Ranking the 2022 Best Vegan Cream Cheese Brands

Being vegan does not imply that you must sacrifice cream cheese for the rest of your life; that life will not be pleasurable. Fortunately, there are several excellent vegan cream cheese alternatives that you may try.

The nice thing is that the alternatives listed here also taste delicious. You can now spread that rich deliciousness on your bagel, whisk it into creamy spaghetti sauce, or incorporate it into some of your favorite vegan dishes.

These vegan cream cheese alternatives are made to taste just like the real thing and contain nothing except the animal byproducts you’re seeking to avoid.

You may also discover a vast selection to suit any palette, from smokey vegan salmon flavors to herbed alternatives and cruelty-free options, putting the power back in your hands. Having said that, here are some of the finest vegan cream cheeses on the market.

Also see: HOW TO CLEAN A CHEESE GRATER EASILY

1. Best Overall – Tofutti`s Dairy-Free Cream Cheese

Tofutti is a well-known and dependable brand. It was, in fact, one of the first firms to investigate developing dairy-free goods for the vegan population.

One of the most common complaints about Tofutti was that its dairy-free cream cheeses were manufactured with hydrogenated oils.

Nevertheless, the brand immediately jumped ship and began employing non-hydrogenated alternatives, which increased its appeal.

Tofutti’s Dairy-Free Cream Cheese contains 8 ounces of dairy-free creamy pleasure, exactly the way you want it. It not only has a smooth, rich, and creamy consistency that melts away in your tongue, but it also tastes just like the genuine thing.

This is a vegan cream cheese substitute that works well in any dairy-free frosting and can be used in a range of vegan dishes, such as vegan carrot cake bread.

Pros:

• It has a delicate and creamy texture.
• Tastes just like the genuine thing.
• It is very flexible and may be used in a variety of dishes.
• Affordable

Cons

• It is soy-based, which some people dislike.
• Has a strong artificial flavor.

2. Best Fresh-Flavor Option – Daiya Cream Cheeze

Daiya is a beautiful business committed to providing some of the finest tasting vegan food alternatives on the market. They are well renowned for their plant-based alternatives to a variety of dairy products.

Their Daiya Cream Cheeze is a delicious option for those who want the same smooth and creamy flavor that they adore on their cheese.

The tastes, which are made with a hint of lemon juice, do not overshadow the overall flavor of the cheese. The greatest aspect is that it is quite adaptable and can be used in a broad range of recipes, including the creation of variously flavored cheesecakes.

One of the reasons vegan cream alternatives from Daiya are so popular is because they, like this one, are peanut-free, gluten-free, and soy-free.

If plain cheese isn’t your thing, there are variations with garden vegetable tastes, chive and onion flavors, and strawberry flavors.

Pros:

• Smooth and creamy
• Tasty
• The lemon flavor does not overshadow the cheese.
• Versatile and simple to use in a broad range of recipes

Cons:

• It contains a lot of sodium.

3. Best Fresh Aroma – Violife’s Just Like Cream Cheese Chilli Peppers

If you care about how your cheese smells, you should certainly try this Violifes Just Like Cream Cheese Chilli Peppers.

It has a pleasant fresh perfume that complements its acidic but creamy flavor and mild coconut overtones, giving it a wonderful aroma. It also has a subtle sweetness that complements the acidic but deliciously creamy taste.

This product is intended for health-conscious vegan customers and is devoid of dairy, soy, gluten, nuts, lactose, and chemical preservatives.

It also includes Vitamin B12, making it a fantastic supplement to any diet. Add to it the fact that it is incredibly spreadable, and you have a fantastic vegan cream cheese alternative.

Pros:

• Extremely easily spreadable
• Vitamin B12 is present.
• It has a pleasant scent.
• It has a zesty but creamy flavor.

Cons

• The tastes are very delicate.

4. Best Kosher Option – Kite Hill’s Everything spread

This Kite Hills Everything spread is a wonderful alternative for any vegan seeking for kosher cream cheese.

This vegan cream cheese, aptly named Everything, is laden with delightful herbs, sesame seeds (roasted), and poppy seeds. Aside from being dairy-free, it is also gluten-free and comes in a range of tastes.

Pros:

• Spreading is simple.
• Contains no saturated fat.
• brimming with delicious herbs
• Gluten-free

Cons

• Some people may find it a little overly sweet.

 

5. Best Sour Option – MIYOKOS CREAMERY Organic Plainly Classic Cashew Cream Cheese

The typical cream cheese flavor is unmistakably sour. Many people forget that fact because of all the many flavors that have recently entered the market, until they try our MIYOKOS CREAMERY Organic Plainly Traditional Cashew Cream Cheese.

This vegan cream cheese version has a little but perceptible sour flavor and is designed to taste just like traditional cheese. Some people have even compared it to sour butter rather than cream cheese.

While it has a sour flavor, it is quite adaptable and may be used in a number of dishes, or you can just dilute it with some soy milk.

Pros:

• It has a strong sour flavor.
• Versatile
• Creamy and smooth

Cons:

• Some folks find it overly acidic.

Vegan Cream Cheese Buying Guide

How Does Vegan Cheese Compare With Dairy?

When it comes to vegan choices, not many people think of cream cheese, but as you can see, there are many to pick from! Cream cheese is traditionally formed from dairy cheese and casein protein, which is present in cow, goat, and sheep milk. Cheese is manufactured using rennet, an enzyme that is introduced to the milk during the coagulation process. There are various techniques to make cream cheese, but employing rennet is the most popular and is used to make practically all cheeses.

Vegan cheese is created in a similar manner but with significantly different components (obviously). Vegan cream cheese has a protein replacement, which is generally derived from plants. The lactic bacteria are then used during the coagulation process instead of rennet. Other ingredients such as oils and emulsifiers, as well as nuts, tofu, or seeds, may be added to make firmer vegan cheeses.

Ingredients to Look For When Buying Vegan Cream Cheese

There are several sources utilized in vegetable-based proteins and cheeses, thus there are numerous substances to check for. Nonetheless, we’ve highlighted the most important ones for you below.

Soy Cheese

The most popular and widely available vegan cheese is soy cheese. It is often available in a number of varieties, such as cheddar and mozzarella, and has a very similar consistency to dairy cheese, allowing you to slice, grate, or even melt it into your dishes! It’s also low in fat and calories, which makes it a favorite option among vegans.

Nut Cheese

Another delicious choice is nut cheese, which is often prepared with macadamias, Brazil nuts, or cashews. While heavier in fat, it is also rich in iron, antioxidants, calcium, and potassium. Since it has a creamier consistency than other cheeses, nut cheese is ideal for spreadable snacks and dishes.

Seed Cheese

Seed cheese, which is often prepared from sesame seeds or hemp seeds, is an excellent replacement for hard cheeses. Since seed cheese is prepared from various seeds, the tastes vary, therefore there are several combinations to try! Once again, this cheese is high in antioxidants and good fats.

Rice Cheese

Rice cheese, which is not as popular as the other three, is made mostly from water and rice flour. It is often used as a cheddar substitute and comes in the shape of firmer blocks or slices that are ideal for vegan sandwiches.

Vegan Cream Cheese FAQ

If you’re new to the vegan lifestyle, you’ve probably had a few questions regarding vegan cream cheese that you’d want addressed. These are some of the most often asked vegan cream cheese questions:

What is a suitable vegan alternative to cream cheese?

Vegans have long struggled to find suitable substitutes for most dairy and animal ingredients in recipes.

Luckily, as more individuals recognized the advantages of eating vegan, innovation has entered the picture. Nowadays, you can very much convert any dish into a vegan version of itself.

Nonetheless, cheese remains one of the most difficult meals to find a vegan counterpart for, owing to the fact that traditional cheese is heavy in salt and fat, while most vegan substitutes are not. The solutions discussed above do a fantastic job of providing a vegan substitute to cheese.

All that remains is to choose the one that tastes the most like the cheese you want. The nice thing is that each choice on this list is very adaptable and may be utilized in almost any vegan cuisine.

Is vegan cream cheese available at Trader Joe’s?

If you like Trader Joe’s, you’ll be happy to know that the store has roughly two types of great vegan cream cheese. You may buy a private-label version that is a non-dairy cream cheese with a traditional cheese taste (a little sour and sweet).

This cream cheese is highly flexible, simple to spread, and goes well with bagels or the odd cheesecake. In addition, the company sells Miyokos cashew-based Un-Lox cream cheese, which is both creamy and sour.

What is the flavor of vegan cream cheese?

Vegan cream cheese tastes almost exactly like the genuine thing: creamy and silky with a tinge of sourness. Nevertheless, this is dependent on the brand and kind of cream cheese you choose.

Numerous diverse alternatives are provided with distinct flavors resembling plants or fruits. The Miyokos alternative mentioned above has a somewhat sour flavor with strong overtones of cashew.

Some have a lemon flavor, while many others have specific tastes, such as strawberry. It all boils down to the brand of vegan cream cheese you choose.

Every choice on this list is a fantastic vegan cream cheese alternative that goes well with bagels and traditional vegan dishes that call for cream cheese.

They’re adaptable, gluten-free, and inexpensive, and they taste as creamy and smooth in your tongue as the genuine thing, just healthier.