Updated June 2023! Tofutti isn’t a glamorous brand. In fact, with all of the new dairy alternative trends, it sometimes gets lost. But Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese was the original dairy-free cream cheese alternative, and it’s changed (just barely) over the years to keep up with the times (somewhat).
Their original version was made with hydrogenated oils. They soon added a non-hydrogenated option, and eventually phased out the hydrogenated variety. In 2017 they came out with a “Whipped Cream Cheese” alternative, and over the past several years, they’ve added flavors, including their newest Smoked variety!
Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese is Now Available in 5 Varieties
I think Tofutti fell out of favor because it’s soy-based, and soy unfairly became a villain in natural food circles. They also haven’t kept up in the fast-paced world of online marketing. But Tofutti still has a loyal following of people that rely on this cream cheese alternative as a household staple. Plus, unlike many most other brands, this one is both nut-free and pea protein-free.
Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese also works well in dairy-free cream cheese frosting (not all brands do), and it even holds up when baked, like in Vegan Carrot Cake Bread. In terms of taste and consistency, we do a full comparison in our Best Dairy-Free Cream Cheese Taste Test. For more product information, see the details below.
Plain
Ingredients: water, expeller processed natural oil blend (soybean, palm fruit and olive), maltodextrin, non-gmo (soy protein, tofu), non-dairy lactic acid, blend of natural gums (locust bean, guar, cellulose and xanthan), organic sugar and salt. contains soy.
Nutrition (per 1 ounce): 90 calories, 9g fat, 135mg sodium, 2g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugars (includes 0g added sugar), 1g protein.*
Smoked
Ingredients: water, palm oil, maltodextrin, non-gmo (soy protein, tofu), non-dairy lactic acid, sugar, locust bean, guar and xanthan gums, salt, textured vegetable protein, natural flavors, inactive yeast. contains soy.
Nutrition (per 1 ounce): 100 calories, 10g fat, 260mg sodium, 2g carbs, 1g fiber, 0g sugars (includes 0g added sugar), 1g protein.*
Herbs & Chive
Ingredients: water, expeller processed natural oil blend (soybean, palm fruit and olive), maltodextrin, non-gmo (soy protein, tofu), non-dairy lactic acid, blend of natural gums (locust bean, guar, cellulose and xanthan), organic sugar, and salt. contains soy.
Nutrition (per 1 ounce): 90 calories, 9g fat, 135mg sodium, 2g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugars (includes 0g added sugar), 1g protein.*
Garlic & Herb
Ingredients: water, expeller processed natural oil blend (soybean, palm fruit and olive), maltodextrin, non-gmo (soy protein, tofu), non dairy lactic acid, blend of natural gums (locust bean, guar, cellulose and xanthan), spices, garlic, onion powder, parsley, organic sugar and salt. contains soy.
Nutrition (per 1 ounce): 90 calories, 9g fat, 135mg sodium, 2g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugars (includes 0g added sugar), 1g protein.*
Whipped
Ingredients: water, expeller processed natural oil blend (soybean, and palm eruit), maltodexterin, soy protein, tofu, non-dairy lactic acid, blend of natural gums (locust bean, guar, cellulose and xanthan) organic sugar, salt. contains soy.
Nutrition (per 1 ounce): 80 calories, 6g fat, 110mg sodium, 5g carbs, 1g fiber, 0g sugars (includes 0g added sugar), 1g protein.*
More Facts on Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese
- Price: $4.49 per 8-ounce tub
- Availability: Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese is sold refrigerated at Whole Foods, Albertsons/Safeway stores, and various other grocers and small chains in the U.S. You can also purchase it online at PlantX.
- Certifications: Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese is Certified Kosher Parve.
- Dietary Notes: By ingredients, Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, vegan, and vegetarian.*
- For More Product Information: Visit the Tofutti website at www.tofutti.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.Â
Not edible
I don’t understand the hype of this product. After hearing so many good things about it, I picked some up at my local sprouts store. I’m completely vegan and the taste of this cream cheese literally makes me gag. Tastes nothing like cream cheese. Has a funky powdery soy flavor that is hard to stomach. The texture is the only thing good about it. Aside from that, it is horrible. Every brand I’ve tried is better than this brand, and miyokos cream cheese is the best I’ve found so far.
Gagville
I’m surprised people like this stuff. It is disgusting. There is some sort of chemically, unnatural, doughy/pastey flavor this has. It tastes nothing like cream cheese: not even close!
Made me feel sick and the day after was worse
Can not eat this due to it making me sick. Have to eat Kite Hill instead.
Plain Toffutti is my go to
No cholesterol, no lactose. Good consistency. Never seen the whipped. The flavored ones are ok but not spectacular. The flavors are very mild.
Even my son likes the plain one and I use it even though I can have Lactose free regular cream cheese.
Wow!!
I only recently started a Dairy free life and as a cheese addict, it’s really hard. I did some research on this line, the cream cheese in particular. I bought the whipped. Unbelievably on point with the real deal. The first time I put on some toast because it wasn’t a big commitment lol. I figured I could just throw it all away, I actually expected to hate it. Quite the opposite. Now I need to try in a dip
Will buy again
At first look, Tofutti appears to be an exact match with traditional cream cheese. It even spreads as nicely as the real thing on English muffins and toast. In terms of taste, they don’t hit the nail exactly on the head, but I honestly really like it. The first bite yields a smooth, creamy texture across the tongue, and a pleasant sort of sour tang, such as one might find in many soy yogurts. I detected an aftertaste of soybeans, but found it really enjoyable.
Flavor did not meld with recipes
I was not a fan of this brand. The texture is good but the flavor does not remind me of cream cheese. The flavor also stands out in recipes so it did not work well when I used it.
Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese
Convincing enough to fool dairy-lovers in cream cheese frosting, this classic brand has been around for ages for a reason. Unfortunately for many, it is soy-based, but for those who do eat soy in moderation, it’s a creamy splurge fit for bagels, cheesecakes, and cream cheese-swirled brownies.
7 Comments
And I don’t have a soy allergy either. A near tub of Tofutti cream cheese on a few bagles today – killed my weekend.
My reaction is much worse & different than eating dairy itself. Stomach cramping, gurgling & felt like a blob of mass that wan’t going anywhere – then BAM. Boy did this make me sick. This is not the first time Tofutti brand dairy free has made me sick. If you eat way too much of dairy free anything – it’s not that great. But Tofutti itself – must make it’s great tasting things chemically different. I know I can’t eat casein. The only thing I can think of is there is SO MUCH ISOLATED SOY PROTEIN. If I google isolated soy protein – they sell it with whey & casein (I can’t digest casein either) – as isolated soy protein appears to be a somehow related product to whey & casein. My wife is Asian & I have no problems with soy sauce or things like soybeans. Perhaps the there is so much isolated soy protein in this – that is the problem. Too bad because I really like the Tofutti taste.
Hi Ryan, This is terrible. But isolated soy protein isn’t related to casein or whey at all. Casein and whey are the two main proteins in dairy. While soy protein is the protein from soy – it is free of all dairy and isn’t related to dairy in any way. The only thing they have in common is that both dairy proteins and soy protein are complete proteins, which means they contain all essential amino acids. This is why on some forums people might compare soy to dairy. But they are in no way the same. Tofutti is a dairy-free brand. It is possible to have an issue with soy, which is in a lot of products. As a heads up, we don’t share anything here that contains any dairy, in any form. I’m allergic to casein myself!
Tofutti brand makes me sick worse than dairy itself. Stomach gurgling for days. Some weird chemical other than casein. Possibly soy protein. Ruined my holiday weekend & Tofutti did this to me last year. I eat spy sauce dishes almost daily fyi. I’m giving up Tofutti brand.
More importantly is it GMO free?
As noted, the only certification is kosher parve. Here is their statement on GMO’s – http://www.tofutti.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/TofuttiBrandsInc-StatementonNon-GMO-June.1.2013.pdf
Pingback: Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Cupcakes - Oorah Spirit
really needed this thank you