What Is Vegan Cream Cheese? Plus, Your Information to the Finest Dairy-Free Manufacturers

For one thing so easy, dairy-free cream cheese has turn into a behemoth of a subject. Some choose a layer so skinny it’s virtually translucent whereas others choose a two-to-one ratio of bagel to cream cheese. Then there are the flavors—plain, every part, chive, lox, cinnamon raisin (don’t @ us for that final one—it exists, even should you don’t prefer it). Whether or not looking for the most effective dairy-free cream cheese for bagels or for desserts, use this information to navigate by way of the swirly, luscious wonders of a vegan schmear.

What’s dairy-free cream cheese?

To make clear, after we check with “dairy-free cream cheese,” we’re additionally referring to vegan cream cheese. We’ve but to come back throughout a dairy-free cream cheese that wasn’t vegan, largely attributable to the truth that different animal components usually should not used to make the essential schmear. Packaged cream cheese is manufactured from pasteurized complete milk, salt, carob bean gum (a thickener, stabilizer, and emulsifier), and cheese cultures. Most home made vegan cream cheese recipes substitute the cultures for an acid, reminiscent of lemon juice, to curdle the dairy-free base. 

Daiya

To make a vegan model of a standard cow milk-dependent product, a number of further components are wanted. Totally different firms depend on totally different meals and methods to realize that thick texture and mildly tart style. Tofutti, for instance, makes use of soy, an oil mix, and non-dairy lactic acid; more moderen vegan cream cheese innovators reminiscent of Miyoko’s Creamery depend on cashews, coconut cream, and vegan cultures. Someday, it’d even be made out of precision fermentation, an rising approach that’s slowly making its approach into the vegan meals area. Solely time will inform.

There’s a seemingly infinite variety of methods to make it, however the common rule of thumb is the emulsification of fats, liquid, salt, and cultures, typically with the addition of a stabilizer.

Is dairy-free cream cheese wholesome?

Whereas the components for dairy-free cream cheese fluctuate, the vitamin label throughout manufacturers seems to be related. Vegan or not, cream cheese is calorically-dense and excessive in fats, and “wholesome” is a relative time period. As a result of it doesn’t use cow’s milk, it doesn’t include trans fats and tends to be decrease in saturated fats than an animal-based schmear. An excessive amount of saturated fats is related to increased ranges of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), also referred to as “dangerous” ldl cholesterol. Excessive LDL ranges can enhance the chance of coronary heart illness, in keeping with the American Coronary heart Affiliation.

The healthfulness of vegan cream cheese varies from model to model. If saturated fats is a priority, hold a watch out for coconut oil-based vegan cream cheeses. Coconut oil is about 90 p.c saturated fats.

In case you’re on the lookout for one which’s on the better-for-you aspect, keep away from the dairy-free varieties made out of oil and stick with those made out of complete meals components like nuts, seeds, and even beans. That’s to not say that oil-based vegan cream cheeses are dangerous for you. Oil could be a wholesome a part of your weight loss plan when consumed sparsely. 

One of the best dairy-free cream cheese manufacturers

Under are our prime picks for vegan cream cheeses whether or not you’re utilizing them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert.

Philadelphia

1 Philadelphia

Yep, probably the most iconic cream cheese model of all of them, Philadelphia, is now within the vegan recreation. It launched its first plant-based cream cheese on the finish of 2022, and in June 2023, it launched three vegan flavors nationwide: Unique, Strawberry, and Chive & Onion.
Discover it right here

Miyoko’s Creamery

2 Miyoko’s Creamery

In search of one thing with minimal components? Miyoko’s is a stable selection. Made solely with cashews, coconut cream, salt, and cultures, these things is as unprocessed as you may get within the schmear division. It’s tremendous thick and velvety and is available in 4 flavors: basic plain, Every thing, Savory Scallion, and cinnamon raisin.  
Discover it right here

Kite Hill

3 Kite Hill

An outlier within the vegan cream cheese market, Kite Hill makes use of almond milk as a base for its many creamy spreads. It’s barely thinner than different manufacturers, however what it might lack in thickness it makes up for in taste. Choices embrace plain, chive, every part, and backyard veggie.
Discover it right here

@thejewishvegan/Instagram

4 Tofutti

From the makers of the novelty ice cream, this old-school vegan model’s Higher Than Cream Cheese lives as much as its title. Whereas newer manufacturers might have obtained extra hype, this schmear is completely serviceable in baked items and by itself. You will discover it in most grocers and it tends to be probably the most inexpensive choice as nicely. 
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Dealer Joe’s

5 Dealer Joe’s 

The grocery store is nicely on its method to providing a vegan choice for each product it sells. Labeled as Vegan Cream Cheese Various, this plain unfold is one other win for all plant-based Dealer Joe’s customers. Professional tip: combine in a number of shakes of Dealer Joe’s Every thing Bagel Seasoning to make this schmear a bit extra fascinating.
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Daiya

6 Daiya 

Identify a dairy product, and this long-standing vegan firm probably makes it. The model just lately reformulated its inaugural cream cheese to enhance its wealthy style and silky texture. Among the many 4 flavors, our favourite is the Roasted Garlic & Herbs. Additionally, should you have been questioning, it’s pronounced Day-ah. 
Discover it right here

Violife

7 Violife

Excellent for baked items like vegan cheesecake and cream cheese swirled brownies, Violife’s Simply Like Cream Cheese is a comparatively new product below this non-dairy meals model’s title. In case you’re on the lookout for the most effective vegan cheesecake recipe, don’t miss our information right here.
Discover it right here

Easy Fact

8Kroger Easy Fact

Kroger’s Easy Fact Natural Plant-Primarily based Cream Cheese Various is simply one of many 50-plus new vegan merchandise the name-brand line launched within the fall of 2020. When a significant grocery store invests in non-dairy cream cheese, you understand the “development” is right here to remain.
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Go Veggie

9 Go Veggie

Have you ever ever bought a bathtub of non-dairy cream cheese solely to comprehend you picked up the Chive & Garlic taste simply earlier than making your vegan cream cheese frosting? Yep, we’ve been there. Go Veggie gives each Chives & Garlic and basic plain, and whereas each are creamy and scrumptious, undoubtedly double-check the label should you’re making one thing candy.
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Treeline

10Treeline

After gaining reputation by way of its luscious, European-style mushy vegan cheeses, it’s solely pure that this firm churns out a decadent dairy-free cream cheese. The three, minimal-ingredient flavors embrace plain, Chive & Onion, and Every thing.
Discover it right here

Spero

11Spero Meals

This vegan mushy cheese model differentiates itself from the remainder by utilizing sunflower seeds for its thick and creamy base. Every of the flavors is infused with probiotics to finest mimic their dairy-based counterparts. Select from authentic, strawberry, Smoked Salmon, Herb, and pumpkin varieties the subsequent time you might have toasty bagels ready for you at dwelling.
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Wildbrine

12 Wildbrine

This easy dairy-free cream cheese is made out of a mix of cashews and coconut cream. It will get a lift of gut-healthy micro organism from lactobacillus cultures, plus, it’s versatile sufficient to make use of as a diffusion or in decadent desserts.
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WayFare

13 WayFare

Identified for its vegan bitter cream and butter, this plant-based model’s cream cheese encompasses a base made out of natural butter beans and natural oats. The result’s a dairy-free unfold that has a thick texture, good for bagels and crackers.
Discover it right here

Nurishh

14 Nurishh

Owned by Bel (additionally the homeowners of two iconic cheese manufacturers, Babybel and Boursin), Nurishh first launched again in 2020, providing vegan mozzarella, camembert, and extra. Since then, it has expanded its vary additional, and in early 2023, it launched its personal sunflower seed-based cream cheese in two scrumptious flavors: Plain and Garlic & Herbs.
Discover it right here

Monty’s

15 Monty’s

Monty’s cultured cashew-based cream cheese is “mild as air,” which is why it has the suitable title of Cloud Cheese. It’s a bit totally different from many others available on the market as a result of it’s packaged inside a squeezable sachet. In line with the model, this makes it simpler “to seize and simpler to squeeze.”
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Oatly

16Oatly

This Swedish model may be identified finest for its oat milk, however that’s not the one scrumptious product in its portfolio. Alongside merchandise like Oatgurt and ice lotions, it additionally gives velvety oat-based cream cheese unfold, too.
Discover it right here

Observe Your Coronary heart

17 Observe Your Coronary heart

California-based vegan cheese model Observe Your Coronary heart’s dairy-free vary is intensive, tasty, and, in fact, it consists of vegan cream cheese. Made with coconut oil, it is usually gluten-free, soy-free, non-GMO, and, most significantly, good on a freshly toasted bagel.
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Darë

18 Darë

Primarily based in North Carolina, Darë makes a speciality of aged, artisan, completely vegan cheeses. However alongside wedge choices like Pepperjack, Balsamic Fig, and Roasted Garlic, you can even discover cashew-based cream cheeses in three tasty flavors: Unique, Smoked Pimento, and Veggie.
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Nature’s Fynd

19 Nature’s Fynd

This vegan cream cheese from Nature’s Fynd is made with the model’s signature Fy Protein, which is derived from fungi. It’s easy, creamy, simply spreadable, and much more sustainable than the choice. Plus, it’s additionally nut- and soy-free.
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Vevan

20 Vevan

Vevan is aware of its cheese, and that’s as a result of it was based by actual cheesemakers. Owned by Shuman Cheese, it has mixed the ability of cheese specialists with plant-based components to create scrumptious one hundred pc vegan merchandise which are simply as tasty as their animal-derived counterparts. It has a number of totally different UnCreamCheese flavors on provide, together with Plain, Strawberries & Cream, and Caramelized Peach & Maple.
Discover it right here

Charlotte is a author and editor based mostly in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.

Tanya Flink is a Digital Editor at VegNews in addition to a author and runner residing in Orange County, CA.