Cashew Cream Recipe

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I love cashews and I always have a supply in my pantry, I love how they do not have a strong overpowering flavor like peanuts, nor are they as gritty as almonds in sauces. 

From this basic cashew cream recipe, you can make your own vegan sour cream, vegan ice cream, vegan cream cheese, vegan alfredo sauce, vegan cashew dips, vegan cashew frosting and much more.

You can add the cashew cream to make thicker and creamier sauces, stews, soups. Use it as a vegan substitute for Half and Half and heavy cream.

I love to use raw cashews to prepare Vegan Cheddar Cheese, Vegan Ranch Dressing, Vegan Mac And Cheese, and Vegan Peanut Butter Pie recipes. 

What Is Cashew Cream?

Cashew cream is basically raw cashews that are blended with water into a thick and creamy sauce. If you are in a hurry and you have a high-speed blender, you can even skip the soaking method and just blend until your cream is smooth. 

To soak your cashews, first, wash them under cold water. Add them to a bowl and cover with cold water, allow cashews to soak for at least 2 hours or preferably overnight in the refrigerator. 

Whole cashews for cashew cream recipe in a gold measuring cup on a brown burlap napkin on a wooden board
Learn how to prepare my amazing cashew cream recipe, it is so easy to prepare, rich and creamy. Vegan cashew cream is a versatile all-purpose recipe that can be easily adapted to make the best vegan sweet and savory recipes replacing dairy cream.

Difference Between Raw And Roasted Cashews

Purchase raw cashews instead of roasted cashews, raw cashews have a milder flavor and yield a thicker cream. 

There is a difference between ‘raw’ cashews and roasted cashews.  Normally raw nuts are easier to digest when soaked because soaking reduces the phytic acid in them.

However, cashews aren’t technically fully raw; processors steam and roast them during processing to neutralize the toxic resin urushiol in the shell

Urushiol can cause rashes, blisters, and burns if it comes in contact with the skin.

  • When you purchase raw cashews from the store they have been already roasted once. 
  • Roasted cashews are basically roasted twice with added salt and sometimes oil is added. 
  • Raw cashews are milder than roasted cashews.

Start with the best quality raw cashews, I prefer to purchase whole cashews rather than cashew pieces, the likelihood of your cashews becoming contaminated increases when the cashew nuts are broken into pieces. 

Cashews can be purchased at health food stores or bulk online. Remember that nuts go rancid fast because they contain oils, so its best to store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer for up to 6 months.  

Soaked cashews in a measuring cup with water, place on a burlap napkin on a wooden board
Learn how to prepare my amazing cashew cream recipe, it is so easy to prepare, rich and creamy. Vegan cashew cream is a versatile all-purpose recipe that can be easily adapted to make the best vegan sweet and savory recipes replacing dairy cream.

Can You Over Soak Cashews?

Oversoaking your cashews can result in your cashews looking gross and feeling slimy. After 2 days, the water will turn gooey and foam will form on top. This is as a result of your cashews fermenting.

To prevent this, soak for up to 24 hours only. Discard water and freeze soaked cashews if you aren’t able to use cashews. 

How Do You Soften Cashews Quickly?

Place cashews in a saucepan, cover with cold water about 1-inch above cashews.  Bring water to boil in the saucepan over medium heat, reduce heat to simmer for about 10 minutes. 

Remove saucepan from heat, discard water and rinse under cold water. 

Cashew Cream recipe, thick and creamy cashew cream being poured in a glass jar from a blender
Learn how to prepare my amazing cashew cream recipe, it is so easy to prepare, rich and creamy. Vegan cashew cream is a versatile all-purpose recipe that can be easily adapted to make the best vegan sweet and savory recipes replacing dairy cream.

How To Make Cashew Cream?

  • Place cashews in a high-speed blender with water, lemon juice, salt, and process until smooth and creamy. If you are using a standard blender, it might take you longer to process the cashews to get the smooth and creamy texture that you will get when using a high-speed blender.
  • You want to scrape down the sides of the blender and process cashew cream until you get the desired smoothness. 
  • The thickness of your cashew cream depends on the amount of water you add. The amount I use is my personal preference so you can use more or less to suit your taste.

How Long Does Cashew Cream Lasts In Fridge?

Cashew cream lasts for 5-7 days in the refrigerator. 

What Else To Do With Your Cashew Cream Recipe?

  • Make Cashew Cream Sour Cream – Add 2 tablespoons lemon juice to the base recipe and blend. 
  • Prepare Sweet Cashew Cream – Add 2-4 tablespoons maple syrup, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract, or  1/2 lemon zest to the base recipe.
  • Make Vegan Cream Cheese – Soak cashews by using one of the methods mentioned above and drain. Omit the water in the base recipe.  Place soaked cashews, remaining ingredients from the base recipe plus 1 tablespoon yeast flakes, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon dried chives in a food processor and process until smooth and creamy.

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Cashew cream recipe, soaked cashews blended with water, lemon, and salt until thick and creamy. Store in 2 glass jars, image on a wooden background with raw cashews and brown burlap in the background

Cashew Cream Recipe

Learn how to prepare my amazing cashew cream recipe, it is so easy to prepare, rich and creamy. Vegan cashew cream is a versatile all-purpose recipe that can be easily adapted to make the best vegan sweet and savory recipes replacing dairy cream.
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Condiments
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cashew cream recipe
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1 cup
Calories: 1668kcal

Ingredients

For Plain Cashew Cream

  • 1 cup raw cashews soaked for 2 hours
  • 3/4 cup cold water
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

For Sweet Cashew Cream

  • 1 cup raw cashews
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup almond milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/8 teaspoon almond extract
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

To Prepare Plain Cashew Cream

  • Place cashews, water, lemon juice and salt in a high-speed blender and process until smooth and creamy.
  • Cashew cream is ready to be used or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

To Prepare Sweet Cashew Cream

  • Place cashews, maple syrup, almond milk, vanilla, almond extract, and salt into the bowl of a high-speed blender.
  • Process until smooth and creamy. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 1668kcal | Carbohydrates: 134g | Protein: 47g | Fat: 114g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 21g | Monounsaturated Fat: 62g | Sodium: 710mg | Potassium: 1901mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 64g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 265mg | Iron: 17mg

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8 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I love this recipe. It’s my favorite go to for almost any dressing. Sometimes I add lime juice and poppy seeds for Coleslaw dressing. Yum.

    1. That’s great to know, love how you added the lime juice and poppyseeds for coleslaw dressing. Thank you for sharing with us.

  2. Can you use a food processor for this recipe? Hand blender? Nutrabullet for breaking it down? What’s the best way? Also do you need a “nut milk bag” for anything regarding this? I just purchased one. It looks easy enough I want to try it.

    1. Hunter, once you soak the cashews you can use a food processor, Nutri bullet or your handheld blender. If it doesn’t get the cashew cream smooth enough to your liking on the first go,. stop your food processor, Nutri bullet, scrape the sides and blend again. I have done it over and over until I get a smooth consistency. Just make sure to rest the motor in between.

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