Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Puréed cottage cheese - This is another option for a more creamy, spreadable replacement. That said, if you have regular cottage cheese in the fridge you can try this dry curd hack: Pour the cottage cheese into a colander, rinse off the extra dairy under cold running water and leave it out to dry. Still, it makes an excellent, albeit slightly more decadent, all-purpose alternative to cream cheese when used as a 1:1 substitute. It is my go-to for making dairy-free, paleo desserts like Cheesecake, Fruit Pizza, tells us Lisa Jendza, chef behind FreedomKitchen.

The amount of products on the market is endless, but a highly recommended brand is the well-known Tofutti. Some people like to add a bit of nutritional yeast, which has a natural cheesy flavor.
To use cottage cheese as a cream cheese replacement for desserts and frostings, you will need to add an equal amount of heavy cream. Don’t take our word for it, though.

Whether you’re seeking a low-fat or dairy-free alternative, or simply used up your supply yesterday morning, we’ve got good news: There are several ways to substitute for cream cheese in any dish, be it sweet or salty. Goat cheese is denser than cream cheese, so not as much needs to be used in a recipe. This is best used for dips and savories rather than desserts or frosting.
Keep in mind, this cream packs a lot of body and rich flavors, so a little goes a long way. Ricotta cheese has a crumbly texture, so if you wish to use it as a cream cheese substitute, you will need to mix an equal amount of full-fat yogurt to obtain the right texture, says Rachel MacPherson, a certified nutrition who runs her own website at radicalstrength.ca. Just add an equal amount of Gervais and cream cheese, and you’ll have the perfect alternative. OK, so this mass-produced American impostor will likely never have its day on a gourmet cheese plate. We all know about these common (and scrumptious) cream cheese companions—but there are many other applications, so to speak, for this beloved spread.

Pour into a clean glass jar or container. If not, best to move on down the list. Another one of Joachim’s substitute suggestions is dry curd cottage cheese.

In case you’re not a cheese wiz, true Neufchatel—a mold-ripened and AOC-protected fresh cheese—is far fancier than your standard aluminum-wrapped block of Philly cream cheese.

It’s made from coagulating cream, which means that it’s an excellent substitute for cream cheese, especially for dips or other recipes. So, to use kefir as cream cheese, you will need chia seeds. The more legit method, preferred by artisanal cheesemakers, requires a couple of specialty ingredients (like rennet and mesophilic cheese starter) but is also very DIY-friendly if you’re looking for a new culinary project. If you can get your hands on this delectable cream, it is an excellent cream cheese substitute for sauces, dips, desserts and frostings.