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    Home » Recipes » Condiments

    Vegan Hazelnut Cream Cheese

    Published: Sep 23, 2021 by Kristen Wood - This post may contain affiliate links.

    Skip to Recipe Pin Recipe

    An easy, creamy, delicious Vegan Hazelnut Cream Cheese recipe that makes a fabulous plant based substitute for regular cream cheese spread. Naturally gluten-free.

    a small wooden bowl of vegan cream cheese resting on a speckled ceramic plate on a wooden table

    I've really been looking forward to sharing this recipe for some time now! I was really craving my usual plant based cream cheese one day, but didn't have cashews on hand. Then this hazelnut version was born! And boy I am glad I did so. I actually prefer this version to cashew-based ones. There is a certain umami nuttiness that hazelnuts lend, that make this one unique vegan cream cheese recipe. You'll just have to see for yourself!

    Jump to:
    • Recipe Features
    • Ingredient Notes
    • How-to Make Vegan Cream Cheese
    • Top Tip
    • FAQ
    • How-to Serve
    • More Vegan Cheese Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    vegan cream cheese recipe

    Recipe Features

    • Super creamy.
    • Rich and flavorful.
    • Easy to make.
    • Nutrient dense.
    • Naturally vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free.
    plant based cream cheese resting on dark wooden table lined with burlap

    Ingredient Notes

    Hazelnuts: This forms the base of this vegan cream cheese. Blanched and roasted hazelnuts seem to produce the best flavor, but raw hazelnuts will work well, too.

    Lemon Juice: This adds the required acidity to most closely replicate a flavor similar to conventional cream cheese.

    Coconut Cream: Coconut cream blends beautifully to add the necessary creaminess to this recipe.

    Nutritional Yeast: This is a completely optional ingredient. I love it both with and without. Nutritional yeast adds another dimension of "cheesiness" to the recipe, but if you are not a fan of it, you will still have a delicious vegan cream cheese without it.

    a small bowl of hazelnut cream cheese resting on a white plate

    How-to Make Vegan Cream Cheese

    Step 1: Soak the hazelnuts in boiling water for one hour. Drain

    Step 2: Place the soaked and drained hazelnuts and remaining ingredients in a blender or food processor, then blend until smooth.

    Step 3: Enjoy!

    Top Tip

    Do not skip soaking the hazelnuts. This is a necessary step in order to produce a smooth and creamy end result.

    a small bowl of hazelnut spread in a small bowl and spread on crackers sitting on ceramic plate

    FAQ

    Can I use something other than hazelnuts?

    Yes! If you really are not a fan of hazelnuts, you can use cashews or walnuts. If you're on a nut-free diet, you can use pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds, if need be. You will simply soak the nuts or seeds as instructed in the recipe.

    How long does this keep?

    Keep the prepared cream cheese in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

    hazelnut dip on a ceramic matte plate

    How-to Serve

    You can use this vegan cream cheese just as you would a conventional cream cheese. You can spread it on crackers, make a cream cheese icing, spread on a gluten free bagel recipe or use as a dip for crudités.

    vegan cream cheese in small wooden bowl

    More Vegan Cheese Recipes

    Quick Easy Vegan Seed Cheese

    Vegan Cultured Pepper Jack Walnut Cheese

    crackers spread with vegan cream hazelnut cream cheese rest on white ceramic plate

    📖 Recipe

    Creamy Vegan Hazelnut Cream Cheese

    An easy, creamy and delicious Vegan Hazelnut Cream Cheese recipe that makes a fabulous substitute for regular cream cheese. Gluten-free.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!
    Course: Condiments
    Cuisine: Vegan
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Soaking Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
    Servings: 8 people
    Author: Kristen Wood

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ cups roasted hazelnuts
    • ½ cup water plus extra for the soaking step
    • ¼ cup coconut cream
    • 3 tablespoons lemon juice fresh or bottled
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt or pink salt
    • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast completely optional
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    Instructions

    • Place the hazelnuts in a large bowl. Cover with boiling water. Let the hazelnuts sit and soak in the boiling water for at least one hour. Drain the hazelnuts, then set aside.
    • In a blender or food processor, add the drained hazelnuts, water, coconut cream, lemon juice and salt. Optionally add nutritional yeast. Blend until as smooth as possible.
    • Enjoy! Keep stored in the refrigerator for up 10 days.

    Notes

    Please see the full post above for more information about ingredients, how to serve, step by step process shots and more!
    Also see: Nutritional Yeast Recipes.
    Also see our: Vegan Honey.
    You might like: Vegan Queso.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 171kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 292mg | Potassium: 202mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 5IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg

    Recommended Products

    Hazelnuts
    Lemon Juice
    Coconut Cream
    Have you tried this recipe?Please Rate + Comment Below!
    Mention on Instagram!@moon.and.spoon.and.yum

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    kristen wood

    About Kristen Wood

    Hi, I'm Kristen! A mama, food writer, photographer, recipe developer, and cookbook author. I enjoy sharing both wildly creative and ridiculously practical gluten-free vegetarian recipes that are approachable for all. Welcome!

    Learn more about me →

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