Easy Cashew Cheese spread is a perfect vegan option for a potluck, holiday meat and cheese board, or a meal prep snack box!
Cashew cheese spread. I know. Stick with me.
I have been blending up nuts in a food processor and calling them dips and spreads for a few years.... but have yet to share any of them on the blog. Wha!?
While you won't find a ton of vegan content on my blog, you will find my highly addictive Air Fryer broccoli which is where I fell in love with nutritional yeast.
Bad name. Delicious, nutrient dense stuff!
Cashews are by far my favorite nut to add to all the things, and again, I am not sure there is anything with cashew on the blog yet. So sorry!
I love making this easy Cashew cheese spread to take to a potluck or holiday party and it is inhaled by vegans and non vegans alike.
If you have ever had Boursin cheese, this is a very similar texture - minus the diary.
This has also been what I have been having as a mid afternoon snack.
The fat in the cashews keeps me satiated longer, and I often use cucumber slices as the "cracker".
Hello, easy snack idea.
I have even been known to make this into a full on (non vegan) lunch, by adding and egg, some fruit and a carb.
Hi crackers. I love you.
Ok, here is the quick rundown on how to make this easy cashew cheese spread!
Start with cashews soaked in water. You must do this part.
Then add in some lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and nutritional yeast to a food processor.
Pulse a few times.
Scrape the sides.
Repeat.
Try not to just eat it all with a spoon at once.
Ok, you totally can, but crackers, cucumbers, crustinis. ALL great vehicles to get this into your mouth!
Next time you make a snack box, or want to bring a vegan option to a potluck, make this and tag me @mealplanaddict on Instagram so I can see!
Easy Cashew Cheese Spread {Vegan & Gluten Free)
Equipment
- Food Processor
Ingredients
- 2 cups raw, unsalted cashews
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- juice from one lemon
- 1 tsp coarse salt
- ½ tsp fresh ground pepper
- ¼ tsp dried red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Soak the cashews in water for a minimum of 2 hours.
- After soaking, reserve ¼ cup of the soaking liquid and discard the remaining liquid.
- Add the cashews, reserved soaking water, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and dried red pepper flakes to the food processor.
- Pulse a few times until the mixture starts to come together.
- Stop the processor, scrape the sides, and pulse again.
- Repeat this until the mixture is blended, but not over whipped like a nut butter.
- Place your cheese spread in the fridge for a minimum of 2 hours to firm up a bit, and really develop the flavors.
- Store in the fridge, in an air tight container for up to a week.
Anna says
Hi just found you on IG and love your blog. All of your prepping is inspirational. Question about this recipe - do you think it would freeze well?
Steph says
This is a really good question. I need to test that! I haven't tried freezing it before, so I personally am not too sure.
Hope says
Loved the cheese spread! I