If you miss being able to slice into a log of cheese and spread it on bread or crackers, this fermented cashew cheese will give you back that experience.
And if you’ve ever been disappointed by the vegan cheese options at the grocery store or don’t have access to them, this recipe will be a godsend.
First, a simple mixture of cashews, vinegar, lemon juice, coconut oil, nutritional yeast, and seasonings gets blended until smooth. Then, it ferments for a day or two. Finally, the cheese gets shaped into a log (think a log of goat cheese) and hangs out in the fridge for a few hours. Once sliced, it’s easy to slice and spread (and is SO very tasty).
Hungry for even more vegan cheese?
Check out my complete guide to vegan cheese! It covers the best vegan cheese recipes to use for every situation (like Vegan Feta and Vegan Queso) and reviews the best vegan cheeses you can buy at the supermarket.
Why you’ll love this recipe
Sliceable and spreadable. Homemade vegan cheese recipes that are sliceable and/or spreadable are hard to come by, and if you don’t have access to vegan cheeses at your grocery store, this is an amazing option to keep in your fridge. The addition of coconut oil and very little liquid makes the cheese solid enough to hold its shape and to slice.
Easy and minimal ingredients. This recipe requires just 10 to 15 minutes of hands-on work and a bit of patience while the cheese ferments. And just 7 pantry-friendly ingredients!
Gourmet and flavorful. Despite being so easy to make, this cheese feels fancier than most homemade cheeses and is packed with flavor. In addition to having subtle cheesy vibes from nutritional yeast, it has so much more tanginess and umami than your standard vegan cheese thanks to fermentation.
Make ahead. Because this is a fermented cheese, it will continue to stay good in your fridge for several weeks… if you can resist eating it!
Wholesome but indulgent. Fermented cashew cheese has all the traditional dairy cheese flavors but it’s made with wholesome plant-based ingredients. Plus, the live bacteria created in the fermentation process are good for your gut!
If you’re interested in some of the crazy cool things cashews can do to recreate your favorite comfort foods, check out my crazy good Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip or Vegan Moussaka!
How to make this recipe
Add the soaked cashews, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and coconut oil to a high-powered blender. Blend on medium to high speed for several minutes, scraping down the sides of the blender several times as you go, until relatively smooth.
Add the nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Blend again until completely smooth.
Transfer the cheese mixture to a clean mason jar (you can sterilize it if desired but it’s not necessary). Seal the jar and place in a warm spot to ferment for at least 16 hours, or up to 48 hours. (see “Tips” section for fermentation tips).
Stir the fermented cheese and transfer to the fridge for at least 4 hours to set.
Once the cheese has solidified, scoop out half of it onto a sheet of parchment paper. Use a spoon to push it into a log-like shape.
Roll up the parchment paper and your hands to mold and shape the cheese into a log shape. Repeat with the other half of the cheese. Refrigerate the cheese logs for 2 hours, or more, to set.
Once the cheese log is set, slice and spread as desired.
Tips for making this cheese
How to soften raw cashews.
I highly recommend soaking your cashews in cool water overnight, or boiling them on the stove for 20 minutes. Since there’s very little liquid, a proper soak or boil is necessary to fully soften the cashews.
Use a clean glass jar.
Wash your jar and lid with soapy warm water and dry well before adding your cheese and fermenting.
Use a high-powered blender.
Along the same lines, you’ll get the best, smoothest results with a high-powered blender, as you want a powerful machine to fully pulverize the cashews. Since there’s not much liquid, you’ll need to scrape down the sides several times as you go, especially if you have a large-sized blender container like me (I have the 64-ounce Vitamix container; it’s considerably easier with a smaller blender container).
Shake the apple cider vinegar.
It’s important to include a bit of the “mother” bacteria from the vinegar to start the fermentation process. Shaking the apple cider vinegar before pouring it ensures that the mother bacteria is evenly distributed.
Let it come to room temperature
If your cheese log has been in the fridge for quite awhile, let it sit at room temperature for 5 minutes to soften up. This will make it much easier to spread.
Where and how long to ferment the cheese.
One of the most important parts in the process is letting the cheese ferment in a warm place.
If it’s summertime, this could be your kitchen counter or pantry. If you live in a warm but not crazy hot climate like I do (Southern California), you can also ferment the cheese outside. Just make sure to not expose the jar to direct sunlight. I typically wrap the jar in ad dish towel during the day and set it outside; in the evening, I transfer it to the oven with the light bulb on (the warmth from the light is sufficiently warm for fermentation).
If it’s wintertime, you can just leave it in the oven as mentioned above. If that’s not an option, you’ll need to leave it out on a counter or in the pantry for at least a few days.
The warmer the temperature, the less time you should ferment it. The countertop when it’s not summer will take more time than in the oven with the light on. If the temperatuer is quite warm, consider fermenting for just 16 to 24 hours to avoid over-fermenting.
Frequently Asked Questions
The coconut oil is key for the texture of this cheese. As you might know, coconut oil has a high melting point compared to other oils (that’s why it’s solid at room temperature instead of liquid, like other oils). So when you refrigerate the cheese mixture, the coconut oil helps solidify it, leaving you with that sliceable texture.
If you are strictly oil-free, try my other oil-free cheese options (Vegan Queso and Nut-Free Cheese Sauce). If you are allergic to coconut products, you can try using olive oil, but I don’t know if you’ll get the same sliceable texture, as coconut oil is solid at room temperature.
NO! The combination of fresh garlic and oil at room temperature for more than a few hours can foster the growth of clostridium botulinum bacteria (aka botulism). It’s toxic and can cause bad severe food poisoning!
Roll it tightly in the parchment paper and store it in the fridge for at least 2 weeks. If the paper isn’t wrapped tightly, the edges dry out, so to avoid this, store the wrapped cheese in an airtight container.
Yes! Some flavor ideas are below. Just sprinkle them on after you’ve rolled the log and it’s hardened a bit. Use your hands to pat the mix-ins into the cheese. Then refrigerate again for 2 hours (or longer) to set.
– Sundried tomatoes + dried oregano
– Chopped dill + parsley
– Dried cranberries + crushed walnuts
– Pomegranate seeds + crushed pecans
How to use this cashew cheese
I have no doubt you’ll find countless uses for this delightful cheese, but here are a few to get you started:
- Spread it onto bread! My current favorite is a good crusty bread, a thick layer of fermented cheese, and heirloom tomatoes sprinkled with sea salt and pepper.
- Add some to a bowl as a dip for crudités or spread for crackers.
- Serve as part of a vegan charcuterie or cheese board with crackers, olives, and fruit.
- Use as a sandwich spread instead of mayo.
- Spread onto a pita round or flatbread and add your favorite toppings and bake in the oven for an easy pizza!
If you love this fermented cashew cheese, please leave a rating and review with your feedback and tag me on Instagram with your remakes :)
Fermented Cashew Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups (200g) raw cashews, soaked in water overnight or for 8 hours or boiled in water on the stovetop for 15 minutes
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar with the “mother”, shake the bottle to evenly distribute
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1/3 cup 67g refined coconut oil
- 1/2 cup ~25-30g nutritional yeast
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder (do NOT use fresh garlic!)*
- 3/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 1/4 teaspoons sea salt, more as needed
Instructions
- Drain the soaked cashews and rinse. Wash your glass jar and lid with warm soapy water and dry well.
- Add the cashews to a high-powered blender, along with the vinegar, lemon juice, water, and oil. Blend on medium or high speed, scraping down the sides as you go, until relatively smooth and creamy. Add the nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt, and blend again until well incorporated and completely smooth. If you have a large blender container, like a 64 ounce jar, this will take several minutes, as you will need to scrape down several times, as there is very little liquid.
- Pour the mixture into a glass jar with an airtight lid. Seal and let the jar ferment in a warm place, for a minimum of 16 hours, or up to 48 hours.**If it’s summer, your kitchen counter works great. You can also place it in the oven with just the lightbulb on (be sure to not preheat your oven during this time and don't place it right next to the light, as it might get a little too warm). You can also ferment it outside if you live in a warm but temperate climate (no direct exposure to sun; loosely wrap the jars in a dish towel).
- Once the cheese has fermented, give it a stir and then refrigerate for at least 4 hours to firm up.
- Once the cheese has solidified, spoon half of it onto a sheet of parchment paper. Use a spoon to push it into a log-like shape. Roll up the parchment paper and use your hands and the parchment paper itself to mold and shape the cheese into a log shape. Repeat with the other half of the cheese in a second log. Refrigerate the cheese logs for 2 hours, or more, to set. Store leftovers wrapped in parchment paper in the refrigerator for at least 2 weeks.
Notes
This was fantastic! So much better then store bought and makes a good amount. Very addicting! My new favorite vegan cheese. Thank you Nisha for another great recipe!
Thanks for sharing, David! So happy to hear it’s a new favorite!
So I made a mistake and used coconut oil that doesn’t solidify – whoops! But it doesn’t matter because the cheese is delicious and I’m using it as a cheese spread. Yum! I even put a scoop on a salad as it tastes so good with raw vegies.
Will definitely make it again and use the correct version of coconut oil 😁
Aw, dang! Glad you liked the cheese nonetheless, Sarah! How you’ve been using it sounds delightful. Good luck next time!
I have your cookbook, The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook, and every recipe I have tried is delicious, but, sadly, too many of the recipes contain coconut milk, which I can’t use. I hope to see more recipes in the future sans the coconut oil.
Hi Margo, sorry to hear that. In this specific recipe we use coconut oil because it’s one of the only oils that have a relatively high melting point, thus helping this log stay together. You can try using olive oil, but we don’t know if you’ll get the same sliceable texture, as coconut oil is solid at room temperature. We hope you can find some more recipes on the blog to fit your dietary needs!
Can I skip the oil altogether?
Hi there Annabelle. The coconut oil is key for the texture of this cheese. As you might know, coconut oil has a high melting point compared to other oils (that’s why it’s solid at room temperature instead of liquid, like other oils). So when you refrigerate the cheese mixture, the coconut oil helps solidify it, leaving you with that sliceable texture.
If you are strictly oil-free, try my other oil-free cheese options (Vegan Queso and Nut-Free Cheese Sauce). If you are allergic to coconut products, you can try using olive oil, but I don’t know if you’ll get the same sliceable texture, as coconut oil is solid at room temperature.
I love this recipe. I miss cheese – especially sharp cheese and this really does the trick! It looks just like the photo and tastes amazing. No more wasting time and money on other vegan cheeses. This will be my Go-To.
Awesome, Sabrina. Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to review!
Would this also work using almonds in place of cashews?
Hi Teri, yes I think that would work!
Can this be used as a grilled or toasted cheese? Sounds very interesting.
Hi Betty, what exactly do you mean? Are you asking if it can be used for a grilled cheese sandwich? I’m sure it could, we aren’t sure just how much it will melt though.
It is very easy to make and the cheese is absolutely delicious!
Did the recipe twice already , love it!
Hi Anica, we’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed this recipe! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating alongside your review? Star ratings are big help to readers who are thinking of making the recipe. Thanks!
What can be substituted for lemon juice? I’m allergic to all citrus products
Hi there Laura, you can try adding more apple cider vinegar or distilled white vinegar!
Will this recipe work without the coconut oil? I eat WFPB no added oils.
Really looking forward to trying this, it sounds delicious. I would also like to know if I can ferment it in an Instant Pot please, and how do I tell when it’s fermented? Thanks
Hi Kerry, unfortunately the lowest temperature the Instant Pot will go is about twice as hot as needed for this temperature so you cannot ferment it in the Instant Pot. Try fermenting it in the oven with the pilot light on!
Hi Peggy, unfortunately no.
Here are a couple recipes for oil-free vegan cheese sauces we love though:
https://rainbowplantlife.com/nut-free-vegan-cheese-sauce/
https://rainbowplantlife.com/the-best-vegan-queso-ever/
LOOKS DELISH!! Nisha, Do you think the consistency would be conducive to shredding, on say, a pizza?
Hi Brynn, we aren’t sure how well this cheese melts, unfortunately. If you do try to make a pizza with this cheese, though, we suggest cutting off circles like mozzarella slabs and placing all over the pizza. Good luck!
Thank you Nisha for this Amazing recipe! I’ve made this twice already. It’s addictive I have to say. My husband says he absolutely loves the cheese.
Thanks for the lovely feedback, Rita!
Could this be fermented in an Instant Pot with the yogurt feature?
Hi Sabrina, unfortunately the Instant Pot’s lowest setting is about twice the temperature this cheese needs to ferment, so just use the pilot light in your oven!
Thank you .. Thank you .
My husband and I are in love with this recipe..
from flavor to texture it’s just perfect .
Thanks for the lovely feedback, Lex!
I’ve made this delicious cashew cheese and we love it! It’s incredibly yummy! So worth the effort and patience. The flavour is Amazing💥
Thanks for your comment and taking the time to review, Rita! Thrilled you love the cashew cheese!
I just put together my first batch and even before fermented, it tastes amazing. I literally just finger swiped my blender clean because I didn’t want to waste a molecule of this deliciousness! I can’t wait to taste the final product! Thanks so much for sharing!
Yum, I hope you enjoyed after it was done fermenting!
I made this and it didn’t come out right. It’s very soft and more like cheese spread. The only thing I did differently was used a plastic container for the fermentation. Any advice? It tastes great!
Hi there Marie, plastic containers may harbor unwanted bacteria and can affect the quality of fermentation so we highly recommend using glass. Did you form it into a log and stick it in the fridge? After refrigeration, the log’s texture should be that of a spreadable cheese, not a hard cheese. Hope this helped!
10 Stars! This was absolutely fantastic. I am starting to branch out into making my own vegan cheese and this was an amazing first attempt. This cheese was tangy, salty, and creamy. It is definitely going to make the rotation on my vegan cheese boards. My non-vegan boyfriend who is highly critical of vegan cheeses also thought this was amazing!
Awesome, Danielle! So glad you and your boyfriend are huge fans of this cashew cheese!
This is sooooo good. I’ve made this a few times now and it’s been a huge hit each time. One question – is there any reason I couldn’t keep this in a jar (rather than rolling into parchment) and use it as a spread? Thanks!
Hi CeeCee, you could keep it in the jar in the fridge! The directions tell you to form it into a log so it will be sliceable is all. Glad you’ve been enjoying it!
So yum! The smell and texture are amazing. And I am so grateful that this is a recipe that does not require heaps of ingredients and is almost half the price of my fav block of cashew cheese. Has anyone experimented with incorporating other spices? Or best to let ferment as is?
Hi Tee, feel free to use other dried spices but don’t add any fresh spices before fermenting. Good Luck! Glad you love the original recipe!
Love your site! I just made the base for this and just have it fermenting now, but I have a question. I’ve made it during the event and was hoping to ferment it over night, but I don’t live in a warm climate at the moment and I’m worried it will be too cold for it to work properly?
Thanks in advance!
**evening
Hi Greta, when in doubt try fermenting it in your oven with the pilot light on. Good luck!
My oven has a “proof” mode. Would that work or is the pilot light better? Thanks!
Hi Barbara, the pilot light will work just fine!
Thank you!