Mushroom Free Dairy Free Cashew Cheese Ball
Creamy, tangy, and packed with savory depth, this cashew-based cheese ball is the kind of appetizer that disappears fast at any gathering. Soaked raw cashews get blended with nutritional yeast, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and warm spices until the mixture is impossibly smooth — no dairy required, and absolutely no mushroom-derived ingredients anywhere in the recipe. A hit of smoked paprika and garlic powder gives it that bold, complex flavor you'd expect from a classic cheese ball, while the coating of finely chopped pecans, fresh chives, and parsley adds a gorgeous herby crunch on the outside. The trick is patience: a good long blend in the food processor and a couple of hours in the fridge are what transform simple ingredients into something that genuinely holds its shape and slices beautifully. It's an ideal centerpiece for a snack board, surrounded by crackers or crisp sliced vegetables, and it keeps in the fridge for up to three days — so you can make it ahead and stress less on the day of your event.
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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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