Vegan Cream Cheese {Best Dairy-Free Cream Cheese Brands & Recipe}

Looking for the best dairy-free cream cheese options to use on bagels, crackers, dips, frostings, cheesecakes, pies, and kugels? Read on to see the vegan cream cheese brand options available in stores, as well as a great simple recipe for making your own. From cashew cream cheese to coconut and tofu cream cheese, you have dozens of non-dairy cream cheese options to pick from today.

Cream cheese has become an indispensable staple for breakfast, brunch, and baking, and beyond, and for good reason. Is there any breakfast as quick and delicious than a toasted bagel with thick creamy savory schmear?

There’s a reason bagels are offered for breakfast at events, cafes, restaurants, airports, Bed & Breakfast hotels, and in many homes. And don’t worry, when you drop dairy from your diet you can still enjoy plant-based cream cheese!

Whether you DIY or buy, you’ve got dozens of dairy cream cheese alternatives for every application.

Vegan Cream Cheese Brands

Most mainstream grocery stores carry at least one brand of dairy-free cream cheese. Here are the best brands to explore.

• Kite Hill
• Oatly
• Tofutti
• Miyoko’s Creamery
• Vevan
• Violife
• Follow Your Heart
• Simply V
• Wild Creamery
• So Delicious
• Daiya
• Moocho
• LeGrand
• Plant Perks
• Queen Cheese Vegan

Plus, stores like Trader Joe’s have even released their own version of non-dairy cream cheese!

Kite Hill Cream Cheese Alternative

Many people consider Kite Hill cream cheese to be the best dairy-free cream cheese on the market. It’s a gourmet cream cheese that resembles the whipped cream cheese you might find at bagel shops, rather than Philadelphia-style schmear from a tub.

Better yet, they have an array of unique flavors, including seasonal specials like pumpkin pie! Their flavors include:

• Plain
• Chive (our favorite!)
• Everything
• Garden Veggie
• Strawberry (limited edition / seasonal)
• Pumpkin Pie (seasonal)

Oatly

Oatly is a solid choice when reaching for a plant-based milk. Over the years, they have added plant-based barista milk, ice cream (so many flavors to choose from!) and yogurt. Now they have a creamy oat spread! This vegan cream cheese is so rich and velvety, and spreads so easily. Grab a bagel and enjoy this dairy-free delight!

Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese

The original vegan cream cheese by Tofutti used to be the only one on the market, and it has stood the test of time. It’s similar to Philadelphia-style cream cheese, and works great on bagels, in cheesecakes, and beyond.

Miyoko’s Organic Cultured Cream Cheese

We can always count on Miyoko’s to raise the bar for dairy products made from plants, and the cultured cashew-based schmear is no exception. They even have a “Fish-Free Lox” variety perfect for salmon lovers and Jewish brunch spreads. It pairs beauitfully with fresh bagels and carrot lox!

Vevan

This “UnCreamCheese” plant-based cream cheese spread is crafted by world-class cheese makers and made with probiotics. Choose from plain, strawberries and cream, garlic and herb, and caramelized peach and maple flavors! We love that Vevan offers such a great variety of flavors and are excited to use it in breakfast, dessert and savory dishes!

Violife Cream Cheese

Creamy, delicious, and dairy-free! Violife’s “Just like cream cheese” is soy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, lactose-free, and preservative-free. The Original flavor is the most common found in stores, but if you’re lucky you may find their strawberry cream cheese or cream cheese with herbs!

Ingredients include: water, coconut oil, potato starch, salt, glucono-delta-lactone, vegan flavors, olive extract, and Vitamin B12.

Follow Your Heart Dairy Free Cream Cheese

The makers of Vegenaise, the Vegan Egg, vegan parmesan, and other popular vegan staples joined the cream cheese party too! Follow Your Heart has been around since the 1970s, when they started as a soup and sandwich counter, and they’re now an internationally sold brand that was acquired by Danone in 2021.

Simply V

This plant-based cream cheese is made from almonds and is so smooth and creamy! We love that they offer savory options like plain and onion & chive, but also a sweet option, like this strawberry flavor!

Wild Creamery Dairy Free Cream Cheese Alternative

Newer to the scene are the Wild Creamery cultured plant-based schmears. They are really delicious, but be warned, because they are coconut-oil-based, if you leave them at room temperature the oils will start to separate.

The ingredients are quite clean, and include: water, coconut oil, sunflower oil, cashews, coconut cream, tapioca flour, chickpeas, cabbage, oats, sea salt, sunflower lecithin, and cultures.

So Delicious Cream Cheese Style Spreads

This brand is taking over the dairy shelves with plant-based alternatives. Their cream cheese is one of dozens of So Delicious products, including ice cream, plant milk, cheese, yogurt, and more. Their cream cheese flavors include:

• Plain
• Chive & Onion

Ingredients include: water, coconut oil, modified starches (potato and corn), salt, potato protein, cane sugar, cultured sugar, lactic acid, natural flavor, annatto extract.

Daiya Cream Cheeze

We applaud Daiya’s widespread distribution and creative flavors, but do want to warn that their cream cheeze has mixed reviews. It is soy and gluten-free, which is a win for many!

Moocho Cream Cheese Style Spreads

The new kid on the block, Moocho had released vegan cheese shreds and cream cheese spreads! Theri flavors include:

• Plain
• Garden Vegetable
• Strawberry

LeGrand

This vegan cashew cheese spread is delicately flavored with fermented, organic vegetables like onion, cabbage, chickpeas and garlic. It contains live, active cultures, making it a gut-friendly choice. Plus, we love its delicate flavor and unique texture. It’s perfect for bagels or on crackers!

Plant Perks

This brand of vegan cream cheese is women-owned and family-run. Savor delicious options like smoked gouda, dill havarti, and sriracha cheddar. In addition to being completely plant-based, it’s suitable for keto and paleo diets as well. Rich in probiotics and full of flavor, Plant Perks is a great plant-based cheese spread!

Queen Cheese Vegan

This vegan cream cheese is cashew based and is organic, raw, gluten-free and keto friendly. Rich in probiotics and smooth as silk, this cheese spread delivers just the right amount of umami flavor!

Vegan Foods & Recipes Using Cream Cheese

Cream cheese can be used in so many unique ways. You can spread it on bagels, crackers, or toast, mix it with seasonings into a dip, bake it into cheesecake, and beyond. Here are a few favorites!

• Homemade Vegan Bagels
• Bagels with Cream Cheese & Carrot Lox
• Artichoke Dip
• Cream Cheese Frosting
• Cheesecake
• Vegan Noodle Kugel

Homemade Vegan Cashew Cream Cheese Recipe

It’s surprisingly easy to make your own cream cheese at home using nuts, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt, and water! Cream cheese that’s actually healthy? Yup! This recipe comes from our friends at Planted Table, vegan caterers in Oakland, California.

Print

Vegan Cream Cheese

A simple, healthy, dairy-free cream cheese that's perfect for spreading on bagels and wraps! Make a batch and keep it in the fridge for quick breakfasts all week long.

Course Breakfast

Cuisine Amercan

Keyword dairy-free cream cheese, plant-based cream cheese

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Servings 8

Calories 102kcal

Author Megan Scott and Lauren Mahlke (Planted Table)

Equipment

• 1 high-powered blender

Ingredients

• 1 cup cashews soaked overnight and drained
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
• salt to taste
• water to reach desired texture
• chives or green onion, optional

Instructions

• In a high-powered blender, add the soaked cashews, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, and salt, and blend until smooth, adding water as needed to reach a thick spreadable consistency. Mix in finely chopped chives.

Nutrition

Calories: 102kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 172mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 22IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Vegan Cream Cheese {Best Dairy-Free Cream Cheese Brands & Recipe} appeared first on World of Vegan.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can a plant diet help reduce the risk for chronic diseases?

Because of its many environmental and health advantages, plant-based eating is growing in popularity. It involves eating mainly fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds and eliminating or significantly reducing animal proteins like meat or dairy products. Plant-based diets have many advantages, including better heart health, digestive health benefits and increased energy levels. They also offer potential environmental protection. Plant-based diets can be supplemented with excellent plant-based protein sources.

How can you substitute meat for a plant-based lifestyle?

There are many creative vegan alternatives that can replace meat in a plantbased diet. Tofu and seitan (wheat Gluten), tempeh or fermented soybeans can mimic traditional meats. Vegetarian burgers made from black beans and quinoa can also be as good as beef burgers. You can also make tasty vegan alternatives using tofu mayo, coconut bacon strips, or eggplant bacon bits, and veggie hot dogs with seasoned texture soy protein. Also, faux chicken strips made of wheat gluten are delicious options. Recipes can be altered to include fruits and vegetables as well. Other cooking methods, such as roasting, steaming, or grilling, are great options to enjoy plant-based foods without sacrificing flavor.

What are some of the downsides to eating meat from plants?

The main drawback of plant-based meats is their lack of essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids found in animal protein sources. Plant-based meat is lower in certain essential amino acids, vitamin B12, and heme iron, all found in higher concentrations in animal protein sources. Additionally, some plant-based meats contain more sodium than real meat due to the abundant amount needed for preservation. Also, it can be more difficult to find quality vegan products in grocery stores and online shops. Some vegan alternatives may also require more effort during meals when cooking times are taken into account, as well as potentially longer food preparation times.

Statistics

• In the United States, poor-quality diet is the most significant predictor of early death, according to an article published in the May 2017 Journal of Geriatric Cardiology. (everydayhealth.com)
• According to research published, going plant-based can cut grocery bills by $750 a year per person, Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition. (forksoverknives.com)

External Links

pcrm.org

• Weight Loss


• Plant-Based Diets, Omega-3 Fatty A Acids

who.int

• Diabetes

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

• PubMed: Deteriorating beta cell function in type 2 Diabetes: A long-term model


• A 16-Week Randomized Clinical Study - PubMed - Plant-Based Dietary Insights Improve Beta-Cell Function and Insulin Resistance among Overweight Adults

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

• The Effects of Plant-Based Diets On Weight Status: A Systematic Review by PMC


• Plant-based nutrition for healthcare professionals: implementing diet as a primary modality in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease - PMC

How To

How can I incorporate more whole food into a plant-based lifestyle?

You can improve your health by making conscious efforts to eat more whole foods. Start by replacing animal protein and processed foods with more nutritious options like legumes, seeds and nuts. You can get sustenance from whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and nuts.

It is important to include a wide range of colors in your meals. Colorful ingredients contain powerful antioxidants that boost immunity - think red pepper strips, oranges, black beans, spinach, and corn muffins! Make meal plans that take advantage of seasonal produce. Use recipes that are both delicious and healthy to satisfy everyone's taste buds.

Incorporating whole foods also means taking advantage of their extended shelf life (longer than processed items). You can save time shopping for vegan-friendly products by taking an hour each week to plan your meals.

To create a sustainable balanced lifestyle, you should explore all possible options. From making vegan cookies to substituting fish for chicken, there are many ways to do this. Exploration is key to making food choices that are healthy and delicious.

Resources:

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