Cream Cheese Substitutes: 10 Best Alternatives for Cream Cheese
Cream cheese is a very versatile ingredient that goes well with muffins, bagels, and even toast. It is used to add flavor to baked goods, dips, and frosting. However, there are times you need to use cream cheese substitutes.
Cream cheese finds its way into our diet and goes on to impact our health. It can make you fat and clog up your arteries. But when you have substitutes for cream cheese, why not try them. The cream cheese substitutes will offer the same taste while eliminating the health issues associated with the cream cheese.
10 Healthy Cream Cheese Substitutes and Methods to Use Them
Substituting cream cheese can save you from packing up calories. Cottage cheese or yogurt can be the best alternatives for cream cheese in most of the recipes, but you might want to experiment with your cooking regime.
Related Reading: 12 Substitutes for Red Wine Vinegar and How to Use Them
Here we have archived a few of the very healthy ideas for you, have a read:
1. Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is highly enriched with essential vitamins like potassium, sodium, folate, calcium, and copper. It has very less fat content.
To use cottage cheese as a cream cheese substitute, it is advisable to drain it and blend it into a smooth puree. It is most widely accepted as the substitute for cream cheese and can be your partner in many of those marvelous servings.
2. Hummus
Wondering what can be your next cream cheese substitute, especially to use as a topping on warm bagels or English muffins. You can substitute cream cheese with hummus. It is packed with proteins and can be prepared at home with minimal effort.
All you have to do is mix pinto or garbanzo beans with extra virgin olive oil. You might add a pinch of salt, some basil or even rosemary to bring the best recipe as per your taste.
Although hummus doesn’t taste like cream cheese, it is a good fit for consumption. It is a reliable option for those suffering from heart disease, stroke, or cancers.
3. Greek Yogurt
Yogurt closely replicates cream cheese in flavor and texture. It is a healthy cream cheese alternative and can be used plain, or you can add sliced onions, shallots or carrots to enhance the taste.
To get a thick cream cheese like consistency, you can drain the excess water before use. Greek yogurt can be thickened by keeping it in dry and clean cheesecloth. Spoon the yogurt through this cloth over a large bowl and leave it overnight. This will thicken the texture of the yogurt.
4. Tofu
Tofu comes in a lot of variety from soft to extra hard. To use as a substitute for cream cheese, you would need to pick a softer one. Tofu very easily acquires the taste of the dish it is prepared with and has no distinctive taste of its own.
You can experiment with your choice of seasonings inclusive of herbs and spices. Choose a seasoning that has low added salt and preservatives to make your dish healthy.
Blend ¾ cup of tofu with a tablespoon of lemon juice and ¼ cup of margarine. The mixture should form a smooth paste.
5. Mascarpone
It is one of the best cream cheese substitutes in terms of taste. Mascarpone is naturally sweet and smooth in texture. It is easily digestible and is ideal for frostings and desserts. Being excellent in quality, it is widely used in tiramisu.
6. Ricotta Cheese
High-quality ricotta cheese can be a good cream cheese substitute for your baking recipes. Ricotta cheese has got a firm and grainy texture and is a better alternative than mascarpone. Made from skimmed milk, it is fat-free and protects you from cholesterol.
7. Neufchatel
If you are fed up of cream cheese, you can substitute the cream cheese with Neufchatel for impressive taste. Neufchatel belongs to the class of the soft un-ripened cheese made out of cow’s milk. With time, it acquires a sharp, pungent smell, so it’s better to use it fresh.
8. Petit-Suisse
You will not miss cream cheese once you replace it with Petit-Suisse mixed with honey. Suisse is sourced from cow’s milk and is as smooth as creamy in its texture. This marvelous unsalted cheese will soothe your taste buds when used with desserts. But it has a high-fat content so use it in moderation.
9. Kefir and Organic Chia Seeds
A combination of kefir and organic chia seeds can also substitute cream cheese. You will be amazed to see that it works well in most of the recipes. You only have to add about one-fourth cup of chia seeds in a bowl of kefir.
Mix it well, let the mixture stand unagitated for a while like about 30 minutes, and you are ready to go. In this time, the seeds will absorb all the water from the yogurt.
As chia seeds are rich in omega-3s, this alternative might help you with allergies, gastrointestinal issues, and atherosclerosis.
10. Gervais Cheese
As the best replacement for cream cheese you can bring in Gervais cheese. You will love Gervais for its subtly sweet and tangy taste. Made up of over 75% of milk fat it goes along well with desserts.
Choosing any of the above substitutes for cream cheese might help you cut down on those extra body fats, without compromising greatly on taste.
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Sources:
Builder M., “The Best Cream Cheese Substitutes for Every Situation,” Extra Crispy web site, July 2, 2017; http://www.extracrispy.com/food/3319/the-best-cream-cheese-substitutes-for-every-situation.
“9 Best Substitutes for Cream Cheese,” New Health Advisor web site; http://www.newhealthadvisor.com/cream-cheese-substitute.html, last accessed Sept 20, 2017.
“Top 5 Cream Cheese Substitutes,” IFood web site; https://ifood.tv/presentation/302172-top-5-cream-cheese-substitutes, last accessed Sept 20, 2017.
“Cream Cheese”, GourmetSleuth web site; http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/ingredients/detail/cream-cheese, , last accessed Sept 20, 2017.
“Cream Cheese Substitute,” Spark People web site, https://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=123350, last accessed Sept 20, 2017.
