11 Fantastic Substitutes for Cream Cheese

Cottage cheese and cream cheese have a number of similarities, however cottage cheese is barely decrease in fats and has a chunkier texture (1, 2).

You’ll be able to simply make the feel smoother by pureeing cottage cheese with a splash of lemon juice.

Use cottage cheese instead of cream cheese in a 1:1 ratio for dips and spreads. Earlier than utilizing it for baking or cooking, contemplate mixing it with cream or half-and-half so as to add thickness.

Greek yogurt is a superb different to cream cheese.

It additionally provides your favourite dishes a wholesome twist as a result of it’s wealthy in protein, calcium, and vitamin B12 (3).

Use an equal quantity of Greek yogurt instead of cream cheese to make dips, spreads, frostings, and baked items. You may as well pressure Greek yogurt in a single day utilizing a cheesecloth — this will thicken it to match the feel and consistency of cream cheese.

Ricotta is a cheese identified for its mushy texture and candy, tangy style.

Like cream cheese and other dairy products, it’s a superb supply of protein, calcium, vitamin B12, and riboflavin (4).

Though it isn’t as thick as cream cheese, it really works nicely as a filling or an ingredient in sauces and spreads. You may as well mix it with an equal quantity of heavy cream or yogurt and add it to baked items and desserts.

Mascarpone is a excessive fats number of cream cheese that’s sometimes made utilizing cream relatively than milk.

Along with being higher in fat and energy than cream cheese, it has a richer, extra velvety texture that works nicely in lots of recipes — notably fillings, spreads, frostings, and desserts (5).

Attempt including a splash of salt and a spritz of contemporary lemon juice to present your mascarpone a tangy style much like that of cream cheese.

Nonetheless, you’ll wish to save this product for particular events should you’re making an attempt to cut your calorie intake.

Whereas hummus isn’t an acceptable swap for cream cheese in candy objects like frosting or cheesecake, it’s a scrumptious substitute for spreads.

Along with being dairy-free and vegan, it’s a superb supply of protein, fiber, and micronutrients similar to manganese, copper, and folate (6).

Hummus is obtainable in quite a lot of flavors, so you possibly can simply differ your morning bagel routine.

Kefir is a bitter, fermented beverage that’s made by including kefir grains — clusters of lactic acid micro organism and yeast — to exploit.

Along with its spectacular content material of protein, calcium, and phosphorus, kefir is packed with probiotics, that are a kind of useful micro organism that will help intestine well being (7, 8).

To make a cream cheese substitute, mix 1 cup (240 mL) of plain kefir with about 1/4 cup (43 grams) of chia seeds and let it sit for 10–20 minutes till the combination thickens.

Whereas this substitute is unsuitable for cooked dishes and most baked items, it makes an important probiotic-packed alternative for bagel spreads.

Neufchâtel is a mushy, spreadable cheese that originated in Neufchâtel, France.

In contrast with cream cheese, it’s decrease in fats and energy however nonetheless an important supply of vitamins similar to calcium, phosphorus, and protein (9).

You need to use an equal quantity of Neufchâtel instead of cream cheese in virtually any recipe, together with cheesecake, frosting, sauces, and spreads.

Nevertheless, it has a grainier texture and isn’t fairly as wealthy as cream cheese, so the flavour of your remaining product would possibly change barely.

Though you might have to experiment with spices and seasonings to attain the precise taste, silken tofu makes a incredible vegan substitute for cream cheese in sure recipes.

Actually, it’s typically blended to make vegan cheesecakes and bagel spreads because of its mushy, creamy texture.

Tofu can be extremely nutritious, packing a superb quantity of protein, manganese, selenium, and calcium into every serving (10).

Go for recipes that already name for tofu instead of cream cheese to make sure that you get the ratio proper, and take a look at including a squeeze of lemon juice in order for you an additional tangy style.

Whether or not you’re following a dairy-free weight-reduction plan or on the lookout for a simple option to enhance the dietary worth of your dishes, cashew cheese is a terrific cream cheese substitute.

Usually comprised of cashews, dietary yeast, and a mixture of herbs and spices, cashew cheese supplies substantial fiber and protein in every serving (11).

Dietary yeast, a typical element of cashew cheese, can be a superb supply of vitamin B12 (12)

Whereas cashew cheese is unsuitable for sweets and baked items, it really works nicely in a 1:1 ratio in savory dishes similar to soups, sauces, and spreads. Plus, it’s simple to make at dwelling by mixing uncooked cashews with nutritional yeast, garlic powder, and a little bit of lemon juice.

Sour cream is made by including lactic acid micro organism to cream. This ends in a thick, tangy product that works nicely in lots of recipes instead of cream cheese.

As a result of it’s decrease in fats than cream cheese, bitter cream might also give your favourite dishes a low calorie twist (13).

Take into account that bitter cream is extra acidic than cream cheese, so it’s finest to be used in soups, sauces, and dips as a substitute of in sweets.

Quark is a creamy, spreadable cheese that’s well-liked in lots of areas of Europe.

Not solely does it have a gentle taste and mushy texture carefully resembling cream cheese, however it’s additionally extremely nutritious, boasting a hearty dose of protein and calcium in every serving (14).

You need to use an equal quantity of quark to switch cream cheese in practically any dish, together with cheesecakes, frostings, cookies, sauces, and spreads.

Observe that quark is barely more sour than cream cheese, so be sure you modify the opposite elements in your recipe accordingly.

Cream cheese is a not solely a tasty unfold but in addition a flexible ingredient in quite a lot of dishes.

Nevertheless, should you’re making an attempt to chop your calorie consumption or keep away from dairy merchandise, there are many substitutes that you should use as a substitute.

Attempt experimenting with a few of the elements listed above to seek out what works for you.