What is the vegan substitute for cream cheese?

Unsweetened Plain Yogurt (vegan) It's great for making dips and spreads, but it's also a great substitute for cream cheese when you want to make a frosting.

What is the difference between lima beans and butter beans?

Other than what they're called and sometimes their color, butter beans and lima beans are exactly the same. Their species is called Phaseolus lunatus and the difference in their name is only a matter of geography . In the American South and the United Kingdom, they're butter beans.

What is in plant-based cream cheese?

Made only with cashews, coconut cream, salt, and cultures , this stuff is as unprocessed as you can get in the schmear department. It's super thick and velvety and comes in four flavors: classic plain, Everything, Savory Scallion, and cinnamon raisin.

Does vegan cream cheese melt?

The texture is exactly like regular cream cheese: It's thick and velvety as you scoop it out of the container, and it's easily spreadable. It even melts like cream cheese does if you're spreading it on a warm bagel or toast.

Is there a plant-based cream cheese?

Daiya Strawberry Cream Cheeze is a good fruit-forward vegan cream cheese option if you prefer a sweet bagel breakfast (a thing I cannot wrap my mind around). The flavor is 100% fake strawberry but in a way that's very nostalgic and tasty.

Which is healthier lima beans or butter beans?

Lima Beans vs. Butter Beans. Well, rest assured; the two are actually one in the same. There's no difference between lima beans and butter beans , though sometimes they're sold at different stages of maturity.

Are canned butter beans good for you?

Butter Beans are a fantastically healthy ingredient – they're high in protein and fibre, and they're an excellent source of carbohydrates. Low in fat and calories but high in folate, starch and iron, they're one of the best store cupboard ingredients there is.

What are butter beans called in the USA?

Lima Beans . While they're all the same bean botanically, butter beans have different names depending on the region. In the South and in the United Kingdom, they're typically referred to as butter beans. Elsewhere in the U.S., they're known as lima beans (named for Lima, Peru, the bean's point of origin).

Is there a vegan cream cheese?

Trader Joe's Vegan Cream Cheese is the best tasting plain vegan cream cheese that I've come across so far, and I've tried many! The creamy smooth texture and the tangy aftertaste go perfect with a New York-style everything bagel (smoked paprika optional, but a delicious addition!).

What are three dominant ingredients in vegan cheese?

Vegan cheeses are 100% animal-free and made using vegetable proteins. Usually, they're made from soy; nuts, such as cashews and macadamias; and vegetable oils, such as coconut oil .

Does vegan cream cheese exist?

You can find excellent vegan cream cheese in most supermarkets and every natural foods store . In terms of taste and texture, most vegan brands are indistinguishable from dairy-based cream cheeses. Your favorite grocery probably carries these products right where they keep the regular dairy-based brands.

Is Philadelphia plant-based cream cheese vegan?

First launched in states in the southeast, Philadephia's Plant-Based Cream Cheese flavors are now available in stores across the country. Made primarily of coconut oil and fava bean protein, they are not only vegan but dairy and gluten-free .

Is there non dairy cream cheese?

Plant-based cream cheeses have existed for years now, with established brands like Tofutti and Kite Hill dominating the dairy-free cheese products section . However, like many veganized versions of dairy and animal products, plant-based cream cheese is relatively new and ever evolving.

Vegan Cream Cheese Made with Butter Beans Recipe (2024)

Vegan Cream Cheese made with Butter Beans is a great plant-based spread to use in place of conventional cream cheese. It’s surprising how delicious it is.

Like this recipe? PIN IT to SHARE or SAVE for later!

Vegan Cream Cheese Using Butter Beans

You’d never guess what’s in this vegan cream cheese if it wasn’t in the title of the recipe. This doesn’t taste like beans. It’s thick, creamy, tangy, and spreadable.

What Are Butter Beans and How Do They Turn Into Cream Cheese??

Here’s the scoop on butter beans. They’re actually mature lima beans. Here in the US, we tend to find most lima beans in the green and immature stage. This means the beans are picked when they’re still green and pliable. In Europe, limas are usually eaten when mature. That means the beans are allowed to fully ripen, turn brown, dry on the vine, and are then cooked like any other dried beans. It’s kind of like the difference between edamame and mature soybeans.

These are dry, white butter beans. You can cook these like any dried beans and use them in this recipe or just use the canned version.

That was way TMI about butter beans. And here’s more. Beans are actually a great base to make cream cheese. They’re dense, blend well, and are full of protein. The combination of the dense protein of the beans and some thickeners and oil equals a pretty tasty reasonable facsimile for cream cheese.

The process is really easy. Just blend the beans and other ingredients in a high-speed blender until very smooth and creamy and then gently simmer in a pot on the stove until thickened, which only takes a few minutes. The photo above is the cooking in a pot part.

Instant Oats

Instant oats give this cream cheese a kind of silky creaminess and also is adding some volume without a whole lot of calories (if calories are something you like to consider … if you don’t that’s cool and please disregard this!). In fact, this whole recipe is far less calorically dense than most vegan cream cheeses and way better than dairy cream cheese!

Vegan Lactic Acid

An ingredient you may not have yet is Lactic Acid. I highly recommend this for any vegan cheese making. Despite the name, it’s not a milk product and is vegan. It’s made from fermented sugars.It’s great in so many things. I use it, along with Psyllium husk powder, to get a good texture and flavor in vegan, gluten-free pizza crusts like this one. In breads it can give a sourdough sort of flavor and aroma.

Using and Storing Vegan Cream Cheese

This can be used as a spread or a thick dip. I thinned it for a sauce for tacos. It’s versatile. I haven’t tried it for cheesecake, though, but will do that soon … I think it has possibilities!

Store this in a covered container in the fridge for up to a couple of days. It makes about 2 cups.

Cost of Home-Made Plant-Based Cream Cheese

This is relatively inexpensive, especially when a small tub of vegan cream cheese can be anywhere from $3 to $6. This entire batch that made about 16 ounces cost about $1.50 in ingredients.

Let me know if you try this! Would love to hear how it turns out! XO Lisa

Yield: 2 cups

Vegan Cream Cheese Made with Butter Beans Recipe

Vegan Cream Cheese made with Butter Beans is a great plant-based spread to use in place of conventional cream cheese. It's surprising how delicious it is.

Prep Time5 minutes

Ingredients

15 oz canned butter beans, with liquid
1/2 cup instant oats
3 tablespoons refined coconut oil (the kind that doesn't smell like coconut).
1 tablespoon tapioca flour
1/2 teaspoon lactic acid powder
1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
1 tablespoon lemon juice or 1/4 teaspoon citric acid powder

Instructions

Place everything in a high-speed blender and puree until very smooth and creamy. This will take about 3-4 minutes in a Vitamix. If the mixture gets too difficult to blend, add a little water when necessary. Blend until the mix is super smooth any lumps or bumps are gone.
Pour the mixture into a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Over medium heat and stirring constantly, simmer the mixture gently until the mixture has thickened and turned smooth and glossy.
Keep in mind it can get clumpy at first. Just continue stirring until it smooths out and thickens.
Pour into a lightly greased glass (or other) container and allow to cool for 20 minutes. Then place in the refrigerator for another 30-40 minutes or so, until chilled.
Store leftovers in the fridge, covered, for up to a few days.

Notes

Use refined coconut oil, which has no odor or taste. The unrefined will taste and smell strongly of coconut!

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size:

2 tablespoons
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 40

Lisa Viger Gotte

Hello! I’m Lisa, a vegan artist, photographer, author, Vegan Life Coach Educator, and RYT 200 yoga teacher. I love showing others how simple and delicious a plant-based diet can be. I draw and paint, cook, write, take lots of pics, eat lots of chocolate, and practice gratitude daily.