It’s almost as hard to find a decent dairy-free cream cheese as it is to find a dairy-free yogurt that doesn’t suck. Most of the nut-based cream cheese alternatives I’ve tried have been gross. But I’d heard good things about the Kite Hill brand, and I have to admit this cream cheese made from almond milk is pretty good.
This spread is tangy, but not sour — unlike the last one I tried, Miyoko’s Kitchen, which made my mouth pucker. Kite Hill’s comes close to tasting like real cream cheese.
As for the texture, it’s fairly smooth, not too grainy. It’s not as dense and heavy as cream cheese, but not as light and fluffy as whipped cream cheese. It’s sort of in between. It reminds me of Alouette, the American-made cheese that’s supposed to seem French. (I’m sure the French are laughing at us for this.) Alouette isn’t bad, but I wouldn’t spread it on a bagel. It’s better on a cracker or a slice of baguette. Same goes for Kite Hill cream cheese.
Nevertheless, I wanted something to spread on a bagel, so that’s what I did.
Overall, it was a positive breakfast experience. Did it make my day? No. But I wasn’t gagging on it, and when it comes to fake cream cheese, that’s saying a lot.
Since I’m only lactose-intolerant and not allergic to dairy, I would choose lactose-free cream cheese over this dairy-free cream cheese (if I had a really excellent bagel and absolutely had to do the cream cheese thing). Green Valley Organics makes lactose-free dairy products, such as sour cream, yogurt, and cream cheese, that all taste exactly like the regular versions.
But if you can’t have dairy (or soy) and you’re craving cream cheese, Kite Hill is a better choice than Miyoko’s Kitchen or Trader Joe’s. Slather up a toasted bagel and let me know if you agree!
Dairy-Free to Be You and Me 