Wheat Free Dairy Free Cashew Cheese Ball
This showstopper appetizer proves that a creamy, crowd-pleasing cheese ball doesn't need a single drop of dairy — or any wheat — to earn its place at the center of the table. Soaked raw cashews blended with nutritional yeast, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar create a surprisingly rich, tangy base that mimics the savory depth of a classic cheese ball with impressive accuracy. A touch of smoked paprika and garlic powder rounds out the flavor so well that guests rarely guess what they're actually eating. After chilling until firm, the ball gets rolled in a fragrant mix of finely chopped pecans, fresh chives, and parsley — giving every slice a satisfying crunch and a pop of color. The whole thing comes together in a food processor with no specialty ingredients that are hard to track down, which makes it as practical as it is impressive. Serve it with sliced vegetables or your favorite wheat-free crackers and watch it disappear faster than you'd expect. It keeps in the fridge for up to three days, so you can absolutely make it ahead and take the stress out of party prep.
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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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