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Easy Substitutes for Cream Cheese

Many recipes call for cream cheese, but not everyone keeps it in their refrigerator. Or maybe you’re cooking a vegan recipe and don’t want to use dairy cheese. Instead of a trip to the grocery store, why not try a cream cheese substitute? Here are 10 ideas to try the next time you need cream cheese for a recipe but don’t have any on hand.

Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Why you need cream cheese

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Cream cheese gives certain qualities to baked goods, desserts and savory dishes. In fact, I’ve been use cream cheese a lot lately in everything from pasta dinners to chocolate chip cookies.

Instead of just topping a bagel at breakfast, you may want to use cream cheese to add richness to frostings like those used for carrot and red velvet cakes. Or maybe you’re making a cheesecake recipe. Or perhaps you like mixing it into mashed potatoes to add creaminess and thickness.

Common cream cheese substitutes

Always remember that a cream cheese substitute can change the texture, flavor or consistency of a recipe. With the exception of goat cheese, you can easily replace cream cheese with these substitutes in a one-to-one ratio. Now onto a list of common substitutes for cream cheese.

Mascarpone cheese

Mascarpone Italian cream cheese is almost identical to cream cheese. It has a higher fat content, which makes it a creamier option — best for sweet dishes like my Mini Pumpkin Tiramisu Dessert and dips. American cream cheese, in comparison, is more acidic, which gives it a tangier flavor. To make mascarpone tangier, add a splash of lemon juice.

“I find that mascarpone cheese is a great substitute for cream cheese for both savory and sweet recipes,” says Shruthi Baskaran-Makanju of Urban Farmie. “I was making a cheesecake and ran out of cream cheese, and I was able to substitute this because its flavor didn’t overpower other ingredients but still had the same fluffy texture.”

Neufchâtel

Neufchâtel cheese has a similar consistency and taste to cream cheese but contains higher fat and sodium content. American Neufchâtel comes in 8-ounce bricks like cream cheese. French Neufchâtel is soft but crumbly. This substitute is best used in baking, desserts, frostings, savory recipes, sauces and dips.

To be honest, until researching this article, I thought this was the same as cream cheese, as I recall seeing packages of cream cheese that said Neufchâtel on them. Go figure.

Cottage cheese

Cottage cheese is made of curds and whey and has a mild flavor. It is lower in fat and has a chunkier texture.

When using cottage cheese for dips, gravies or cheese sauces, strain the cottage cheese to remove excess water and blend into a puree. Cottage cheese — combined with plain yogurt, plain Greek yogurt or heavy cream when necessary — is perfect for frostings, desserts, sauces, dips and spreads.

So, when using cottage cheese for desserts or frostings, you’re going to take a few extra steps to make it a suitable substitute for cream cheese. For example, you’ll need to have plain yogurt, plain Greek yogurt or heavy cream on hand. Then you’ll need to add the same amount of one of those to your cottage cheese. Next, you’ll use a mixer to combine and make it smooth before adding to other frosting ingredients.

Ricotta cheese

Ricotta cheese has a milder flavor and chunkier texture than cream cheese. When using ricotta cheese for dips, add the same amount of ricotta and plain Greek yogurt or plain yogurt to equal what the recipe calls for in cream cheese and mix until smooth. For other recipes, it can be used as a one-for-one cream cheese substitute. It is best for dips, sauces, spreads, baking and savory cooking.

Sour cream

Sour cream is thick, tangy and slightly sour. It is best for sauces, dips and baking. When baking with sour cream as a substitute for cream cheese in a recipe, add an extra 2 tablespoons of flour to help make the cake firm.

Goat cheese

Goat cheese is soft, spreadable cheese that is tangy and rich. In place of cream cheese, use three-quarters cup of goat cheese for every cup your recipe calls for. We love adding goat cheese to pizza sauce, not just topping the pizza with it. You should try it as it is delicious.

Cashew cheese

Cashew cheese is a vegan substitute for cheese. It’s usually made with blended cashews, nutritional yeast, water and seasonings. Cashew cheese can be found in natural food stores, organic grocery stores and specialty cheese shops. You can use cashew cheese in place of cream cheese for vegan soups and sauces.

Hummus

Hummus is dairy-free, soy-free, nut-free and vegan. It is made from chickpeas — also called garbanzo beans. So if you’re looking for this kind of substitute for cream cheese, hummus is a great candidate.

Silken tofu

Silken tofu is another vegan option for cream cheese. It is creamier than regular tofu and has a similar consistency to cream cheese.

Plain yogurt

To use plain yogurt as a cream cheese substitute, you need time to make hung curd, also known as strained yogurt. Full-fat yogurt is best for this, with a similar flavor and texture to cream cheese. 

You will need a bowl and a cheesecloth or coffee filter to make hung curd. Pour the yogurt into the cloth and squeeze it to get rid of the whey. Hang the cheesecloth or coffee filter over a bowl overnight. The longer you hang it, the thicker it will become. 

The end result has a sour taste that is similar to the tanginess of cream cheese. Add a small amount of honey to sweeten, if desired. Truth is, this is a lot of work and probably takes longer than jumping in the car and driving to the grocery store to get cream cheese. But on a day when you have more time to do some experimenting in the kitchen, it might be fun to try and make this cream cheese substitute.

Portions of this article originally appeared on Food Drink Life.

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