Updated June 2023! This year, the leading producer of cream cheese has rolled out their first plant-based spread in the U.S. But they already have a second surprise for us – it’s available in three varieties! Philadelphia dairy-free cream cheese can now be found in Original, Strawberry, and Chive & Onion flavors.
Philadelphia Dairy-Free Cream Cheese Goes Mainstream with Flavor
Like many other plant-based cheese alternatives, Philadelphia dairy-free cream cheese is made with a coconut oil and starch emulsion. But it is pea protein free! And they were smart with the packaging. It’s sold in the same 8 ounce tub size as their dairy cream cheese. However, they use a different style of packaging and a distinct green color to avoid confusing the plant-based with the dairy versions.
Original
Ingredients: water, coconut oil, modified potato starch, faba bean protein, contains less than 2% of salt, xanthan gum, carob bean gum, guar gum, lactic acid, sorbic acid as a preservative, citric acid, natural flavor.
Nutrition (per 2 tablespoons): 60 calories, 6g fat, 170mg sodium, 2g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugars (includes 0g added sugars), 0g protein.*
Chive & Onion
Ingredients: water, coconut oil, modified potato starch, faba bean protein, contains less than 2% of salt, dried chives, dried onion, xanthan gum, carob bean gum, guar gum, lactic acid, natural flavor, citric acid, sorbic acid as a preservative.
Nutrition (per 2 tablespoons): 60 calories, 6g fat, 190mg sodium, 2g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugars (includes 0g added sugars), 0g protein.*
Strawberry
Ingredients: water, coconut oil, sugar, modified potato starch, strawberries, faba bean protein, contains less than 2% of salt, modified corn starch, natural flavor, xanthan gum, carob bean gum, guar gum, lactic acid, citric acid, vegetable juice (color), sorbic acid as a preservative.
Nutrition (per 2 tablespoons): 70 calories, 5g fat, 95mg sodium, 5g carbs, 0g fiber, 3g sugars (includes 3g added sugars), 0g protein.*
UK Version of Philadelphia Plant-Based Cream Cheese
Philadelphia dairy-free cream cheese in the U.S. is quite different from the one in the U.K. In the United Kingdom, it contains the following ingredients: almond and oat preparation (water, almond protein 6%, gluten-free oat bran 3%), coconut oil, salt, stabiliser (locust bean gum), vegan culture.
More Facts on Philadelphia Dairy-Free Cream Cheese Alternative
- Price: $6.49 per 8-ounce tub
- Availability: Philadelphia Dairy-Free Cream Cheese is sold at Meijer, Publix, Giant, Albertsons, Jewel, and select regions of Target stores and Kroger family of stores across the U.S. You will also find it at some regional and specialty grocers.
- Certifications: Philadelphia Dairy-Free Cream Cheese is Certified Kosher Pareve.
- Dietary Notes: By ingredients, Philadelphia Dairy-Free Cream Cheese is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, and vegetarian.*
- For More Product Information: Visit the Philadelphia brand at www.creamcheese.com.
*Always read the ingredient and nutrition statement prior to consumption. Ingredients, processes, and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company or product. Contact the company to discuss their manufacturing processes if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. No food product can be guaranteed “safe” for every individual’s needs. You should never rely on ingredient and allergen statements alone if dealing with a severe food allergy.
Did not like Plant-Based Original Philadelphia Cream Cheese
I bought the Plant-Based Original Philadelphia Cream Cheese (as it was on sale at my local Smith’s grocery store) this weekend (3/23/24). It was hard and it tasted like licking a brown paper sack. I am just glad I tasted it before putting into my recipe. I did not enjoy it and will definitely not buy it again. I will just stick with Kite Hill cream cheese, even if it is significantly more expensive.
Taste
We really like the plain one. I use it to add creaminess to pasta dishes. I am not a fan of the chive one as it just doesn’t have the right taste
Disgusting
I personally did not like this, my reasons are as follows.
Hours later after eating this I have a very bad taste in my mouth the resembles the bad aftertaste when you first eat it, it persists through mouthwash, water, other drinks and even other foods. It is making me sick to my stomach.
The texture is too thick and you have to work a at it just to get it spreadable and the flavor is definitely not like cream cheese at all, it’s not even close. It’s rather off putting.
I LOVE IT!!!!!!
It’s the best dairy free cream cheese I’ve ever had! I highly recommend it!
Bad Texture, Bad Taste
I’ll be honest, I didn’t have high hopes for Philadelphia’s plant-based cream cheese to begin with. I’ve been in love with Kite Hill’s almond based cream cheese for years, and haven’t found any other brand to come even close. But my Smith’s was out this week so I thought I may as well give Philadelphia a try, since I had already tried and disliked the other brands available.
It was absolutely disgusting. The texture is hard & clumpy, I couldn’t spread it at all. And the flavor was awful; salty & buttery, it was like eating the worst soggy buttery popcorn in the world. I don’t expect a plant-based cream cheese to taste like real cream cheese. In fact, I don’t even like the taste of real cream cheese anymore since eating Kite Hill for so long, but I do expect it to taste like something edible.
Extremely salty
The texture is good. I think the taste is okay but there is so much salt, that’s all you’re left with. I had to drink afterward to lose the salt taste.
The UK one tastes just like regular Philadelphia
Wow, I’m so impressed with this cheese. It has the same slight tangy creaminess of regular Philadelphia, the same texture and is great in cooking too – just melted it down with some mushrooms and tarragon for a vegan omelette and it would make a great pasta sauce too. US-based friends, I’d demand this version over the pond 😀
Strawberry Absolutely Delicious
I tried the strawberry version – it is fantastic. Great texture and taste. Have not tried the others – will definitely be doing so.
Bad taste & weird crusty layer on top
I really wanted to love this, but there are far better vegan cream cheese products out there. This one has a very off putting taste and the weird crusty layer on top is a disgusting texture in your mouth.
Shameless Cash Grab
Philadelphia vegan cream cheese is devoid of almost any flavor and leaves much to be desired. The texture is very solid and chunk like. It’s not spreadable unless your bagel is directly out of the toaster. However, when Philadelphia vegan cream cheese interacts with any heat, it just melts into a sopping puddle and is very unappetizing.
Save your excitement and money for any other vegan cream cheese that you may find in the store. Philadelphia’s attempt was a pitiful display of pandering to an audience they have no care for.