Easy Vegan Almond Cheese Spread

Serve almond cheese on a charcuterie board with vegetables and toasted bread, or add almond cheese spread on your favorite sandwich. Regardless of how you enjoy this almond cheese recipe, you will love its flavor and versatility.

I've been experimenting with making my own vegan cheese at home, and today I made an almond cheese my family loves. Although I generally make cheese from cashews, I chose almonds for a different texture. This almond spread is perfect for a football game day treat. And the fun thing about this easy almond cheese recipe is it's easy to make!

Jump to:

• Recipe Ingredients
• Recipe Ingredient Alternatives
• How to Make Almond Cheese
• Recipe Variations
• Storing/Freezing
• Recipe FAQs
• Tips
• Other Great Game Day Recipes
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Reviews

Almond cheese doesn't taste like cheese; however, it's creamy, slightly tangy, and full of rich flavors. What's lovely about this recipe is the various ways to use this simple vegan cheese. Try stuffing it inside ravioli or layering it in lasagna. Or, spread it on breakfast toast or your favorite vegan sandwich.

Recipe Ingredients

• Blanched Almonds: Blanched almonds are almonds that have been briefly boiled in order to remove the skins. There's not much difference between blanched and unblanched almonds, so they can be substituted for each other in the same amounts
• Nutritional Yeast: Nutritional yeast is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. It also contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete protein like those found in animal products. Complete proteins are essential nutrients that assist functions like tissue repair and nutrient absorption. They may also prevent muscle loss.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Several studies in animals and humans have found that acetic acid and apple cider vinegar may promote fat burning and weight loss, decrease blood sugar levels, increase insulin sensitivity, and improve cholesterol levels.
• Onion Powder: Onion powder is basically dried onion that's been ground. 
• Garlic Powder: Garlic powder is made from real, dehydrated garlic, which is then ground to various levels of fineness.
• Salt/Pepper: Salt and pepper enhance the flavors of the ingredients in the recipe.
• Unsweetened, Unflavored Plant Milk: I like oat milk, but any plant milk works. Just make sure it is unflavored and unsweetened.
• Dill: Fresh dill has a deliciously fresh, citrus-like taste, with a slightly grassy undertone.
• Turmeric: Turmeric — especially its most active compound, curcumin — has many scientifically proven health benefits, such as the potential to improve heart health and prevent Alzheimer's and cancer. 

Recipe Ingredient Alternatives

• Use regular, raw almonds instead of blanched almonds. Or, if you have cashews, use cashews instead. However, the cheese will not have the same texture.
• Soy sauce, liquid aminos, Tamari, or white miso paste are often used as nutritional yeast substitutes.
• Try white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar.
• Substitute one medium chopped onion for 1 Tablespoon of onion powder. For the best onion flavor, use frozen chopped or dried minced onion (found in the spice aisle). One tablespoon of dried minced onion equals ¼ cup minced raw onion.
• One clove of fresh garlic equals ¼ teaspoon of granulated garlic powder. The same conversion applies to dehydrated or freeze-dried garlic or even minced refrigerated garlic.
• Any plant milk works well in this recipe as long as it's unsweetened and unflavored.
• A general rule of thumb for the dried-to-fresh herb ratio: Use one-third the amount of dried herb for the fresh herb called for in the recipe.
• Saffron or paprika are often used as an alternative to Tumeric.

How to Make Almond Cheese

• First, soak the blanched almonds overnight, or boil them for 30 minutes if you don't have time to soak the nuts.
• Drain the almonds and place them in a food processor with a large blade.
• Process for several minutes, scraping down the sides until the mixture resembles a grainy texture like rice.
• Add the miso, vinegar, nutritional yeast, garlic, onion powder, and Tumeric to the food processor and process on high until all the ingredients are mixed.
• Now add the plant milk and half the dill.
• Process until the cheese is well-mixed. As a result, the texture should be thick yet creamy and textured.
• For a thinner almond cheese, add small amounts of plant milk, process, and repeat, until teh desired consistency is reached.
• Then, transfer to a bowl, add the remaining fresh dill, and stir to combine.

Recipe Variations

If dill isn't your thing, other herbs and spices work well to prepare a unique almond cheese spread for different occasions.

• For a spicy cheese, try a mixture of paprika, garlic, thyme, oregano, black, white, and cayenne peppers.
• Everything Bagel Seasoning is another one of my obsessions to blend into this almond cheese recipe.
• Or, give it an Italian flavor by adding fresh parsley and Italian seasoning.
• Try a blend of chili powder, cumin, and a touch of cinnamon.
• Fresh chopped rosemary, sea salt, and smoked paprika are one of my personal favorites.
• Parsley, thyme, oregano, celery salt, and garlic powder are savory and delicious.
• I also love combining cumin, cardamon, coriander, and mustard powder for an earthy almond cheese spread.

Storing/Freezing

• This almond cheese recipe stays fresh and refrigerated for 5-7 days. Then, store it in an airtight container.
• To freeze the almond cheese, place it in an airtight container or freezer bag and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. 
• Remove from the freezer and thaw completely before eating it or put it in the refrigerator overnight to thaw.
• It may need to be blended in the food processor again, requiring more plant milk.

Recipe FAQs

Tips

• For those who struggle with melting vegan cheese, all vegan cheese melts at 400 degrees.
• For thicker cheese, reduce the amount of plant-based milk.
• To make a thinner cheese, add more plant-based milk.
• When using fresh herbs, blend half the herbs into teh cheese, and fold in the remaining herbs for a better flavor and texture.
• Instead of an almond spread, a vegan cheese ball recipe is made from cashews.
• Or, try vegan cheese for pizza if seeking a stretchy cheese.
• You must boil and remove all the skins before using regular almonds. So, if possible, buy skinned or blanched almonds instead.

Try this almond cheese for a tasty and unique vegan cheese option for a dip, spread for sandwiches, or a filling for ravioli, vegan lasagna, or stuffed shells.

Other Great Game Day Recipes

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