Cream cheese is, quite literally, a building block in myriad recipes. Without it, the world would be void of some of our favorite casseroles, dips, desserts, and easy appetizers. Cream cheese substitutes, however, are not impossible to find or create if you're out of it or can't find it at the grocery store. All is not lost. Read on for the best cream cheese substitutes and how to make your own cream cheese from scratch.
Cream Cheese Substitutes:
1. Sour Cream
Sour cream replicates cream cheese's taste but isn't quite as caloric, making it a good choice for a lower-calorie substitute. It gives baked goods a texture that's airy and moist, and even adds an extra bit of creaminess to cheesecake. You can substitute an equal amount of sour cream for cream cheese in recipes.
2. Greek Yogurt
In addition to sharing cream cheese's signature tangy notes, Greek yogurt is rich in nutrients such as protein, calcium, and Vitamin B12. You can also easily adjust the richness of your dish based on which variety of Greek yogurt you use. For example, full-fat or even 10-percent-fat yogurt will provide a creamier texture than nonfat. Use a 1:1 ratio when substituting in Greek yogurt.
Taste-wise, Neufchâtel is the closest you're going to get to cream cheese. The soft and slightly crumbly cheese originated in Normandy, France, but it's also produced in the U.S.
Traditional Neufchâtel is made with cream, but American Neufchâtel is made using milk, which gives it a fat content that's 1/3 lower than cream cheese's. Simply use a 1:1 ratio when substituting in the Neufchâtel.
4. Mascarpone
Mascarpone, an Italian cheese made from heavy cream and citric or tartaric acid, has a similar taste and texture to cream cheese. It's slightly sweeter and contains about twice the amount of fat, but aside from that, the two spreadable cheeses are pretty much interchangeable. Use the same amount of mascarpone that you would for cream cheese.
If you're looking for a vegan cream cheese substitute, silken tofu holds up well and doesn't alter your food's flavor. Silken tofu is already popular in vegan recipes, especially dairy-free cheesecakes and custardy desserts like pumpkin pies.
6. Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is lower in fat than cream cheese. However, it has a chunkier texture, so you may want to purée it before continuing with your recipe. If you are baking or cooking with cottage cheese, add some heavy cream or half-and-half to provide thickness.
7. Hummus
Hummus and cream cheese may not taste the same, but their similarity in texture makes hummus a great cream cheese substitute in a pinch — especially if you're looking for a dairy-free or vegan option. Hummus works best as a cream cheese substitute in savory dips.
Quark, a German cheese made from buttermilk and heavy whipping cream, has a creamy consistency and tangier taste than cream cheese. Think of it as a cross between cream cheese and yogurt. You can use the same amount of quark, but you may want to adjust the recipe to make up for the increased sour flavor.
Yet another vegan option, cashew cheese is a spreadable cheese made from cashews, water, nutritional yeast, and seasonings. You can find it at a specialty store or some traditional supermarkets with a broader vegan section. Apply a 1:1 ratio when substituting cashew cheese for cream cheese.
10. Homemade Cream Cheese
If you don't need cream cheese immediately and can wait a few days, you can make your own cream cheese from yogurt and kosher salt. Chef John prefers to use sheep's milk yogurt, but cow's milk yogurt will also work.
Some work better as a spread or in a dip, and others perform best in baked goods. Ten tried-and-true cream cheese swaps are thick strained yogurt, sour cream, Neufchâtel cheese, vegan cream cheese, mascarpone, ricotta, cottage cheese, fresh goat cheese, butter, and silken tofu.
Some work better as a spread or in a dip, and others perform best in baked goods. Ten tried-and-true cream cheese swaps are thick strained yogurt, sour cream, Neufchâtel cheese, vegan cream cheese, mascarpone, ricotta, cottage cheese, fresh goat cheese, butter, and silken tofu.
So what are the best quark substitutes? Cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, ricotta cheese, Greek yogurt culture, mascarpone cheese, and crème fraîche are all good alternatives to quark cheese, though you really owe it to yourself to try making this fantastic cheese yourself to find its own unique cheese voice!
Can I Use Mayo Instead of Cream Cheese? Yes, you can. Mayo has a creamy texture, is spreadable, and has a sweet flavor like cream cheese. This will come down to the flavor profile you're looking for, as well as the consistency you need for the recipe.
While sour cream is made by fermenting cream, cream cheese is made by curdling milk, draining it, and processing it into a smooth, soft cheese. As a result, cream cheese does not have the same sour taste that sour cream has.
Cream cheese, mascarpone, ricotta and even cottage cheese can replace the butter in many recipes. Use high-quality whole milk cheeses in a 1:1 ratio for butter and consider straining ricotta or cottage cheeses through cheesecloth to help ensure they aren't adding too much liquid to your recipe.
Blend together one cup of thick coconut cream and one tablespoon of fresh lemon juice. Next, add a pinch of salt and two teaspoons of nutritional yeast for a cheesy tang. Chill the mixture to firm it up, and you'll have a terrific dairy-free cream cheese substitute.
Quark is a soured milk, fresh, unaged cheese product which is gaining popularity in the U.S. because of its versatility. You also will hear it called dry curd cheese, farmer's cheese and sometimes pot cheese.
Dictionaries typically define quark as curd or cottage cheese, however unlike most commercial cheeses, quark contains neither rennet nor added salt. And despite a very similar texture and appearance to Greek yoghurt, quark is not a yoghurt either.
Quark is a fresh cheese of European origin. It is a mild creamy cheese without the sour taste of yogurt. It is a soft un-aged cheese and is not the same thing as cream cheese or cottage cheese. It is also distinct from ricotta because ricotta is made from scalded whey.
Cream cheese is a soft, usually mild-tasting fresh cheese made from milk and cream. Cream cheese is not naturally matured and is meant to be consumed fresh, so it differs from other soft cheeses such as Brie and Neufchâtel. It is more comparable in taste, texture, and production methods to Boursin and mascarpone.
Cream cheese is an excellent substitute for milk. It produces a tasty, creamy dish that you will love. This is my own personal preference when I find I do not have milk on hand. The consistency of cream cheese is obviously much thicker, which produces a thicker mixture once it's been cooked.
If you're looking to cut your calorie intake or avoid dairy, you may want to try alternatives to cream cheese, like tofu, hummus, or cottage cheese, for example.
Instructions. Place 1 cup heavy cream and 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice or distilled white vinegar in a clean 1 pint glass jar and stir with a clean spoon until combined. Cover with a paper towel or cheesecloth and secure with a rubber band.
Cream cheese is a soft, usually mild-tasting fresh cheese made from milk and cream. Cream cheese is not naturally matured and is meant to be consumed fresh, so it differs from other soft cheeses such as Brie and Neufchâtel. It is more comparable in taste, texture, and production methods to Boursin and mascarpone.
Sour Cream – Obviously, if your recipe calls for a block or shredded cheese, sour cream won't work, but if you need a substitute for ricotta or cottage, sour cream is a perfect alternative! Hummus – Maybe this sounds weird, but don't knock it until you try it! Hummus works as a great spread in place of cheese.
Fresh, spreadable cheeses like cream cheese and mascarpone generally work well as 1:1 substitutes for sour cream in baking. Be sure to let them warm up to room temperature before using, and thin them out slightly by stirring in milk or lemon juice to get a similar texture.
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