You want to drain the excess liquid from the yogurt and get a creamy and thick texture. To do this, all you need is a nut milk bag, a jar or a cylindrical container, and an elastic band.
Secure the nut milk bag into the jar with the elastic band, dump the soy yogurt in the bag, and allow it to drip.
Let the yogurt chill in the fridge for at least 8 hours or until you get the consistency you're looking for. If you want your cream cheese really dense and thick, you may need 12-24 hours. Just keep checking the consistency until it's okay for you.
When it's ready, transfer the yogurt to a bowl, add the salt, and stir until well combined.
Use your vegan cream cheese immediately and enjoy it as a savory breakfast over some bagels, vegan bread, or toasted gluten-free bread along with some sauteed mushrooms and chives.
Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-7 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Keep in mind that if you freeze it, its texture will change. However, you will still be able to use it in cooked or baked goods.
Notes
If you don't have a nut milk bag, you could also use a napkin, a butter muslin, or a piece of cloth. However, I don't think a cheesecloth is the best tool, as you will need a more dense fabric to get optimal results.
Feel free to use any unsweetened non-dairy yogurt for this vegan cream cheese recipe. Homemade and store-bought are both okay. You could try to make it with coconut yogurt.
Depending on the consistency of your yogurt, you may need to keep it in the fridge for a shorter or longer period of time. It depends on how thick it is. For example, coconut yogurt is usually thicker than soy yogurt.
Try the cream cheese and add more salt if needed.
To easily customize this non-dairy cream cheese, feel free to incorporate any ingredients to give it a little bit more flavor. You could use seeds, chives, spices, herbs, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, or sea salt to taste.
You could even use nuts like peanuts, almonds, or raw cashews. There are so many options!