Vegan Cream Recipe (Single & Double Replacement)

This vegan cream recipe is a great dairy-free substitute for single cream or double cream. Featuring just two ingredients – cashew nuts and water – it's simple to make and will keep in the fridge for up to a week.

Once you're happy with the consistency of your cashew cream, you can use it for anything you like. Stir it into soups, mix it through pasta, mash it into your potatoes, or drizzle over fresh fruit for a healthy plant-based dessert.

While this cream is great for the uses mentioned above, bear in mind that it won't substitute the exact properties of dairy cream when heated directly (e.g. to make a creamy pasta sauce). If you plan on using this cream in cooking, you'll likely want to include extra liquid.

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What is vegan cream?

Vegan cream is simply a cream substitute made from plant-based ingredients rather than dairy milk. Popular base ingredients include soya, oats, or – like in this recipe – cashew nuts.

Why are cashews good for making vegan cream?

Blended cashew nuts have a naturally creamy and velvety texture, making them perfect for making a dairy-free cream substitute.

They are a very versatile ingredient when it comes to plant-based cooking in general. Check out my recipes for vegan fish pie, easy cheesy pasta, wild garlic pasta, and vegan dauphinoise potatoes (also known as 'scalloped' potatoes), where cashews play a key role in creating a creamy and silky sauce.

Note: Be sure to use uncooked and unsalted cashews. Roasted cashews will not produce the same final result. If you're in the UK, you can get your hands on these organic cashew pieces (affiliate link).

Will this recipe be more like single cream or double cream?

The great thing is that it's completely up to you. The recipe below outlines how to vary the water content to achieve a thinner 'single' cream consistency or a thicker 'double' cream.

Can I make this vegan cream nut-free?

While I haven't tried it myself, I've seen recipes that substitute the cashews for ingredients such as sunflower seeds. These days, oat-based and soya-based products are also widely available in many large supermarkets (at least here in the UK).

Can I cook with this cream?

The water amounts stated in the recipe are suitable for a general-purpose dairy-free cream, but note that you may want to add more liquid when cooking with it.

When cashew cream comes into direct contact with heat (e.g. when added to a hot pan to make a sauce), it is likely to thicken very quickly. In this case, you'll definitely want to add extra water or stock to get a consistency that you're happy with.

Can this vegan cream be whipped?

This cashew cream does not have the same properties as dairy cream and won't 'whip' up in the same way. If you're wanting the consistency of thick whipped double cream, the best way is to simply use even less water when making it.

Note that this will make it slightly harder to blend, and you may need to stop and scrape down the sides more often.

How to soak the cashews

When it comes to soaking cashews, you can either do it quickly in a bowl of boiling water or for several hours in cold water (ideally overnight).

I've come across various blogs and videos talking about the health benefits of a longer soak in cold water. Apparently this is better for digestion and nutrient absorption, so it's up to you how you want to soak them.

If time is on your side, the longer soak will result in a slightly creamier final product. In most cases, I make the cream as and when I need it by soaking the cashews quickly in boiling water.

How to make vegan cashew cream

This cashew cream couldn't be easier to make. Once the cashews have been soaked in water, drain and rinse then add to a powerful blender. To this, add the corresponding amount of water for 'single' cream or 'double' cream (see recipe for details).

Blend until very smooth, which may take a minute or two. Stop to scrape down the sides and add extra water if necessary.

I'd suggest starting with less water than you think you'll need, then increasing the amount by one tablespoon (15 ml) at a time until you have it the way you want.

How much will this recipe make?

The final quantity will be roughly the weight of the unsoaked cashews added to the water quantity (plus a little extra to account for the water that soaks into the cashews).

The photo above shows the final amount I got for 1 cup (150 grams) of raw cashews + 1 cup (240 ml) water (+ extra soaked-up liquid) = approx. 16 oz (450 ml) of cashew cream.

Where to use vegan cream

You can use this vegan cream in many of the same ways as dairy cream. Here are just a few ideas:

• Soup: Use it in vegan cullen skink or to top off a bowl of easy vegan pea & mint soup, spiced carrot & coriander soup, mashed leek & potato soup, or creamy mushroom & tarragon soup.
• Pasta: Add it to creamy tempeh pasta, creamy mushroom & leek tagliatelle, or use it to create an even creamier vegan pesto.
• Dessert: Use it to make vegan cranachan along with raspberries, oats, and whisky.
• Risotto: This is great when stirred through vegan pea & mint risotto, butternut squash risotto, beetroot risotto, or smoked tofu risotto with lemon & basil.
• Sauce: Cashew cream plays a starring role in my recipe for vegan whisky cream sauce (perfect with vegan haggis).
• Pâté: Blend it into this smoky vegan mushroom & red lentil pâté
• Vegan scrambled egg: Add a little cashew cream to your eggy scrambled tofu.
• Curry: Use it in this creamy black bean curry or to add some decadence to vegan rajma masala or red lentil dal.
• Mash: Make these ultimate vegan mashed potatoes even more indulgent.
• Dessert: Drizzle over fresh fruit for a healthy and simple dessert.

How to store dairy-free cashew cream

Refrigerate: You can store this vegan cream in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week. Note that it may thicken slightly when cooled, so give it a good stir before using.

Freeze: You can freeze this cashew cream in an airtight container or resealable bag for up to several months. Defrost thoroughly before using.

More vegan recipe ideas

If you liked this recipe, you may also enjoy:

• Cashew Lime Crema (Taco Sauce)
• Ultimate Vegan Fish Pie
• Tempeh Pasta with Cashew Tarragon Sauce
• Cheesy Cashew Pasta Sauce
• Super Seed Mix
• Vegan Whisky Cream Sauce
• Vegan Cauliflower Cheese Soup
• 4-Ingredient Cashew Parmesan

Full recipe