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This vegan blue cheese is simply mind-blowing! Naturally cultured and prepared with just 5 ingredients, it makes use of traditional cheese-making techniques. The result is a sharp, creamy, and rich vegan blue cheese like you have never tried before!

Vegan Aged Blue Cheese

IT IS HERE. The vegan blue cheese recipe is finally here, guys!

I’m really, really excited about this recipe. First, because I have been working on it for several months, and second, because it tastes exactly like blue cheese.

⭐️ Why You Should Try It

  • The texture is just perfect. It’s creamy so you can spread it easily on a slice of bread, but firm enough to cut it into slices. Plus, it has those natural blue veins that are so characteristic of blue cheese.
  • It has that rich and strong aroma. This cheese is actually even stronger in taste than my vegan aged camembert! Non-vegans could not believe it was not “real” blue cheese!
  • It’s a fun experiment. Whether you are new to vegan cheese making or made some before, the process of making this blue cheese is interesting and exciting at the same time. You will see the mold slowly grow over a few weeks!
  • It’s a reader’s favorite. With 244 ★★★★★ ratings, this recipe is a must-try! James said “Just tasted my first batch of this. It is quite simply, the best vegan cheese I have ever made. All thanks to you Thomas – another epic recipe.”

By the way, if you are looking for different vegan cheese recipes, take a look at my vegan camembert, vegan washed-rind cheese, or this sun-dried tomato camembert!

📘 What Is Blue Cheese

Blue cheese is a type of semi-soft cheese that is made with Penicillium roqueforti cultures. This edible mold not only creates a sharp and piquant flavor, but it is also responsible for the blue/green veins inside and outside the cheese.

Historians say that Gorgonzola is one of the oldest types of blue cheese, appearing around AD 879.

🥛 Ingredient Notes

Just like my vegan aged camembert, this blue cheese is made with just 5 ingredients. Here is what you will need:

  • Cashews – The base of this cheese is raw cashews. They bring the perfect amount of creaminess and richness. Do not use roasted cashews.
  • Probiotics – To give the blue cheese its tangy flavor, we will be using probiotics that will trigger the fermentation process. I recommend using either Acidophilus or Mesophilic. The latter is specifically made for cheese making and yields a superior flavor.
  • Mold culturePenicillium roqueforti is the mold that will give the cheese its rich flavor and blue color.
  • Coconut oil – The coconut oil is here to add creaminess, it also helps the mold grow since it requires a lot of fat. I recommend refined coconut oil, that has been deodorized.
  • Salt – Salt not only enhances the flavor but also prevents bad mold from growing.

About the Penicillium roqueforti: You can get the penicillium roqueforti mold here. It might seem a little bit expensive but a little goes a long way. For 4 pieces of cheese, you will only need 1/8 tsp. It can be stored in the freezer for months.

🥣 How to Make It

The recipe is actually pretty easy to make; the hardest part is to be patient since the whole process will take over a month.

Prepare the cashew cream

Start by soaking the cashews in water for at least 5 hours or overnight. Then, blend them with water and coconut oil until it forms a smooth cream. Next, add the probiotics and penicillium roqueforti and blend again.

Transfer the cashew cream to a bowl and cover it with plastic film to touch. It needs to ferment at room temperature for one day to kick off the fermentation process.

Shape the cheeses

Next, it’s time to shape the cheeses. Line springform pans or cookie cutters with parchment paper and fill each one with cashew cream. Note: the size or shape of your pans doesn’t matter too much, so use what you have on hand.

Place the cheeses (still in the pans) in a container and refrigerate overnight.

Vegan Aged Blue Cheese

Salt the cheeses

The next day, it’s time to remove the cheeses from the pans and salt them. Salt will help with mold growth, so it’s essential. To do so, sprinkle sea salt on the top and sides of each cheese and use your finger to rub the salt. Very carefully flip the cheeses and sprinkle salt on the opposite side.

Place the cheeses on parchment paper and put them back in the container.

Age the cheeses

It’s not time to age the cheeses and let the mold grow! Age the cheeses in your refrigerator at a temperature of about 47-52°F (8-11°C) and flip them every day.

After 7 days, you should start to see some light blue/green mold spots; it’s a good sign! Continue the process for another 7 days.

Vegan Aged Blue Cheese

Crumble and re-shape

After a total of 14 days, your cheeses should be a bit firmer and almost completely covered with blue mold. It’s now time to crumble them.

Why crumble the cheeses?

It’s the blue mold that gives the cheese its characteristic flavor. The problem is that the mold needs to be in contact with the air to grow, so you need to have many small openings inside the cheese for better mold growth. Regular blue cheeses are often pierced several times with a skewer to make holes. I tried this way but with no success. After several tries, I thought of scrambling the cheese into little pieces and then forming it again without pressing too much to leave large holes inside it. It worked!

Using clean hands, scramble the cheese in a large bowl (just like you would scramble tofu). Next, line springform pans or cookie cutters with parchment paper and re-fill them with the cashew cream without pressing too much to leave large holes on the inside.

The final step is to keep flipping the cheeses every day and wait…Your cheeses will be ready in 3 more weeks, but if you are patient enough to wait for an extra 2 weeks I promise you won’t regret it! It will become even stronger and sharper.

Serve this blue cheese alongside vegan camembert, onion chutney, and grapes and you have one of the best vegan cheese platter!

Vegan Aged Blue Cheese

📔 Tips

  • Age the cheeses in a container during the complete aging process. Mold needs humidity to grow. That’s why you need to keep the cheeses in a small box or container in your refrigerator. If you were to let the cheeses uncovered, they would dry out before the mold gets a chance to grow.
  • Do not omit any ingredient. This recipe is not versatile, so I do not recommend substituting or omitting any ingredient.
  • Use latex gloves. By using gloves each time you handle the cheeses, you reduce your chances of seeing bad mold growing. Latex gloves are pretty cheap and come in large boxes, so do not hesitate to get yourself a box.
  • If you are making vegan camembert at the same time: I recommend you keep them in two separate boxes. Mold can transfer very easily, and you could end up with white mold on your blue cheese or blue mold on your camembert.
  • Regarding the appearance of the cheese. The rind of this blue cheese is dark blue because I didn’t scrape the sides. Be aware the rind is edible, but if you prefer the exterior to be white, you can gently scrape the mold using a clean knife every two weeks. I prefer to leave the rind because it looks cooler, and after about a month, it will become a little bit firmer. Creamy inside + firm rind = perfect cheese to me.

💬 FAQ

Does blue cheese have mold in it?

Yes, blue cheese contains a natural mold that is called Penicillium. This type of mold gives the cheese its flavor and color.

What does blue cheese taste like?

Blue cheese has a sharp and tangy taste with subtle piquant/spicy notes.

Is mold safe to eat?

As long as it’s good mold, yes!

How do I know if my blue cheese turned bad?

It’s very easy to tell if a cheese has gone bad; just smell it. If it has a rotten eggs smell, you should trash it. If there is some pink or black fuzzy mold, it’s not good either.

Is blue cheese the same as Roquefort?

Roquefort is a type of blue cheese that is only produced in a specific area of France. It is a protected designation of origin.

Does this blue cheese melt?

No, this vegan blue cheese does not melt. It will only become softer once heated.

Can I freeze this cheese?

Yes, once the ripening process is done, you can freeze it for up to 3 months.

Vegan Aged Blue Cheese

Disclaimer

  • The links provided here for Penicillium Roqueforti may not redirect to a fully vegan product as Amazon sellers change product references frequently. Be aware that non-vegan ones are grown on lactose, meaning they contain *traces* of lactose. Considering the amount used, you could still consider your cheese 99,99% vegan. It’s up to you to choose which one fits your beliefs best. One more thing, fully vegan Penicillium roqueforti exists; you will have to do your own research to locate it.
  • Many people have been making this cheese without giving any credit back and labeling it as their own. I worked really hard to create this recipe from scratch and had to do a ton of experiments before releasing it, so please give credit by tagging @fullofplants on Instagram or linking to this website.

Final Words

I hope this recipe will prove it’s possible to make everything with plant-based ingredients. If you are not vegan yet, you don’t have to give up on cheese anymore!

Please let me know if you try this recipe, and feel free to ask if you have questions about the process!

⭐️ Did you like this recipe? Let us know in the comments below, and tag us on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Vegan Aged Blue Cheese
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Vegan Blue Cheese

4.84 from 267 votes
Author: Thomas Pagot
Vegan blue cheese that tastes like the real one! Made using traditional cheese-making techniques and only 5 ingredients. A creamy, sharp, and strong cheese.
Prep Time : 50 minutes
Aging Time : 35 days
Total Time : 35 days 50 minutes
Servings 4 Cheeses
Calories 95 kcal

Ingredients
 

Instructions
 

The day before

  • Soak the cashews in filtered water for at least 5 hours or overnight.

Forming the cheese

  • Drain the cashews and place them in a large glass bowl. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, pour the water directly onto the cashews. Let sit 1-2 minutes, and drain the cashews again. This step will help kill possible bacteria.
  • Transfer the cashews to the bowl of a blender or food processor. Add the coconut oil and 5 tablespoons of filtered water. Blend on high speed, scraping down the sides from time to time, this step might take about 10 minutes, depending on your blender. You should get a smooth, thick mixture.
  • Open the probiotic capsules and add the powder to the blender.
  • Add the penicillium roqueforti. If your penicillium roqueforti is in powdered form it works the same way as the liquid one. Blend for another 10-15 seconds.
  • The mixture should be smooth but thick. If needed, add 1 tablespoon of water at a time until smooth. Do not add too much water otherwise the mixture will be too liquid, you want a thick consistency.
  • Transfer to a clean bowl, cover with plastic film, and let sit at room temperature in a dark place for about 24h. This step is important to let the cheese ferment.
  • The following day, place the bowl in the refrigerator for about 4 hours to make the mixture easier to work with.
  • After that, line a baking sheet or flat plate with parchment paper. Place 4 small springform pans on top (I used two 3-inch cookie cutter rounds for each cheese, stacked).
  • Cut strips of parchment paper and lay them in 4 small springform pans. You want to cover the bottom and sides of the pan. You can also use plastic film if you prefer. The goal is to prevent the cashew mixture from touching the metal. Fill each pan with the cashew mixture and press it down using plastic film, so it doesn't stick to your hands.
  • Place a container upside down on the plate where the cheeses sit. This step is essential to keep some humidity inside. It's important for good mold growth. Place the cheeses in your refrigerator (you will age the cheeses covered in your refrigerator during the whole aging process).

Aging

  • After 2 days, sprinkle salt over the top of the cheeses, and lightly rub with clean hands. Carefully flip the cheeses using a small plate lined with parchment paper, and remove the springform pan. Sprinkle salt on top and the sides, rubbing gently. You will only salt once. The cheeses will still be very soft, but they will be easier to work with after a few days.
  • Flip the cheeses every day, always using clean hands. You can use gloves or work with a plastic film to make sure you are not touching the cheeses.
  • Blue mold should start to appear after about 7 days. The mold will be slightly darker or lighter, depending on the humidity and temperature of your fridge.
  • After 2 weeks, scramble the cheese into little pieces (just like when you scramble tofu) in a clean bowl. The cashew mixture will still be quite soft, so try to make small pieces. For this step, I highly recommend wearing latex gloves.
  • Lay strips of parchment paper into springform pans and fill each pan with the scrambled cheese without pressing too much. This step is important to create holes inside the cheese as the mold needs to be in contact with air to grow. You can remove the cheeses from the springform pans right after shaping them. Place the cheeses on the baking sheet or plate, cover them with a plastic box or container, and place them back in the refrigerator.
  • Continue to flip the cheeses every day for the next 3 weeks, always using clean hands or gloves. This step only takes a few seconds every day.
  • After a total of 5 weeks, the inside and the outside of your cheeses will be covered with blue mold. They will be ready to eat soon!
  • Wrap each cheese in cheese paper or aluminum foil and wait another 3-7 days. The longer you let them age in the refrigerator, the stronger the taste.
  • The cheese will keep for about one month in the refrigerator and will become firmer and sharper.

Notes

  • Age the cheeses in a container during the complete aging process. Mold needs humidity to grow, that’s why you need to keep the cheeses in a small box or container in your refrigerator. If you were to let the cheeses uncovered, they would dry out before the mold gets a chance to grow.
  • Do not omit any ingredient. This recipe is not versatile so I do not recommend substituting or omitting any ingredient.
  • Use latex gloves. By using gloves each time you handle the cheeses, you reduce your chances to see bad mold growing. Latex gloves are pretty cheap and come in large boxes so do not hesitate to get yourself a box.
  • If you are making vegan camembert at the same time: I recommend you keep them in two separate boxes. Mold can transfer very easily and you could end up with white mold on your blue cheese, or blue mold on your camembert.
  • Regarding the appearance of the cheese. The rind of this blue cheese is dark blue because I didn’t scrape the sides. Be aware the rind is edible, but if you prefer the exterior to be white, you can gently scrape the mold using a clean knife every two weeks. I prefer to leave the rind because it looks cooler and after about a month it will become a little bit firmer. Creamy inside + firm rind = perfect cheese to me.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 /4 of a cheese (about 1 oz) | Calories: 95 kcal | Carbohydrates: 5 g | Protein: 3.2 g | Fat: 8.5 g | Fiber: 0.6 g | Sugar: 1 g
Course : Appetizer, Cheese
Cuisine : French
Did you make this recipe? Tag @fullofplants on Instagram and hashtag it #fullofplants
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About the Author

Thomas Pagot is the founder, photographer, and recipe developer behind Full of Plants. He created the blog in 2016 as a personal cookbook for vegan recipes. Through years of recipe development, Thomas has successfully grown Full of Plants into a trusted resource for plant-based recipes.

Learn more ➜

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5 stars
Dear Thomas,

this summer I have been to Paris and have tried my first vegan blue cheese there (Jay&Joy) and directly fell in love with it. Since I just live in a rural area and don’t want to order the cheese always (also its quite pricy), I decided to start making my own and stumbled upon your recipe. So first thanks a lot for this recipe! 🙂

On my first time, I have produced enough mixture, to make two cheeses out of it. Therefore I tried both approaches, so with one I just poked holes in it, and with the other one, I crumbled and put it back together once it was Filly covered in mold.

With the one that had holes in it, I couldnt wait longer than 4 weeks, because it looked so nice from the outside. It also had nice blue veins in it, but the taste was rather mild… like camembert.

With the other one, that I crumbled, I just tried it this weekend. Its been 6 weeks since the day I have produced the initial cashew mixture.
It definetly smells and tastes more spicy/piquant and has a more cheesy flavour. However these days I’ve had the chance to try another vegan blue cheese from the store (Nutty). Similiar to the cheese from Jay&Joy, the one from Nutty has more blue cheese smell and flavour.

What could it be that I am doing wrong ? Is it maybe the wrong strain of rocqueforti?
Also with these first two cheeses, I didnt add coconut oil, could that be the reason? Or is it maybe because of the temperture? I’ve read that some people put the cheese to lower temperatures (2-4°C), once it has mold all around it. Also I didnt put it into aluminium foil, I basically kept it in the same ripening box at the same frige compartment (thats between 10-12°C) fir those 6 weeks.

Have you tried the “Jay&Joy” or “Nutty” and know their exact flavours ? Alternatively, I was thinking to take a teaspoon of the “Nutty” cheese as a starter for my next mixture.

5 stars
I definetly agree, the Nutty brand uses the crumbling method, also saw this on their Insta page!

Regarding:

1) Is the one that you have linked in your recipe or do you know in general a brand or the name of the roqueforti strain that tastes similiar to the Jay & Joy one ? Mesophilic cultures I have definetly used, is there a difference to Flora Danica? I checked out the one I bought and some Flora Danica I found in the internet and they seem to have the same cultures in them… Geotrichum Candidum I haven’t tried out, but that also sounds like I should give it a try ! 🙂

2)/3) Ok I will also give it a try with the cheese paper! I don’t fully understand though what you mean by „to allow flavors to develop“ and „warmer aging temperatures give stronger cheese“. What exactly do you mean with „stronger cheese“ and „flavors to develop“? Would that be different flavors in your opinion, so that the „wrapping in cheesepaper and putting it at colder temperatures (e.g 5 degrees celsius)“ might result in the flavors I am looking for, while leaving it unwrapped in the riping box at around 11 degrees, would make it only more piquant and spicy ?

But like I said, I‘ll definitely give it a try with the cheesepaper 🙂 Actually, I guess I’ll use half the cheese I have atm and do a little experiment to actually taste and smell the difference when I wrap it in cheesepaper and put it colder compared to when I leave it in the ripening box at warmer temperatures.

Thanks again for your answer and taking the time to respond. It’s really nice that you share all of this informations/recipes and even take the time to answer all people in the comments! I hope I can achieve the taste and flavor someday, then I can finally show it to one of my old friends, that I couldn’t convince with vegan cheese so far 😀

Also thought I’ll share some pictures to show everyone how nice this recipe works 🙂

04B6BC52-FD46-4556-8655-136CC3380C65

I’m working on this blue cheese, I’m at day 5, but I have the cheeses individually wrapped in plastic wrap, will that be okay or should I have them in a pan covered and not wrapped? Thanks for any helpful hints!

Hi, Would it be possible for you to make a video for this recipe? It looks great! I have not made it yet, but it is worth to try for sure.

3 stars
What happens if the mixture seems a bit runny?

I accidentally came across your recipe and decided to try to implement it. But I have a problem – I can’t stand coconut oil at all. Is it possible to replace it with the same amount of olive oil or corn oil? Or at least for a solid butter like cocoa or shea butter?

Dear Tomas,
the blue cheese looks great.
Do the blue cheese can be done with almond vegan cheese, instead cashews?

I can’t eat coconut; can this cheese still be made without it? Can avocado oil replace it?

I’m not a vegan, I just want to eat healthier. I read one of the comments about using “real blue cheese” as a starter. How much should I use? A couple of tablespoons? Would using a lot more make the process faster? Say, half a real Roquefort? I plan on making the cheese, and then reusing some leftovers for the next batch (like making kombucha). Once I reuse the cheese from your recipe using the non-vegan cheese as a starter, how much to add to the next batch? I’m hoping it will become more vegan after a few batches if I want to share it with my vegan sister. Thanks for the hard work!

download vegan cheese making is not working, can you sent it

Thank you so much for this recipe Thomas! I was wondering if over the years you have tried this cheese with almonds or sunflower seeds instead of cashews 🙂

5 stars
Taste and texture and brilliant! Thanks so much for enriching my life!

IMG_8045

5 stars
Just made two of these cheeses, following your recipe and… they are brilliant! Taste and texture are awesome. You’ve changed my life. Thank you!

Thank you! I didn’t think I would ever be able to enjoy blue cheese again, being dairy free. This cheese is the real deal. So good! This was my first time making this cheese and I look forward to making it again!

Hi, it’s been 9 days but all I see is a bit of white fluffy mould and no blue. Does that mean it’s likely contaminated? The penicilllum is in liquid form, do you think I could a add a drop and maybe it takes hold?thanks

NOT VEGAN:
Penicillium Roqueforti. Sufficient for 200 gallons of milk. Approximately 1/4 tsp of culture or about .3 grams. Not vegan. It is propagated on a lactose base containing gluten

Hi, currently the penicillium roqueforti link is going to a Rodent Repellent Spray, could you update? Not sure which to choose if I just do a search. Thank you!

5 stars
Thank you for sharing. I’ll try it soon. It’s amazing.

Please check your links! It takes you to anti rat spray. Yup plant based but still odd.

This cheese looks amazing!

Too bad I can’t consume coconut oil. My cholesterol skyrockets when I have added it to my diet, even in small amounts. Have you tried anything like avocado oil or olive oil? Brazil nuts seem to be very high in fat. I wonder if they could be used in addition?

Many of the links are leading to rat poison…perhaps your blog has been hacked?

5 stars
Thank you for sharing your recipe Thomas. I started the aging process of my cheese. I realized that I will be on holidays for a week and unable to flip the cheese from day 17 of the aging process to day 23. Will the cheese ruin in my absence without flipping? Do you have any ideas of what could I do to prevent the cheese from ruining? I am aging them in a small fridge at 11 degrees. Perhaps leaving them at a lower temperature 3 degrees while away? And then continuing the process at 11 degrees when I come back from holidays. Or freezing them while on holiday and continuing aging once I’m back? Thank you. Any suggestion would be welcome although I understand you might not have tried it.

5 stars
Kudos to you Thomas for creating this recipe. I’ve been missing a piece of blue since I converted to veganism about 40+ years ago. Now thanks to you I am eating blue cheese nearly every day.
A second batch is being prepared.
God bless.

Hi!

I’m wanting to make this recipe but I’m confused. It say’s to refrigerate it at 8-11c but a domestic fridge is normally set at 1-4 °C. Does this essentially mean i need to buy a separate fridge to keep the cheese in at 8-11 °C?

5 stars
Hi, I’ve successfully got to the stage of having the formed cheeses and I’m now flipping them daily in the fridge. Your recipe says 8-11C but at the lowest setting my fridge is still 5-6C – is mold going to grow at this temp or do I need to find another solution?

5 stars
I’m making your camembert, blue cheese, and hickory smoked cheese all at the same time! You made me buy a smoker, my friend… haha
I have made camembert and blue cheese in the past, but I had trouble with growing the mold. Your instructions were really clear, so I’m having a lot more success this time.
I got a fridge thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature around the cheeses and the mold is growing beautifully!
I’ll tag you on IG when they’re ready to show you the pictures.

Hi Thomas
Writing to tell you that I am seeing some mould growing after 12 days or so. How am I to know that it is the real one cos it seems there are fluffy ones too. Excuse me if this has been answered but I tried to search but it took a long time and gave up.
God bless.

Hi Thomas! I need your help here! I did this recipe and all went fine till I placed the cheeses in aluminium foil in the fridge one week ago. Today, I open the foil just to check on the cheeses and saw that they have developed large white patches on the underside. It doesn’t look fluffy like mould but more like hardened coconut oil… but it left me wondering if it is safe to eat them next week… may I please have your thoughts on this?

5 stars
Hello! My cheese has been aging for about 6 weeks. The blue is coming through but there is a powdery feel to some parts of it. Is that ok? Should I scrape or anything? Thanks!

Hello Thomas! While the recipe looks amazing, I would change the usage of latex gloves for other kind of gloves since latex is not vegan (latex comes from casein, which comes from milk).

Hello!

i wonder if i can add some vegan protein powder to your recipe, for a bit more protein. do you have any advice on this?

thank you so much!