The VegNews Guide to Dairy-Free Cream Cheese: How to Find the Best Schmear

For something so simple, dairy-free cream cheese has become a giant topic. Some prefer a layer so thin it’s practically translucent, while others prefer a two-to-one ratio of bagel to cream cheese. Then there are the flavors: plain, everything, chives, smoked salmon, cinnamon and raisins (don’t @ us for the last one, it exists, even if you don’t like it). Whether you’re looking for a bagel shop that sells dairy-free cream cheese or just wondering which brand will work best in your vegan cheesecake, use this guide to navigate through the delicious, swirling wonders of dairy-free schmear.

Nora cooks

What is dairy-free cream cheese?

To clarify, when we refer to “dairy-free cream cheese,” we also mean vegan cream cheese. We have yet to find a dairy-free cream cheese that is not vegan, largely due to the fact that no other animal ingredients are typically used to make the basic schmear. Packaged cream cheese is made from pasteurized whole milk, salt, locust bean gum (a thickener, stabilizer, and emulsifier), and cheese cultures. Most homemade vegan cream cheese recipes substitute an acid, such as lemon juice, for the cultures. Unless some idiot decides to add pork-based bacon bits or salmon slices, dairy-free cream cheese should be animal-free.

To transform a product completely dependent on cow’s milk into a vegan product, some additional ingredients are needed. Different companies rely on different foods to achieve that thick texture and slightly tart flavor. Tofutti, for example, uses soy, a mixture of oil and non-dairy lactic acid; More recent vegan cream cheese innovators like Miyoko’s Creamery are based on cashews, coconut cream and vegan cultures. There are a seemingly infinite number of ways to do it, but the general rule is emulsification of a fat, liquid, salt, and cultures, sometimes with the addition of a stabilizer.

Dairy Free Cream Cheese Nutrition

While the ingredients in dairy-free cream cheese vary, the nutrition label for all brands is similar. Vegan or not, cream cheese is calorically dense and high in fat. However, because dairy-free cream cheese doesn’t use cow’s milk, it contains no cholesterol or trans fat and tends to have less saturated fat than animal-based schmear.

The standard individual serving of vegan cream cheese is two tablespoons. For that, aim for between 60 and 90 calories, about eight grams of total fat, between 115 and 200 mg of sodium, one to three grams of fiber, and less than two grams of protein. If you’re looking for a low-calorie, low-fat option, Kite Hill’s plain cream cheese is your best bet, though it’s higher in sodium.

The Best Dairy-Free Cream Cheese Brands

kite hill

one kite hill

An outlier in the vegan cream cheese market, Kite Hill uses almond milk as the base for its many creamy spreads. It’s a bit thinner than other brands, but what it may lack in thickness it makes up for in flavor. Options include plain, chives, everything, Garden Veggie, and the seasonal pumpkin pie.
Find it here

Miyoko Dairy

two Miyoko Dairy

Looking for something with minimal ingredients? Miyoko’s is a solid choice. Made with only cashews, coconut cream, salt, and cultures, this product is about as raw as you can get in the schmear department. It’s super thick and velvety and comes in five flavors: Classic Plain, Everything, Savory Scallion, Fish-free Lox, and Cinnamon Raisin.
Find it here

@thejewishvegan/Instagram

3 Tofutti

From the makers of the novelty Tofuttis ice cream, this old-school vegan brand’s Better than Cream Cheese lives up to its name. While newer brands may have gotten more hype, this schmear is perfectly useful in baked goods and on its own. You can find it in most grocery stores and it also tends to be the most affordable option.
Find it here

trader joe

4 trader joe

The grocer is on his way to offering a vegan option for every product he sells. Labeled a vegan alternative to cream cheese, this spread is another win for all plant-based Trader Joe’s shoppers. Pro Tip: Mix up a few shakes of Trader Joe’s Everything Bagel Seasoning to make this schmear a little more interesting.
Find it here

Daiya

5 Daiya

Name a dairy product, and this long-standing vegan company probably does it. The brand has four flavors, but our favorite is Roasted Garlic & Herbs. Also, if you were wondering, it’s pronounced Day-ah.
Find it here

viola

6 viola

Perfect for baked goods like vegan cheesecake and cream cheese brownies, Violife’s Just Like Cream Cheese is a relatively new product under the name of this non-dairy food brand. If you’re looking for the best vegan cheesecake recipe, read on for our top pick.
Find it here

The simple truth

7 The simple truth

Kroger’s Simple Truth plant-based organic cream cheese alternative is just one of more than 50 new vegan products the brand line launched in fall 2020. When a major supermarket invests in non-dairy cream cheese, you know the “trend” is here to stay.
Find it here

go vegetarian

8 go vegetarian

Have you ever bought a tub of non-dairy cream cheese only to find that it took on the chive and garlic flavor right before you made your vegan cream cheese frosting? Yes, we have been there. Go Veggie offers both Chives & Garlic and Classic Plain, and while both are creamy and delicious, definitely check the label if you’re making something sweet.
Find it here

russ and daughters

9 russ and daughters

This New York City deli isn’t vegan, but it does make a great vegan cream cheese. The legendary brand offers this schmear for domestic shipping through Goldbelly. One caveat: Although the company also sells its bagels by the dozen, it uses l-cysteine ​​hydrochloride, which is derived from bird feathers. If this is an issue for you, buy your bagels from a local vegan bakery.
Find it here

tree line

10 tree line

After gaining popularity through their delicious vegan European-style soft cheeses, it’s only natural that this company would produce a decadent dairy-free cream cheese. The three minimum ingredient flavors include plain, chive and onion, and strawberry.
Find it here

How to make dairy-free cream cheese

Homemade vegan cream cheese doesn’t require the necessary stabilizers found in most store-bought options, meaning you can literally make a batch with very few ingredients. Instead of cultures, the acid provides a fast-acting curd to achieve the flavor and texture of a spread that has been fermented. All you need is raw soaked cashews, dairy-free yogurt, salt, and an acid like apple cider vinegar and/or lemon juice. Mix the mixture together, add herbs and spices if you like, and voila, you just made vegan cream cheese. This schmear is best used right away, but leftovers can be refrigerated for up to a week. Looking for a solid recipe? See below for how to make vegan cream cheese and some delicious ways to use it.

Dairy Free Cream Cheese Recipes

Nora cooks

one 5 minute vegan cream cheese

If you have cashews, plain yogurt, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar on hand, you can make dairy-free cream cheese faster than you can get to the store. Use this as your base recipe and then have fun experimenting with different flavors. Try adding roasted garlic to one batch, garlic powder and fresh chives to another, or a generous amount of Trader Joe’s Everything Bagel Seasoning to your tub of delicious cream cheese.
get the recipe

two Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies

A delicious mishmash of cheesecake, brownies, and red velvet cake, these decadent bars are three desserts in one. Get ready to dazzle at your next potluck or office party.
get the recipe

3 Easy Baked Chocolate Cheesecake

There are a plethora of no-bake cheesecake recipes on the internet, and while many of them are good, they don’t quite replicate that traditional cheesecake texture that we’ve come to love from many birthday dinners at The Cheesecake Factory. This one scratches that itch for a fluffy yet rich filling with a tart raspberry sauce that cuts through the intense chocolatey chocolate flavor.
get the recipe

4 Easy Vegan Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting

As far as we’re concerned, thick cream cheese frosting is the only appropriate topping for big, fluffy cinnamon rolls. Since the pop-tube rarely provides enough frosting to go around, we like to make a mini batch to complement this treat. Think of it as semi-homemade.
get the recipe

dustin harder

5Vegan Soft Batch Sugar Cookies with Buttercream Frosting

Dairy-free cream cheese plays a critical role in reducing the sweetness of these light and fluffy sugar cookies. These treats taste exactly like the baked sprinkles adorned cookies found in the bakery department of the supermarket; In other words, they taste like childhood.
get the recipe

6Vegan lox and cream cheese

This recipe is all about making your own cream cheese, amped up with a touch of liquid smoke and a few tablespoons of nooch. Paired with Carrot Smoked Salmon, this open-faced bagel sandwich works for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner.
get the recipe

7Vegan Crab & Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms

You can’t get much more umami than these hot, creamy, crunchy appetizers. If you don’t want to worry about stuffing individual mushrooms, serve this party style in a pan with raw vegetables, crackers, and slices of bread on the side.
get the recipe

8 Dairy-Free Cheesecake with Blueberry Compote

This is the last New York style cheesecake recipe you’ll ever need. It’s smooth, creamy, not too sweet, and dense enough to remind us of the dairy-based cheesecakes we grew up with. The blueberry compote is technically optional but highly recommended.
get the recipe

9 Creamy tomato and vodka paste

Pro Tip: Adding a few tablespoons of vegan cream cheese to your pasta sauce can transform it into a restaurant-quality sauce. This one-pot wonder recipe only requires eight ingredients (including pasta) and nine minutes to prepare. Add a few fresh basil leaves if you’re feeling like a chef.
get the recipe

10 Creamy Chocolate Almond Butter Pudding Tart

This no-bake dessert takes a bit of time to cool down, but the result is well worth the wait. Vegan cream cheese is paired with rich coconut cream, decadent melted chocolate, and aerated whipped cream for a standout treat that will please any chocoholic or dessert lover. Garnish with grated chocolate or halved Oreo cookies for an even more spooky indulgence.
get the recipe