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    Home » Sauces + Dips

    Onion Cashew Cream Cheese (Oil-Free)

    Published: Jan 27, 2021 | Modified: Jan 27, 2021 by Bree Sheree

    170 shares

    This post contains affiliate links for which I may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) should you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my disclaimer for more information.

    Jump to Recipe
    A bagel with cream cheese on it and text that says, Cashew Cream Cheese.

    This cashew cream cheese is vegan and oil-free. It has a savory onion flavour that is perfect on a toasted bagel, with crackers, or as a veggie dip!

    Cashew cream cheese topped with chopped chives in a glass bowl.

    Since going vegan, I have realized how incredibly versatile cashews are! They are perfect for spreads, dips, and sauces (such as this plant-based cheese sauce). They have a fairly neutral taste, so they are great for achieving a creamy texture while mixing well with a variety of flavors.

    This Vegan Cream Cheese Is:

    • Creamy
    • Smooth
    • Whole Foods Plant-Based
    • Oil-Free
    • Savory
    A bagel with onion cream cheese on a green and white plate.

    Ingredients

    *Scroll down to the recipe card for quantities and instructions.

    • Cashews
    • Water
    • Apple cider vinegar
    • Lemon juice
    • Onion powder
    • Salt
    • Chives

    Optional Ingredients:

    • Garlic powder
    • Dried dill weed
    • Ground black pepper

    How to Make Cashew Cream Cheese

    Making this vegan cashew cream cheese is super easy!

    Step 1

    In order to make this cream cheese nice and smooth, you’ll want to soak your cashews. Instead of soaking them for several hours at room temperature, you can use boiled water. I just boil water in my electric kettle, then pour it over the cashews in a bowl. Make sure the water covers the cashews completely, then place a plate upside down over the bowl. Leave for 20 minutes, then drain the water.

    Step 2

    Add all ingredients (except the chives) to a food processor and blend until smooth. This will likely require that you stop and scrape down the sides of the food processor several times. It will smooth out eventually.

    • Ground cashews in a food processor.
    • Blended cashew cream cheese in a food processor.

    Step 3

    Chop the chives into small pieces and mix them into the cream cheese.

    Optional Add-Ins

    This cashew cream cheese has an onion flavor, but you can add to it if you’d like. Some other ingredients that I like to add are:

    • Dill
    • Ground black pepper
    • Garlic powder
    A plate of crackers and celery sticks with cream cheese spread on them.
    A bowl of cashew cream cheese with a cracker in it.

    How to Use

    This vegan cream cheese is great with many foods! Here are some ideas:

    • Spread it on a bagel
    • Spread it on toast
    • Put it in a sandwich
    • Spread it onto celery sticks
    • Use it as a dip for other raw veggies (such as carrots, cucumber slices, bell peppers)
    • Use it as a dip for crackers and chips
    Two bagel halves with cashew cream cheese spread on them.

    More Cashew-Based Recipes

    • Cashew Caesar Dressing
    • Spicy Cashew Dressing
    • Cashew Cheese Ball
    • Vegan Tzatziki
    A bagel with cashew cream cheese on a green and white plate.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Onion Cashew Cream Cheese (Oil-Free)

    This cashew cream cheese is vegan and oil-free. It has a savory onion flavour that is perfect on a toasted bagel, with crackers, or as a veggie dip!
    Prep Time20 mins
    Total Time30 mins
    Course: Condiment
    Cuisine: plant-based, Vegan
    Author: Bree Sheree

    Equipment

    • Food processor

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup cashews
    • ¼ cup water
    • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
    • ½ tablespoon lemon juice
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1-2 tablespoons chopped chives

    Optional Add-Ins

    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon dried dill
    • Sprinkle ground black pepper

    Instructions

    • Start by soaking your cashews. The fastest way is to boil some water in a kettle, then pour it over the cashews in a bowl, covering them completely. Place an upside down plate over the bowl to trap the heat and leave for 20 minutes. Then drain the water.
    • Place the soaked cashews in a food processor along with all ingredients except the chives.
    • Blend until smooth. You will need to pause and scrape down the sides of the food processor several times to get a smooth texture.
    • Chop the chives and mix them in.

    Notes

    This recipe makes approximately 1 cup of cashew cream cheese.
    You can add an additional 2 tablespoons of water if you're having a difficult time getting your food processor to blend the cashews.
    Store in a container. You can keep it in the fridge for about a week.

    More Vegan Sauces + Dips

    • 4 vegan dips.
      37 Vegan Dip Recipes (Savory and Sweet)
    • Vegan burger sauce on a burger patty.
      Vegan Burger Sauce
    • Creamy dill dressing on a green salad.
      Creamy Vegan Dill Dressing
    • Creamy cashew dressing on a green salad.
      Spicy Cashew Dressing
    170 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Marcia

      October 02, 2021 at 11:37 am

      5 stars
      This is my favorite cheese! I sub miso for the salt, and add the garlic and pepper. We eat it often. Thank you.

      Reply

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    Hey, I'm Bree! I'm a Certified Nutritionist and a vegan. I love creating recipes and sharing information related to a vegan lifestyle!

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    170 shares