Recipes

Easy Vegan Cheddar Cheese Spread

Easy, melty, spreadable vegan cheese that looks and tastes like cheddar! Perfect for adding to grilled cheese, mac ‘n’ cheese, and more! Just 8 simple ingredients required.

image for Easy Vegan Cheddar Cheese Spread
  • Serves 10
  • Prep Time: 35 min
  • Cook Time: 2 min
  • Total Time: 37 min

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup raw cashews
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced (peeled) carrots
  • Hot water for soaking
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup tapioca starch
  • 3 Tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp ground mustard
  • 1/4 tsp ground turmeric (optional // for color)

Directions

  1. In a mixing bowl or liquid measuring cup, soak cashews and carrots in very hot water for 30 minutes (uncovered). Then drain and add to a high-speed blender with 1 cup water, tapioca starch, nutritional yeast, apple cider vinegar, sea salt, garlic powder, and dry mustard (turmeric is optional for deeper color). Blend on high until the mixture is smooth.
  2. Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more apple cider vinegar for acidity, nutritional yeast for cheesiness, garlic powder for depth of flavor, or salt to taste.
  3. Transfer to a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat. Cook, while whisking, for 1-2 minutes or until thickened to a spreadable consistency (see photo). It should resemble the texture of soft cooked polenta.
  4. The cheese spread is now ready to use on things like grilled cheese sandwiches, or to add to cooked shells for quick vegan mac ‘n’ cheese.
  5. Store sauce covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 1 month (let thaw in the refrigerator before use). In the fridge, it will thicken into a paste/spread as it chills.
Use this recipe for grilled cheese sandwiches, or use as a base for any cheese dip or sauce.

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