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–+ servings
A clear jar filled with vegan cream cheese. Bagels, vegetables and fresh dill placed around it.

Sunflower Seed Cream Cheese Recipe

Petranka
Creamy, thick, and tangy, this Sunflower Seed Cream Cheese is the best dairy-free cream cheese substitute! It's nut-free, gluten-free, and made with 7 ingredients only!
5 from 4 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Chilling time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Appetizer, Dip
Cuisine American, Gluten-free, Vegan
Servings 16 2 tablespoon each
Calories 150 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups raw sunflower seeds
  • Juice from 1 medium lemon (~3 tablespoons)
  • ⅓ cup melted refined coconut oil*
  • ½ - ¾ cup boiling water, slightly cooled (start with lesser amount)
  • ¼ cup nutritional yeast**
  • ½ - 1 teaspoon salt (start with lesser amount)
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Rinse sunflower seeds well. Add pot a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then simmer on medium-high heat for 20-25 minutes or until soft.
    2 cups raw sunflower seeds
  • Then, drain the sunflower seed, and DO NOT rinse! Add them to a food processor or a high-speed blender, alongside the coconut oil, boiling water, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, salt, and black pepper. Blend on high for a few minutes, until very creamy and smooth. You'll need to stop a few times to scrape down the sides with a spatula.
    Juice from 1 medium lemon, ⅓ cup melted refined coconut oil*, ½ - ¾ cup boiling water, slightly cooled, ¼ cup nutritional yeast**, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ½ - 1 teaspoon salt
  • Taste and adjust the flavor if needed, adding more salt for saltiness, lemon juice for tanginess, or nutritional yeast for cheesiness.
  • Transfer the cheese to a container and refrigerate for at least 40 minutes, ideally 1-3 hours. This will help the cheese to set and firm up.
  • Serve with veggies, crackers, or pita chips. Keep in mind that the cheese will start to melt slightly if kept for 1-2 hours at room temperature.

Notes

Storage
  • Fridge: Transfer to a container and store in a refrigerator for up to 6 days.
  • Freezer: Transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for 1 month. Let thaw overnight in the fridge before using. Keep in mind that freezing will change the texture of the cheese.
*You can omit the coconut oil and use more water, but the cheese won't firm up as well.
** This recipe has a savory and salty taste, so if you want to use the cheese with sweet toppings, we suggest omitting the nutritional yeast and using half of the salt.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoonCalories: 150kcalCarbohydrates: 4.4gProtein: 4.5gFat: 13.6gSaturated Fat: 4.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3.5gSodium: 76.5mgPotassium: 116.4mgFiber: 1.9gSugar: 0.7gVitamin C: 1.4mgCalcium: 15.7mgIron: 1.1mg
Keyword dairy-free cheese, sunflower seed cheese, vegan cheese, vegan cheese recipe, vegan sunflower seed cheese
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