Macadamia Free Dairy Free Cashew Cheese Ball
This creamy, herb-coated centerpiece is the kind of appetizer that disappears fast at any gathering — and nobody ever guesses it's completely dairy free. Soaked raw cashews get blended with nutritional yeast, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and a hit of smoked paprika until the mixture is impossibly smooth and rich, delivering that tangy, savory flavor you'd expect from a classic cheese ball. A couple of hours in the fridge firms everything up beautifully, so it holds its shape when you unwrap it and roll it in the pecan-and-herb coating. That crunchy outer layer of finely chopped pecans, fresh chives, and parsley adds texture and color that makes it genuinely stunning on a serving board. For anyone navigating tree nut concerns around macadamias specifically, this recipe leans entirely on cashews and pecans — no macadamia nuts anywhere in the ingredient list. Serve it with crackers or sliced vegetables and watch it become the most-talked-about dish on the table.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
For the cheese ball
- 2 cups raw cashews, soaked in cold water for at least 2 hours, then drained
- 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
- 2–3 tbsp water, as needed
For the coating
- ¾ cup pecans, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
For serving
- crackers or sliced vegetables, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Soak the cashews in enough cold water to cover by 2 inches for at least 2 hours (or up to overnight), then drain and rinse well.
- 2
Add the drained cashews, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and smoked paprika to a food processor. Process for 3–4 minutes, scraping down the sides every minute, until the mixture is very smooth and creamy with no visible cashew pieces. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time if needed to help the mixture blend — it should be thick enough to hold a shape, not pourable.
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