This article looks into one of the most frequently asked questions regarding foods that are vegan friendly: Can vegans eat cream cheese?
Similar to most cheese varieties, cream cheese is made by culturing animal milk over a period of time to separate the whey and curd. They whey is drained off leaving the curd behind. Depending on the cheese, the curd is mixed with additional flavoring ingredients and aged to make the final product. Since cream cheese is made from animal milk, it is not a vegan friendly product. Therefore, those following a vegan diet cannot eat cream cheese.
While vegans abstain from eating all animal products, vegetarians only abstain from eating the meat or flesh of animals. Most vegetarians will continue to eat dairy products (including milk and cheese). Therefore, cream cheese would be considered vegetarian friendly.
With that being said, there are a plethora of vegan cream cheese options on the market these days and many easy to make vegan cream cheese recipes available. The following sections include the best vegan cream cheese alternatives and easy to make vegan cream cheese recipes.
The Best Vegan Friendly Cream Cheese Brands
The following brands have been verified to have at least one vegan cream cheese flavor.
Daiya
According to Daiya’s website, they have four flavors of vegan “cream cheeze”. All of Daiya’s products are certified vegan by Vegan Action and they are a founding board member of the Plant Based Food Association. Each of Daiya’s cream cheeze flavors are coconut cream and tapioca starch based and are free of dairy, gluten, soy, eggs, peanuts, fish and shellfish. All four flavors are also gluten free and all but one (Garden Vegetable) are kosher.
The four Daiya cream cheeze style spread flavors are: Plain, Strawberry, Chive & Onion, and Garden Vegetable.
Dayia vegan cream cheeze products are can be purchased at these locations. As of January 1st, 2019, Einstein Bros has also sold vegan Daiya plain cream cheese in select stores so you can get it with your vegan bagels.
Kite Hill
According to Kite Hill’s website, they have five flavors of vegan cream cheese. Each of Kite Hill’s cream cheese flavors are almond milk based and are non-GMO, dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, vegan, kosher, and contain no artificial preservatives and no added sugar.
The five Kite Hill cream cheese flavors are: Plain, Chive, Jalapeno, Everything, and Strawberry.
Kite Hill vegan cream cheese is available at Target and Instacart.
Tofutti
According to Tofutti’s website, they have four varieties of vegan cream cheese. Each of Tofutti’s cream cheese flavors are tofu based and are vegan, dairy-free, kosher, gluten-free, lactose-free, and non-GMO.
Tofutti’s four cream cheese flavors are: Better Than Cream Cheese (Plain), Herbs & Chives, Garlic & Herb, and Better Than Cream Cheese Whipped (Plain).
The Tofutti store locator can is found here.
Tofutti’s website also features many recipes using their vegan cream cheese. All of the recipes can be found here: tofutti.com/recipies
Miyoko’s
Miyoko’s vegan cream cheese options are one of the more unique ones on this list. Miyoko’s is known for culturing nuts (mainly cashews), similar to the culturing of traditional dairy products to make cheese. According to their website, they have three varieties of vegan cream cheese. Each of Miyoko’s cream cheese flavors feature a cashew and coconut cream base and are vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free, soy-free and non-GMO.
The three Miyoko’s cream cheese flavors are: Plainly Classic, Sensational Scallion, and Unlox Your Dreams.
The Miyoko’s store locator can be found here.
Follow Your Heart
According to Follow Your Heart’s website, they only have one variety of vegan cream cheese (Plain). Their cream cheese is coconut oil and Faba bean based and are vegan, dairy-free, and soy-free.
The Follow Your Heart store locator can be found here.
Go Veggie Foods
Last but not least, Go Veggie Foods has three varieties of vegan cream cheese. Each of their cream cheese flavors are coconut oil and sunflower oil based and are vegan, gluten-free and Non-GMO Project Certified.
Go Veggie’s four cream cheese flavors are: Classic Plain, Strawberry, and Chive & Garlic.
The Go Veggie Foods store locator can be found here.
Homemade Cream Cheese Recipes
Vegan cream cheese is fairly easy to make at home. The following are some of our favorite recipes.
- Tofu Based Cream Cheese – The Full Helping
- Cashew Based Cream Cheese – BBC Good Food
- Tofu and Cashew Based Cream Cheese – Okonomi Kitchen
Summary
As cream cheese is made using animal milks, it is derived from animal products and therefore not vegan friendly. However, no animal flesh is used in cream cheese so it is considered vegetarian friendly.
Cream cheese is one of the best (and most common) toppings for bagels. Now that you’ve found many vegan cream cheese options, read our post on vegan bagels.
