This vegan cheese is so delicious that even non-vegans will crave it.


Easy Cashew Cheese Recipe: How to Make Vegan Cheese

Cashew cheese is a non-dairy cheese spread made with softened cashews rather than milk. There are many ways to turn a nut into a cheese, but vegans have long prepared cashew cheese sauce at home by soaking cashews in water until soft, then draining and blending them until smooth. It's also possible to culture cashew cheese, fermenting it just like dairy cheese for a more complex flavor. Ambitious cooks can produce hard, sliceable cashew cheese by adding agar-agar (vegan gelatin made from algae). 

Cashew cheese tastes a bit nutty and salty. The cheesiness typically comes from the addition of nutritional yeast. Most homemade cashew cheese has a spreadable consistency similar to hummus or ricotta, which means it's excellent as a sauce or dip—but you can't really use it in place of mozzarella or cheddar. 

At its most basic, cashew cheese is a combination of three ingredients. 

1. __Raw cashews__: If you've ever made [cashew milk](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-cashew-milk) or [cashew butter](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-homemade-cashew-butter), you know that cashews can have a creamy flavor and texture. Since they're so mild, they provide a great base for other flavors.
2. __Nutritional yeast__: Nutritional yeast is what gives dairy-free cashew cheese its cheesy flavor and yellow color. It's made from the same type of yeast used in baking and brewing, but it's been deactivated, so it won't make your cheese start to bubble. 
3. __Salt__: Most cashew cheese recipes call for a generous amount of sea salt.
There are many ways to use up a jar of homemade cashew cheese, including:

1. __In mac and cheese__: To make the fastest macaroni and cheese ever, simply add cashew cheese to cooked pasta and toss to coat.
2. __On a bagel__: Instead of spreading cream cheese on a bagel, use cashew cheese.
3. __With roasted veggies__: For a simple appetizer that's both gluten-free and vegan, drizzle [roasted root vegetables](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-roast-vegetables) or squash with cashew cheese, then sprinkle with pepitas or sunflower seeds for crunch.

This vegan cheese is so delicious that even non-vegans will crave it.


Cashew cheese is a non-dairy cheese spread made with softened cashews rather than milk. There are many ways to turn a nut into a cheese, but vegans have long prepared cashew cheese sauce at home by soaking cashews in water until soft, then draining and blending them until smooth. It&#39;s also possible to culture cashew cheese, fermenting it just like dairy cheese for a more complex flavor. Ambitious cooks can produce hard, sliceable cashew cheese by adding agar-agar (vegan gelatin made from algae).

What Is Cashew Cheese?

Cashew cheese tastes a bit nutty and salty. The cheesiness typically comes from the addition of nutritional yeast. Most homemade cashew cheese has a spreadable consistency similar to hummus or ricotta, which means it&#39;s excellent as a sauce or dip—but you can&#39;t really use it in place of mozzarella or cheddar.

What Does Cashew Cheese Taste Like?

At its most basic, cashew cheese is a combination of three ingredients. <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Raw cashews: If you&#39;ve ever made <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-cashew-milk' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-cashew-milk","linkCopy":"cashew milk","category":null}'>cashew milk</a> or <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-homemade-cashew-butter' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-homemade-cashew-butter","linkCopy":"cashew butter","category":null}'>cashew butter</a>, you know that cashews can have a creamy flavor and texture. Since they&#39;re so mild, they provide a great base for other flavors. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Nutritional yeast: Nutritional yeast is what gives dairy-free cashew cheese its cheesy flavor and yellow color. It&#39;s made from the same type of yeast used in baking and brewing, but it&#39;s been deactivated, so it won&#39;t make your cheese start to bubble. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Salt: Most cashew cheese recipes call for a generous amount of sea salt. </li></ol>

What Is Cashew Cheese Made Of?

There are many ways to use up a jar of homemade cashew cheese, including:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. In mac and cheese: To make the fastest macaroni and cheese ever, simply add cashew cheese to cooked pasta and toss to coat. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. On a bagel: Instead of spreading cream cheese on a bagel, use cashew cheese. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. With roasted veggies: For a simple appetizer that&#39;s both gluten-free and vegan, drizzle <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-roast-vegetables' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-roast-vegetables","linkCopy":"roasted root vegetables","category":null}'>roasted root vegetables</a> or squash with cashew cheese, then sprinkle with pepitas or sunflower seeds for crunch. </li></ol>

3 Ways to Serve Cashew Cheese

Simple Vegan Cashew Cheese Recipe

This vegan cheese is so delicious that even non-vegans will crave it.