cheese in our fridge and we went through it fast. Didn't everyone? Well, today, you'll still find it in my fridge, but it's made with healthier and kinder ingredients.
My favorite store-bought variety is Kite Hill Almond Cream Cheese and the consistency is perfectly rich and creamy! I feel it needs a little more tang, so I usually add a hint of Vegan Lactic Acid to suit my taste. It's divine!
The only problem is that my local grocery store doesn't carry Kite Hill, so I have to drive an hour to get it. I'm not always up for the journey, so I came up with my own version. It's so easy to make and takes less than 10 minutes to whip up (*after almonds have soaked).
I honestly don't miss dairy cheese at all anymore and I'm much happier with my vegan versions. This Vegan Parmesan Cheese and Vegan Nacho Cheese are just a few of my favorites and they have all the flavor and tang that dairy cheese has. There's nothing missing at all!
What's in it?
Slivered & blanched almonds
Unsweetened non-dairy yogurt
Fresh lemon juice
Apple cider vinegar
Onion powder
Sea salt
That's all you'll need, but feel free to add a hint more seasoning to suit your taste. Fresh dill or chives are a nice addition!
How to make it
This part is SO easy! Just blend the 6 ingredients together in a high-powered blender until it's smooth and creamy! If it's too thin, just add a splash of unsweetened non-dairy yogurt or milk. If it needs more flavor, you can add what is needed. It's very forgiving, but just remember to add a little at a time, so it doesn't turn runny or over seasoned.
Can I use cashews instead?
YES! If you don't have slivered almonds, you can use the same amount of soaked cashews instead and reduce the yogurt to ⅓ cup and add more as needed. The cashew cream cheese won't be as thick as the almond one, but will still be creamy and delicious. You'll only need to soak them for 2-4 hours or you can soak them in very hot water to make it quicker. Just boil water and remove from heat. Then add cashews and cover for 20 minutes or until softened.
Tips:
- If you can't find unsweetened non-dairy yogurt, you can use plain. Look for one that has the least amount of sugar to avoid a slightly sweet taste. Some yogurt brands have an off-white color, which will make your cream cheese off-white. It won't affect the tastiness though. I prefer So Delicious for its color and thickness.
- If you have lactic acid, you can use that in replace of the lemon juice. It adds a similar tangy flavor that cultured cheese has. I usually add 1 ¼ teaspoons. If you use the lactic acid, you may need to add a few teaspoons of water or non-dairy milk to make up the liquid portion of the lemon juice. Blend first and then decide.
- You'll need a high-powered blender to get super-smooth results. If you don't have one, you may want to use soaked cashews instead because they break down easier. However, a good blender is still recommended for a creamy-smooth texture.
- I have tried making this in my food processor, but I seem to get creamier results in my blender and much faster. If you have a processor that produces smooth results you may want to try that. Also, make sure the almonds/cashews have soaked long enough or it will produce gritty results.
- I've tried soaking the almonds covered in hot water to make it quicker, but I didn't like the flavor afterward, but it did soften them much faster. I may need to experiment with this again since I've only tried it once. Let me know if you try it.
Ways to use it
It's amazingly delicious on a bagel with all the fixin's, but there are a gazillion other ways to use this Vegan Cream Cheese, too. Use it to amp up Dips, Sauces, Dressings, Casseroles, Baked Goods, or Soups and Salads.
More vegan cheese recipes to try:
And here are 14 more Vegan Cheese Recipes by Karissa's Vegan Kitchen that you might want to check out. So many to choose from!
I love to hear from you
If you make this recipe, let me know what you think by ★ star rating it and leaving a comment below. It would really make my day. You can also follow me on Instagram and share your creation with me. Just tag me @veganhuggs and hashtag #veganhuggs so I don’t miss it.
Vegan Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ cups slivered & blanched almonds , soaked in water for 16 hours (*see note)
- ½ cup non-dairy yogurt , unsweetened (sub plain)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon sea salt , more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons apple cider vinegar , more to taste
Instructions
- Drain and rinse the almonds. Discard soaking water.
- Add all the ingredients to a high-powered blender (starting with the yogurt vinegar and lemon juice). Blend on high until creamy and smooth. This could take a few minutes. Scrape down sides as needed.
- The consistency is supposed to be thick, but if it's too thick for your taste, you can add a few teaspoons of unsweetened non-dairy milk, yogurt or water to thin it out. Add more as needed but only a small amount at a time to avoid runny cream cheese. Taste for flavor and add more lemon, vinegar or salt if desired.
- Enjoy right away or place in an airtight container in the fridge for 5-6 days. It will firm up a bit in the fridge.
Notes
- Almonds- If you don't have slivered almonds, you can use the same amount of soaked cashews instead and reduce the yogurt to ⅓ cup and add more as needed. The cashew cream cheese won't be as thick as the almond one, but will still be creamy and delicious. You'll only need to soak them for 2-4 hours or you can soak them in very hot water to make it quicker. Just boil water and remove from heat. Then add cashews and cover for 20 minutes or until softened. I've tried soaking the almonds in hot water and it softened them faster, but I didn't like the flavor afterward.
- Yogurt- some brands have an off-white color, which will make your cream cheese slightly off-white. It won't affect the tastiness though. I prefer So Delicious for its color and thickness. If you can't find unsweetened yogurt, you can use plain. Look for one that has the least amount of sugar to avoid a slight sweet taste.
- If you prefer a whipped consistency, add 1 tablespoon of refined coconut oil to the blender with the other ingredients. Place in fridge for 1-2 hours to firm up.
- If you don't have a high-speed blender, the cream cheese may not get smooth enough. I prefer to use my blender over a food processor because it yields a smoother result for me, but you can use whatever works for you.
- I leave the almonds in the fridge while they are soaking. They must soak for a minimum of 16 hours or they will produce gritty results. The cashews need to soak about 2-4 hours. Prep time doesn't include soaking time.
- Yields about 1 cup + 2 tablespoons.
- If you have lactic acid, you can use that in replace of the lemon juice. It adds a similar tangy flavor that cultured cheese has. I usually add 1 ¼ teaspoons. You may need to add a few teaspoons of water or non-dairy milk to make up the liquid portion of the lemon juice. Blend first and then decide.
Nutrition
Ortal
Looks amazing!
How much ml in your cup?
Tnx
Support @ Vegan Huggs
Hi Lexi! We are so happy you loved the recipe! Thank you for giving it a try and have fun experimenting! 🙂
Lexi
Wow, this came out so good! I had whole almonds so I soaked them and then pulled the skin off, i still was able to get it so creamy!! I’m a huge fan, I can’t wait to perfect my flavors for it
Melissa Huggins
Hi Alexa, the yogurt in this recipe is more for texture and consistency, so the probiotics won't work unless it's the kind that looks like yogurt. However, you can use silken tofu or even the hardened part of canned coconut milk. I hope this helps. 🙂
Alexa
Hi! I am from Mexico and can’t get any good cream cheeses here, so I am really excited for this recipe!! Can I use probiotics instead of yogurt? There aren’t any good vegan yogurts here either 😔
Melissa Huggins
Yay! I'm so glad you liked it. Sounds perfect with the chives and shallots. YUM! Thank you for sharing your feedback. 🙂
Kim
Great recipe! Made it with plain slivered almonds, almond yogurt, garlic powder , chives and shallots. I think I could have blended it longer but it still has a smooth consistency. Next time I will probably add a bit more vinegar or lemon juice. I also wasn't able to get all the skins off of the almonds but it barely made a difference after blending. Thanks for the delicious recipe! I love Kite Hill brand but it is $$$.
Jenny
This recipe is AMAZING! Thank you!!!!
Melissa Huggins
Hi Marina, I haven't tried freezing it yet. Let me know if you give it a try 🙂