Light and whipped, smooth and creamy with a little bit of tang. This nut-free and dairy-free tofu cream cheese is made with five simple ingredients, and takes 5-minutes to make. It tastes so much like real cream cheese, you'd never know it's vegan!
This Tofu Cream Cheese is light, whipped, smooth, and creamy – everything you’d want in a vegan cream cheese recipe! It requires just 5 simple whole food ingredients that you likely have on hand, and it takes 5-minutes to blend together. Slather it on your favourite bagels just like you would classic cream cheese!
I love that this recipe uses tofu instead of cashews or coconut for a cream cheese that’s filling and will stick with you. Spread it on to bagels and bread, or you can even spread it on Vegan Coconut Flour Pancakes for an extra creamy touch!
I also offer 3 flavour variations that you can easily make to switch it up flavours! I can’t wait for you to try it! So without furtho ado, let me tell you exactly how to make this tofu cream cheese.
Hannah’s hot take
Why You’ll Love My Recipe
When I was developing recipes for The Two Spoons Cookbook, I mastered the art of making vegan cheeses with raw cashews. There’s even a whole chapter dedicated to vegan cheeses. So trust when I say I’m an expert at vegan cheese.
But, I wanted to make another non-dairy cream cheese that was nut-free, because I’m often asked if there’s substitutions for cashews for those with allergies.
Cue this tofu cream cheese recipe! I originally got the idea on my first trip to New York City. It was the first time I tried TOFU cream cheese. I loved this vegan cream cheese alternative so much – in terms of texture and taste – and so I had to recreate this New York style cream cheese for the blog.
Hannah xx
Ingredient Notes
You’ll need just a few simple ingredients to make the basic recipe!
Extra-firm tofu – I chose to make this recipe using extra-firm tofu because it doesn’t require any pressing and helps create ultra thick and creamy texture just like regular cream cheese. Firm tofu will work, but I’d recommend pressing it for at least 10 minutes to draw out the excess moisture. This will help make it as thick as possible!
Coconut yogurt – Since this cream cheese is not cultured, it is important to add a bit of tang to this mix to recreate that classic flavour. If you are using a store-bought version, make sure to use a cultured, plain version so your cream cheese tastes like the real deal!
White miso – Miso paste is a fermented soybean product and helps add umami flavour. I recommend using white miso paste for it’s milder flavour. I also recipe tested this with yellow miso and it was good!
For complete ingredient measurements, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post!
How to Make Tofu Cream Cheese
Making homemade vegan cream cheese is so quick and easy, you can make it in less time than it would take for you to drive to your local grocery store for a store-bought version. Simply add all of the base ingredients into a high-speed blender and blend on low, increasing the speed to high, until everything is smooth and combined.
add all of the ingredients to a blender.blend together on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 1-minute.Scoop into a bowl with a spatula.Slather onto bagels and enjoy!
Flavour Variations
In addition to the classic base flavour, I’ve also developed 3 flavour variations for you to try! Chive Cream cheese, herb and garlic, and strawberry. See details below on how you can simply transform my recipe into one of these flavours.
Chive Cream Cheese
Stir 1/4 teaspoon of freshly chopped chives in, then add additional chives to taste.
chive cream cheese variation
Herb and Garlic Cream Cheese
Add 1/4 teaspoon dried onions, 1/4 teaspoon dried garlic powder to the homemade cream cheese ingredients and blend until smooth. Then, stir in 1/4 cup freshly chopped parsley. Adjust to taste, as needed.
herb and garlic cream cheese variation
Strawberry Cream Cheese
Add 1/4 cup mashed strawberries and 1/4 cup powdered sugar to the tofu spread and blend until smooth. Enjoy!
strawberry cream cheese variation
I hope you love this Tofu Cream Cheese recipe as much as I do! If you do make this recipe, please let me know in the comments below what you think and check out The Two Spoons Cookbook for more vegan cheese recipes like this! I truly love hearing from you, and I’m always here to answer any questions you might have.
And of course, tag me on Instagram with your pictures using the hashtag #twospoons. Nothing makes me happier than to see your recreations.
Light and whipped, smooth and creamy with a little bit of tang. This nut-free and dairy-free tofu cream cheese is made with five simple ingredients, and takes 5-minutes to make. It tastes so much like real cream cheese, you'd never know it's vegan!
In a blender, add the chopped tofu, coconut yogurt, apple cider vinegar, sea salt, miso and avocado oil. Blend on low, increasing the speed to high, until everything is smooth and combined. (Optional to use a tamper to help with blending if things get stuck, or stop the blender and scoop down the sides with a spatula from time to time to ensure smooth blending).
Slather onto bagels and enjoy. Or add any flavour variations you wish at this time. (See notes below for chive, herb and garlic, and strawberry cream cheese flavour variations).
Notes
Flavour Variations:Chive Cream Cheese: After blending, add ¼ tsp of fresh chopped chives and stir into the cream cheese.Herb and Garlic Cream Cheese: add ¼ tsp dried onions, ¼ tsp dried garlic to the tofu cream cheese and blend until smooth and combined. After blending, add 1/4 cup freshly chopped parsley and stir into the cream cheese.Strawberry Cream Cheese: Add ¼ cup mashed strawberries and ¼ cup powdered sugar to the mixture. Blend until smooth and combined.Recipe will keep in the fridge for one week. Store in an air-tight container. This recipe can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Store in an air-tight container. Let thaw and mix together with a spoon if there’s any separation.
Is this vegan cream cheese freezer friendly?
Yes! In addition to keeping for up to 1 week in an airtight container, this nut-free recipe can also be frozen for up to 3 months. If freezing, make sure to store in a freezer-safe container such as a mason jar. This will help prevent freezer burn and retain the flavour and texture of the cream cheese.
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Thank you for this easy recipe! Where I live it’s not easy to get coconut yoghurt. Have you tried it with other types of yoghurt (eg soy)? I would be grateful for your input.
Deliiicious. I felt like eating a toasted roll with cream cheese, but didn’t want to buy any processed one.
I just made half the recipe, and then divided it into the plain and herb & garlic. I used the kite hill original yogurt though, instead of coconut. It was so easy and totally satisfied my cravings. Thank you, Hannah for such an easy, delicious but healthy cream cheese recipe.
So easy and delicious. Had bought some baggles yesterday in Victoria. Made the recipe this morning and added some sumac, a little dry garlic and barberries. Perfect!
Thank you for this easy recipe! Where I live it’s not easy to get coconut yoghurt. Have you tried it with other types of yoghurt (eg soy)? I would be grateful for your input.
Yes! It would work great with soy!
This looks delicious. Can I omit the oil in this recipe or do you have a low fat alternative to the oil?
Hi Annice! You can definitely omit the oil in the recipe, it might just be a little less creamy smooth. Hope you enjoy it!
How delicious. Herb and garlic cream cheese on bagels and so damn easy to make. Vegan is not that hard so I’m discovering
So true Leah! I’m so thrilled you love this cream cheese.
👍👍👍
Thrilled that you enjoyed it!
Deliiicious. I felt like eating a toasted roll with cream cheese, but didn’t want to buy any processed one.
I just made half the recipe, and then divided it into the plain and herb & garlic. I used the kite hill original yogurt though, instead of coconut. It was so easy and totally satisfied my cravings. Thank you, Hannah for such an easy, delicious but healthy cream cheese recipe.
I’m so thrilled you enjoyed it Nicki! I find it really hits that craving too! Thanks for the kind review. 🙂
So easy and delicious. Had bought some baggles yesterday in Victoria. Made the recipe this morning and added some sumac, a little dry garlic and barberries. Perfect!
So glad that you enjoyed the recipe Christine! And these sound like delicious additions!