American Cuisine, Appetizers, Basics, Cheeses, Side Dishes, Snack
Vegan Cheese Ball, Holiday Dairy Free Appetizer
In this delectable guide, we’ll dive into the world of vegan culinary artistry by creating a mouthwatering Vegan Cheese Ball. Whether you’re a seasoned plant-based chef or just dipping your toes into dairy-free delights, this recipe will not only tantalize your taste buds but also leave your guests craving for more.
We’ll explore the ingredients, substitutions, and tools you’ll need, and provide a step-by-step guide to crafting this savory masterpiece. If you’re interested in more homemade plant-based cheese recipes, feel free to explore my complete vegan cheese recipe collection here.
Ingredients & Substitutions
To create the creamy, dairy-free base for our Vegan Cheese Ball, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups cashews (soaked in boiling water)
- 3 tbsp refined coconut oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tbsp white miso paste
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½-1 tsp salt
Coating/Topping:
- ¼ cup dried craisins or cranberries
- ¼ cup pecans
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme
If you need to make substitutions, feel free to experiment with alternatives that suit your dietary preferences and requirements.
Helpful Tools
For this recipe, you’ll want to have the following tools on hand:
- Food processor or high-powered blender
- Plastic wrap
- A small bowl
How To Make This Vegan Cheese Ball Recipe
Let’s dive into the fun part – crafting your Vegan Cheese Ball:
Soak the Cashews: Start by covering the cashews in boiling water and allowing them to soak for at least 10 minutes.
Blend and Mix: In your food processor or blender, add the soaked cashews, coconut oil, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, miso paste, garlic powder, and salt. Blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy, occasionally scraping down the sides.
Thyme Magic: Stir in 1 tablespoon of fresh thyme into the cheese mixture.
Shape the Ball: Cover a small bowl with plastic wrap, place your cheese mixture in the center, and gently twist the corners of the plastic to form a ball shape.
Chill Out: Allow the cheese to harden in the fridge for a few hours, or overnight for best results.
Prepare the Coating: Finely chop your pecans and dried cranberries, then mix them with 1 tablespoon of fresh thyme.
Serve and Enjoy: When you’re ready to serve, roll your cheese ball in the coating.
Serve with your favorite crackers, veggies, or bread.
Tips & Tricks
- Experiment with different herbs and spices to create unique flavor profiles.
- Ensure your cashews are thoroughly soaked for a smooth texture.
- Let the cheese ball chill in the fridge for optimal firmness.
- The longer the cheese ball sits in the fridge, the better the flavors meld together.
FAQs
Absolutely! Preparing it a day ahead allows the flavors to fully develop.
Pair it with your choice of crackers, fresh veggies, or crusty bread.
You can try blanched almonds or macadamia nuts for a different twist. Although this will change the flavour.
It can be stored in the fridge for up to one week, but it’s so delicious it’s unlikely to last that long!
Vegan Cheese Ball (Diary Free Holiday Cheese)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups cashews (soaked in boiling water)
- 3 tbsp refined coconut oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tbsp white miso paste
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½-1 tsp salt
Coating/Topping
- ¼ cup dried craisins or cranberries
- ¼ cup pecans
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme
Instructions
- Cover the cashews in boiling water and allow them to soak for at least 10 mins.
- In a food processor or high-powered blender, add soaked cashews, coconut oil, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, miso, garlic powder and salt. Blend until smooth and creamy. Stop to scrape down the sides as needed.
- Stir in 1 tbsp of thyme into the cheese mixture.
- Cover a small bowl with plastic wrap, and place your cheese mixture into the centre. Grab the corners of the plastic, bring them together and gently twist to form a ball shape.
- Allow the cheese to harden for a few hours in the fridge. (Overnight is even better!)
- To prepare the coating, finely chop your pecans and dried cranberries. Mix them together with 1 tbsp of fresh thyme.
- When ready to serve, roll your cheese ball carefully in the coating. Serve with your favourite crackers, veggies or bread and enjoy!
Video
Conclusion: Vegan Cheese Ball
Creating a delectable Vegan Cheese Ball is not only a delightful experience but also a great conversation starter at any gathering. With its creamy, dairy-free goodness, it’s a vegan cheese masterpiece that pleases everyone’s palate. So, roll up your sleeves, embrace your inner chef, and get ready to impress your guests with this fantastic creation.
This vegan cheese recipe was a HIT! At my family get together no one even knew it was vegan lol everyone kept asking what type of cheese is this
Thank you so much Zoey!
I served this to my husband and he was shocked when he found out it was dairy free! Such a delicious ‘cheese’
Thanks so much for trying out my recipe Robyn!
Absolutely LOVED this recipe!!
Thank you so much!!
For someone who is lactose intolerance this vegan cheese ball is a dream come true!
Thanks so much for your comment Jess!
This was so delicious! I avoid dairy because it give me pimples so I was so excited to find this recipe
Thanks so much McKenzie, so happy you loved the recipe!
Yum what a delicious vegan cheese ball this was gone within the first 20 minutes I put it out.
Thanks so much Clair. So happy your guests loved it!
My cheese ball turned out perfect. I left mine in the fridge for 2 days as I was prepping in advance. When I wrapped it from the plastic wrap the texture was nice and sticky which was perfect to roll in my chopped nuts 🥜 beautifully came together thank you for this wonderful recipe!
Thats great to hear Jordan, and thank you for the feedback! So happy it turned out well
Loved this cheese ball recipe and so did my guests. Served with a variety of crackers and was delicious.
Thanks so much Leanne! So happy you and your guest loved it!
This recipe was so great and I found it fairly easy to make as well.
Thanks Cleo so happy you found it easy to follow.
One of the best plant based cheeses I have made and in your YouTube video you even said it would be!! lol 😂
Thank you so much!
This vegan cheese ball was so so so delicious! 🤤 cashews make this so creamy. Not missing the dairy after this recipe.
I’m thrilled to hear that you found the vegan cheese ball so delicious, and the creamy texture from the cashews is indeed a game-changer – it’s wonderful that it helped you not miss the dairy! 🌱🧀