Nut-free vegan cheese... that's a strange concept (unless you happen to be a member of the Zardyplants Fan Club, then you probably know what I'm about to say).
Vegan cheese, like a lot of veganized dairy items, is usually highly dependent on nuts. ESPECIALLY cashews.
Cashews are like the crutch of the vegan world.
Well, they're certainly tasty. And they were one of my favorite snacks (I mean, they still are but I don't buy them because they have a nasty habit of disappearing into my face).
But I have a few problems with them.
Why I Don't Use Cashews
#1: They're expensive.
#2: They're not super great for the environment.
#3: A lot of people are allergic to them.
I've actually encountered a lot of people on the internet who are vegan but cannot have cashews due to some kind of nut allergy.
I decided to start making vegan cheese when I randomly wondered one day -- can I make a vegan cheese sauce out of tofu?
The answer was that yes, I could. That was also the answer to a question I didn't even ask: "Is vegan cheese made from tofu good?"
No, actually, it was amazing. Tofu doesn't have much of a flavor of it's own, but it actually has the amazing ability to soak up any flavor you put into it.
Cashews are actually a little sweet. Tofu? Totally neutral.
It turns out you can add a different ingredients to affect no only the flavor, but texture, mouthfeel, and form of tofu to create all kinds of vegan cheese from sauces, to blocks, to soft cheese wheels like brie.
Check out my top vegan cheese recipes below, each with their own unique flavor and flair.
12 Nut-Free Vegan Cheese Recipes
12 nut-free vegan cheese recipes you can easily create in your kitchen without fancy equipment, expensive ingredients or weeks of waiting.
Vegan Nut-Free Cheddar Cheese
This vegan nut-free cheddar cheese does everything dairy cheese does--it melts, shreds, and slices, but it’s totally free of any nuts, oil, or animal products! In 10 minutes of prep time and a brief time in the refrigerator, you can enjoy a delicious vegan cheddar on pizza, pasta, grilled cheese and more!
Vegan Brie
Creamy, rich, and buttery smooth, this Vegan Brie is not only incredibly easy to make, but it’s also deliciously similar to its dairy counterpart. Instructions included for nut-free and soy-free versions. Prep this vegan Brie recipe in just 10 minutes and the next day you’ll be met with amazing vegan cheese perfect for a party or just for snacking.
Vegan Camembert
Rich, creamy, and smooth, this delicious Vegan Camembert is a fantastic fancy yet easy nut-free vegan cheese perfect for any vegan charcuterie board or snack. Prep this vegan Camembert recipe in just 10 minutes and let chill for an out-of-this-world flavor experience.
Vegan Cheese Ball (Nut-Free)
Creamy and loaded with flavor, this awesome Vegan Cheese Ball is easy to make, fun to decorate, and perfect for an appetizer or party snack. Highlight it on a vegan snack board or just dig in with some crackers and enjoy!
Vegan Feta Cheese
This Nut and Oil-Free Vegan Feta Cheese is super easy and delicious--it even melts! It only takes 10 minutes, a few simple ingredients, and a bit of time in the fridge to prepare this delicious cheese that’s great on pasta, pizza, salads, and more!
Vegan Goat Cheese
This creamy, tangy, and nut-free Vegan Goat Cheese is absolutely delicious and quick! Make it up in just 10 minutes and throw it on some salad, crackers, or crostini if you’re feeling fancy. It makes the perfect quick high protein snack.
Easy Vegan Nut-free Stretchy Mozzarella Cheeze Sauce
Strechy, melty, and delicious, this easy vegan mozzarella sauce comes together in just 5 or 6 minutes with a few basic ingredients. It's more than just a blender sauce, and it's perfect for grilled cheese, lasagna, pizza, and more!
Vegan Melty Cheddar Cheese Sauce
Similar to my mozzarella, this 5-6 minute melty cheddar sauce is a breeze to throw together and perfect for quesadillas, paninis, and more. My favorite way to use it by far has got to be in my vegan tuna melts!
Vegan Ricotta Cheese
Creamy, thick, and delicious, this easy Vegan Ricotta Cheese is ready in only 5 minutes for whatever deliciousness you have planned! It’s protein packed and low in fat, so use it liberally in lasagna, stuffed shells, and more, or even as a fun spread for wraps and sandwiches. It's perfect in lasagna, manicotti, or this awesome lemony vegan ricotta pasta.
Vegan Parmesan Cheese - Nut-Free!
You need ZERO equipment to make this delicious Vegan Parmesan Cheese topping without nuts, oil, gluten, soy, or sugar! You'll want to put this cheese on everything--luckily it's super easy and inexpensive to make! The time to make this vegan parm clocks in at about 2 minutes.
Vegan Nut-Free Pumpkin Cheese Sauce
Creamy, cheesy, and rich yet light, this Vegan Nut-Free Pumpkin Cheese Sauce is delightful on pasta, potatoes, veggies, and more. Only taking 5 minutes to make, this delicious vegan pumpkin pasta sauce makes a great go-to sauce during fall.
Soy-Free Nut-Free Vegan Cheese Sauce
This easy Soy-Free Nut-Free Vegan Cheese Sauce is delicious and comes together in minutes. No potatoes and carrots here, the spices and elements in this cheese sauce make a rich, creamy, luscious vegan cheese sauce. Perfect in my Vegan Mac and Peas.
I hope you liked these recipes! I'm coming out with new vegan cheese recipes all the time, so I'll be adding to this list. Pin it, share it, or bookmark this page to come back to it later!
And, if you have a request for a cheese recipe, please feel free to reach out in the comments section below, or find me on Instagram!
Mary
I am seriously in tears, here! THANK YOU, SO MUCH! Cashews make me sick, and EVERYBODY seems to use them in vegan cheese! OR, they use so much oil, I'd be better of eating animal-based cheese. I cannot wait to try your recipes!! Philly Cheese-steak, here I come!