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Why is it that we always crave and desire the things we can't have?
I have never craved a bagel and cream cheese IN MY LIFE, but of course as soon as I move to China it's all I can think about. Even when I lived in NYC and had access to bagels on almost every corner, I never once bought and ate one. (I know, I'm a horrible New Yorker.) I even had access to vegan cream cheese options and savory tofu bagel sandwiches, but still, I never craved one.
Starting about a month ago, however, I developed a hankering for a round, doughy bagel smeared with creamy, sweet, dairy-free cream cheese. Why?! Of course, bread other than white steamed buns is extremely so hard to come by here in China and dairy-free cheese is completely out of the question.
What's a girl to do?!
Make her own!
Yes, I made some homemade bagels (using this basic bagel recipe). Then whipped up the most deliciously sweet Dairy Free Cinnamon Maple Cream Cheese to eat with them. Guys, this spread is amazing! Its rich, sweet and pairs perfectly with toasted bread and could even be used as a decadent frosting on vegan cupcakes or vegan banana bread.
This recipe definitely satisfied my bagel and cream cheese craving, but to be honest, I've had a bunch of other cravings since moving to China. Ever since we officially decided that we were going home to America and stopping in NYC for a few days, I've been daydreaming about all the food I'm going to eat.
I literally have a list of restaurants, including the dish I plan to order, that I'm hoping to eat at when in the city. In fact, when you read this post, I should be prancing around the city enjoying all the vegan food! Noodle-less lasagna from Siggy's Good Food, scones or dessert at Peacefood Cafe, pizza from Cafe Viva, and Ben and Jerry's dairy-free ice cream. YESSSS!
Can't wait.
Thankfully, this dairy free cream cheese held me over until our trip to the States and hopefully I'll return to China with lots of inspiration and motivation to continue making my favorite plant-based foods from scratch.
If you make this Dairy Free Cinnamon Maple Cream Cheese, I'd love to hear about it! Leave a comment down below, rate the recipe and share it with others.
📖 Recipe
Dairy Free Cinnamon Maple Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups cashews soaked 8-12 hours
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Place the cashews in a bowl, cover with filtered water, and allow to soak for around 8-12 hours.
- After the soaking period, drain and rinse your cashews and place them in a high speed blender or food processor with the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth, scraping down the side of the blender or processor if needed.
Notes
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a few days.
- Spread on bagels, toast or desserts as frosting.
Miss Polkadot says
I live in Germany and we actually have some great organic bakeries offering all kinds of whole wheat goodies around. But aside from the occasional nibble I just don’t crave bread. I'm more of a cooked grains girl.
Faith says
So cool you live in Germany! I've wandered around Frankfurt on a layover, but that didn't count. I hope to go back someday soon! And I love cooked grains too...but bread is definitely a favorite too:)
Sarah @ BucketListTummy says
I would eat that cream cheese on it's own, it looks so good!
Faith says
Oh I did for sure!! It's really good, and so simple!
Liv @ Healthy Liv says
Ahhhh you'll have to report back on the Ben & Jerry's dairy free ice cream and let us know how it is! I've been curious but haven't gotten to try it yet.
I'm SO impressed that you made homemade bagels and homemade vegan cream cheese. Hope you're getting to fulfill some of your food cravings in America now, too!
Faith says
I will!! I just looked for it, but the store I went to didn't have any of the dairy free options. Hopefully the next one I look at will! And you can know for sure I'm satisfying ALL my American food cravings;)
Miss Polkadot says
Mmmh. Mmmh. I could just mmmh my way through this post once again. I'm not a bread person - which, considering my heritage, is probably shameful 😉 - but would eat this with everything. Or just by the spoonful.
Faith says
What's your heritage?! Good thing this tastes good straight off the spoon too:)
Kate @ Kate Lives Healthy says
I tried tofu cream cheese once and wasn't won over. I haven't been craving bagels or cream cheese although the Kite Hill one I bought has been really good. I'll have to try a batch of this this. Hope you have a great time back enjoying all the wonderful food in NYC and stock up on the Trader Joe's and other US goodies you can't get in China!
Faith says
Wow a tofu version?! And I'll definitely be going to TJ to stock up, and finding that Kite Hill cream cheese!
Natalie | Feasting on Fruit says
I've never had a bagel and cream cheese, much less craved one either until I saw this!! Cinnamon maple, that sounds irresistible <3 Plus no actual cheese involved which always freaked me out anyways. I hope you are having tons of fun right now!!
Faith says
Haha funny how that happens!! And I'm all about the cheese-less anything. Thanks Natalie!
Alyssa @ renaissancerunnergirl says
I'm allergic to cashews, but now that I've seen you have a homemade bagel recipe I can make into a GF version...yum!
Faith says
Oh definitely give it a try! They're so much easier than I thought!
Leah M @ love me, feed me says
I just want to put this on anything and everything <3 <3
Faith says
It's soooo good!!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Well I've mastered homemade gf/vegan bagels, now I need to make some homemade cream "cheese" :O
Faith says
Yeah ya do Rebecca!!