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

Discover the best dairy-free cream cheese brands and learn how to make your own vegan cream cheese from scratch in minutes!
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bagel with vegan cream cheese from moocho brand
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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)
strawberry vegan cream cheese from kite hill
Photo: @KiteHillFoods Instagram

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!

A tub of Oatly vegan cream cheese spread.

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.

open container of tofutti vegan dairy free cream cheese

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!

miyokos fish free lox cream cheese served on cute fish crackers as an appetizer

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!

Tubs of Vevan vegan cream cheese.

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.

violife flyer for their vegan cream cheese

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.

bagel with lots of vegan cream cheese from follow your heart
Photo: @FollowYourHeart Instagram

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!

A tub of Simply V vegan cream cheese.

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.

wild creamery tub of dairy free cream cheese with a knife and jam on a cutting board.

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.

so delicious brand plant based cream cheese on crackers breakfast appetizer

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!

daiya garlic and herbs cream cheese spread on a bagel with a tomato and roasted garlic
Photo: @DaiyaFoods Instagram

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
bagel with vegan cream cheese from moocho brand

Photo: @SayMoocho Instagram

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!

Two tubs of LeGrand vegan cream cheese spread.

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!

A tub of Plant Perks vegan cream cheese.

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!

A container of Queen Cheese vegan spread.

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!

Looking for the creamy, curdy cousin to cream cheese? Check out our Vegan Cottage Cheese Guide! Or, if you’re specifically searching for delectable, dairy-free cheese slices, this Vegan Cheese Slices guide is the way to go.

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.

Vegan Cream Cheese

5 from 9 votes
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.
bagel with vegan cream cheese from moocho brand
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 8

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
Course Breakfast
Cuisine Amercan
Keyword dairy-free cream cheese, plant-based cream cheese
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Recipe Rating




9 comments
  1. 5 stars
    I’ve always found store-bought vegan cream cheese lacking in flavor. So I love that you can add to this recipe! The nooch is perfect for a cheesy flavor. I added diced scallions and it was so yummy!

  2. 5 stars
    I would of never thought that it would be so easy to make homemade vegan cream cheese

  3. Andrea White says:

    5 stars
    Kite hill has been my go-to but I’m excited to try all of these others, including this recipe! Thanks for this!

  4. 5 stars
    So many options, I want to try them all! And the vegan cream cheese recipe looks so easy, definitely going to make that soon!

  5. 5 stars
    Thanks for the great guide and the homemade vegan cream cheese recipe … I will be trying them all!

  6. 5 stars
    I love vegan cream cheese, even more if its made with cashews!

  7. 5 stars
    Thanks for this comprehensive guide!! It will certainly come in handy !!

  8. 5 stars
    It blows my mind how easy it is to make your own vegan cream cheese! And it’s so good! I like it better than the store bought kind. But I’m also a huge fan of the kite hill chive cream cheese, so good on crackers.

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