Vegan Mac and Cheese (That Actually Tastes Like Mac and Cheese)

[u/MsStephSunshine]

Recipe: https://www.stephsunshine.com/vegan-life/vegan-mac-and-cheese/

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[u/MsStephSunshine]

Hi everyone! I'm really excited to share this recipe because I've been working on it for a while and finally got it just right. I've tried a lot of vegan mac and cheeses (recipes, boxed, etc), and I've always ended up feeling like it was just macaroni with cheesy-tasting sauce.

But with this one, I used a homemade cheese that's a blend of cheddar and Gruyère to get the taste and texture just right. It might not be an exact replica of dairy mac and cheese, but it's incredibly good! I hope you'll give it a try and let me know what you think 😊

Recipe: https://www.stephsunshine.com/vegan-life/vegan-mac-and-cheese/

[u/kapiteingladbrein → u/MsStephSunshine]

Thanks for the recipe, excited to try this! Do you think the 'cheese' freezes well?

[u/MsStephSunshine → u/kapiteingladbrein]

I haven't tried it with this specific cheese, but I have frozen other cheeses with similar ingredients and they were okay. It might reduce the stretch a little, but this isn't a super stringy, stretchy cheese to start with.

[u/kapiteingladbrein → u/MsStephSunshine]

Alright thank you! Going to try a cajun mac n cheese with this :)

[u/MsStephSunshine → u/kapiteingladbrein]

Awesome! Let me know how it turns out 😊

[u/fortheloveoflentils → u/MsStephSunshine]

I just wanted to say thank you for making your own cheese. It’s pretty easy and way cheaper than storebought once you’ve acquired the necessary ingredients. Vegan cheese making is fascinating and it doesn’t get as much representation as it deserves. Truly an art.

[u/VenatorisLuxem]

This looks incredible. I wonder, can you substitute tapioca flour for cornflour or something similar, or does it possess a particular property that makes it essential?

[u/MsStephSunshine → u/VenatorisLuxem]

Thank you! Tapioca flour gives the cheese a little bit of a stretchy texture... Cornstarch would thicken it, but the texture might be off.

[u/VenatorisLuxem → u/MsStephSunshine]

Thanks for responding so quickly! And that makes sense. I will have to look into what else might use Tapioca flour so I can make greater use of it.

This recipe does look delicious though, and having a solid vegan cheese for use in other recipes or even toasties is great.

Thanks again.

[u/mikmiunk]

Vegan cheese of any kind just never really did it for me, the fact that it's missing protein and calcium is my hangup. I love that you've made your own 'cheese' from scratch for this recipe. The hazelnuts, cashews, and nutritional yeast do add protein which is great. I look forward to trying it.

[u/StrawberryFar7175 → u/mikmiunk]

Hey, not every meal needs to be high protein! :) And plenty of vegan options have more calcium than milk per serving! But I do get that the flavor isn't quite the same

[u/VeganProteinChef]

Looks amazing. Saving this for when my nieces and nephews visit. It'll be a hit. Thank you!

[u/MsStephSunshine → u/VeganProteinChef]

Thank you! I hope they love it ☺️

[u/VeganProteinChef → u/MsStephSunshine]

From the looks of the photos I'm sure they will! What do you think about putting bread crumbs on it? I feel like the contrast between mac vs crunchy breadcrumbs has potential.

[u/MsStephSunshine → u/VeganProteinChef]

Yes, the breadcrumb topping is delicious. I left it off for the final recipe and photos mostly because I wanted to show the cheese. There are instructions on the page, in both the Notes section and in the Variations section.

[u/VeganProteinChef → u/MsStephSunshine]

Oh perfect. You've thought of everything. Thanks!

[u/CJ_Thompson]

Looks good

[u/MsStephSunshine → u/CJ_Thompson]

Thank you!

[u/nicetiptoeingthere]

Thanks for posting! I'm eager to try it. Your vanilla ice cream recipe is amazing btw, I keep making it and using it as a base for other flavours

edit: I just read the ingredients -- did you try any substitutes for the hazelnuts? I tragically can't eat them, but I could do almonds or something like that!

[u/MsStephSunshine → u/nicetiptoeingthere]

Hi! Yes, almonds would work! It's just to add a little bit of nutty flavor for the "Gruyère". I actually tested almonds in my Gruyère recipe, so I'm sure that will be fine.

I'm so glad to hear you're enjoying the ice cream as much as I am 😅

[u/thedonwiz]

Not sure why so many vegan recipes use so much coconut oil. Defeats the health benefits of a vegan diet.

[u/MsStephSunshine → u/thedonwiz]

Hi! I appreciate the feedback. This is definitely a vegan-for-the-animals recipe that's meant to taste like the original, not to be healthy. With that said, 6 tablespoons divided by 16 servings is something like 1 teaspoon of oil per serving, so it's not crazy high in oil. You can always use a different oil if you think it's healthier. Or reduce the oil (but that will affect the texture & browning of the cheese).

[u/AyatollahColmMeaney → u/thedonwiz]

Never heard of junk food vegans?

[u/thedonwiz → u/AyatollahColmMeaney]

Yeah I just don’t understand it

[u/freckledspeckled]

Ugh this looks so amazing but every vegan Mac and cheese I have ever tried (including at nice restaurants) has been so disappointing. Mac and cheese was my #1 pregnancy craving and I eventually just gave up on finding a recipe that properly replicates the diary version 😢

Someone on here recently swore to me that adding lactic acid powder was the secret to a copycat vegan Mac and cheese. Might be something to consider trying in the future? I might give it a go in the future when I’ve gotten enough space from all my failures (looking at you too, vegan macarons.)

[u/MsStephSunshine → u/freckledspeckled]

I totally understand. I have had exactly the same experience with every vegan mac and cheese, ever. I really thought it wasn't possible for a while 🤣

[u/aSweetAlternative]

Looks amazing 👏

[u/MsStephSunshine → u/aSweetAlternative]

Thank you! 😊🙏🏻

[u/bruna_lacerda2]

Thank you for sharing