Nuts have long been established as a health food—they provide essential, good-for-you unsaturated fats, a decent amount of protein, and plenty of fiber. The fact that they can be transformed into dairy-free cheese gives us even more reason to love nuts. There are plenty of nut cheeses available at most grocery stores, but you can also make them easily enough at home. From stunning dairy-free cheese wheels to addictive cashew-based parmesan, here are six nut cheese recipes to swap out for dairy cheese.
Minimalist Baker
1. Easy Garlic & Herb Nut Cheese by Minimalist Baker
This herby, gourmet cheese only looks complicated—it’s actually quite simple to make, and it all comes together in a food processor. The end result is bright, herbaceous, tangy, refined, and silky smooth. Once you try this recipe, you’ll make it over and over again. It’s a stunner on a cheese plate and goes so well with a slightly toasted baguette slice.
Find the recipe here.
The Full Helping
2. Creamy Cashew Nut Cheese by The Full Helping
We make this nut cheese recipe every week. It’s a super versatile staple that can be spread onto wraps, dolloped onto pizza, crumbled on salad, or stirred into a creamy pasta sauce. It can store up to five days in the fridge and it’s perfect whenever you want to add a cheesy depth of flavor to whatever you’re cooking. Made with just cashews, lemon juice, garlic powder, and nutritional yeast, you may already have the ingredients on hand!
Find the recipe here.
Ambitious Kitchen
3. Cashew Cheese Sauce by the Ambitious Kitchen
When you want a velvety cheese sauce with a bit of oomph, make this recipe. The medley of spices and optional jalapeño give it both a spicy kick and an unctuousness that truly resembles cow-based cheese. If you’re not a fan of spice, take out the jalapeño and perhaps dial it down on the other spices. Store in the fridge and use it throughout the week to make speedy mac and cheese, quick nacho dip, or a delicious drizzle over a nutrient-dense grain bowl.
Find the recipe here.
Jessica in the Kitchen
4. Vegan Parmesan Cheese by Jessica in the Kitchen
Dairy-free parmesan is arguably the easiest thing to make. With four basic ingredients and a blender, you can have days worth of cheesy, golden fairy dust at the ready. Because it’s made with cashews—not cows—it’s also cholesterol- and hormone-free. Go ahead and be liberal with this tasty nut cheese. Sprinkle it on top of pasta, roasted or steamed vegetables, garlic bread, Texas toast, baked potatoes, lasagna, chili … basically wherever you used to use dairy-based cheese. If you only make one recipe from this list, make dairy-free parmesan.
Find the recipe here.
Love and Lemons
5. Cashew Cream by Love and Lemons
Think of this nut cheese as a thick alfredo or bechamel sauce. It can stand on its own as a decadent sauce, or it can serve as a base for other creamy creations such as white pizza, silky soups, or hearty casseroles. The recipe also includes an option to make tangy dairy-free sour cream with just a few adjustments. The delectable possibilities are only limited by your culinary imagination!
Find the recipe here.
Connoisseurus Veg
6. Vegan Cream Cheese by the Connoisseurus Veg
For many, a bagel has no purpose without a thick schmear of cream cheese. There are a handful of quality dairy-free cream cheeses available at the supermarket, but this two-ingredient pizza makes store-bought a moot point. This spread magically comes together by whizzing up cashews and lemon juice. Add in your favorite herbs, fruit, or seasoning (hello, Everything Bagel seasoning) to customize your perfect schmear.
Find the recipe here.
Interested in store-bought options? Read 10 Best Dairy-Free Cheeses That Taste Like the Real Thing.
