5 Ingredients or Fewer

Classic Cashew Cream

by:
February  4, 2013
4.7
3 Ratings
Classic Cashew Cream
Photo by James Ransom
  • Makes 2 1/2 - 3 cups cashew cream (recipe can easily be halved)
Author Notes

An easy recipe for cashew cream is one of the most powerful tools that any vegan home cook can have in his or her arsenal. This simple cashew cream can be modified according to the application; add a bit of sugar for desserts, or lemon and sea salt for savory dishes. —Gena Hamshaw

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 2 cups raw cashews
  • 1 cup cold water, plus more as needed
  • 1/2 - 3/4 teaspoons sea salt (optional)
  • 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons evaporated cane juice, demerara sugar, or maple syrup (optional)
Directions
  1. Soak the cashews in cold water overnight.
  2. Drain cashews. Add them to a food processor and pulse a few times to grind them up.
  3. With the motor running, drizzle in fresh water (start with 1 cup), stopping a few times to scrape the bowl of the food processor down. You can continue to add more water depending on how thick or thin you'd like the cream to be; you may want it as thick as whipped cream, or you may want it to be closer to the texture of coconut milk. Keep adding water until you like the consistency. Alternately, you can add the cashews and the water to a high speed blender and blend, adding water as needed, till you reach the desired consistency. I don't recommend a conventional blender, though.
  4. For a savory cream, add the lemon and sea salt. For a sweet cream, add the maple syrup, cane juice, or sugar. Feel free to vary flavorings as you like!
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6 Reviews

Steve
Steve August 9, 2015
Please clarify, you discard the overnight 'soaking' water? And if so, why not use this in the final product? Thanks
 
pizza.princess
pizza.princess March 10, 2015
Is this how typical nut milks are made?
 
Marquis
Marquis July 16, 2013
What a great idea! I still drink coffee and I'm battling the creamer department ... I've never used nut mylk as a creamer because it isn't "creamy" enough .. but I think I'll try this. Thanks Gena!
 
DC D.
DC D. February 25, 2013
thanks for the recipe. i finally have the courage to try it!
 
AntoniaJames
AntoniaJames February 8, 2013
Great looking soup. Will be making it this weekend. ;o)
 
Kelly T.
Kelly T. February 8, 2013
Cashew cream is wonderful. Thank you for reminding me how versatile it is.