Raspberry Vegan Cheesecake

 

  Raspberry Vegan Cheesecake

Ingredients
Walnut Crust
1 cup walnuts
3 soft Medjool dates, pitted
½ tablespoon coconut oil
heaping ¼ teaspoon sea salt

Cheesecake Option 1: with cashews* (see note)

1½ cup raw cashews, soak 4 hours, then drain
½ cup full fat coconut milk
¼ cup + 2 tablespoons maple syrup
¼ cup fresh lemon juice plus 1 tablespoon zest
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
½ teaspoon sea salt

Cheesecake Option 2: with Daiya cream cheese
1 (8 oz.) package plain vegan cream cheese
½ cup full fat coconut milk
¼ cup maple syrup
¼ cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Raspberry Layer
1 (12-ounce) bag frozen raspberries, mostly thawed
½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons chia seeds

Directions

In a food processor, pulse the walnuts, dates, coconut oil and salt together until crumbly. Line an 8x4” loaf pan with parchment paper allowing 1 inch of overhang on each side. Press the crust into the bottom of the pan. Freeze for at least 15 minutes or as long as it takes to get the next layer ready.

In a high-powered blender, blend the cashews, coconut milk, maple syrup, lemon juice, zest, vanilla and salt until completely creamy (about 1 minute). Pour the filling over the crust and smooth until even. Freeze until this layer is completely firm, at least 2 hours. (Alternatively, use a regular blender and blend the ingredients from Cheesecake Option 2, above)

In the blender, combine the raspberries, lemon juice, maple syrup and chia seeds. Blend until smooth. Pour the raspberry mixture on top of the frozen cheesecake layer and smooth until even. Freeze for 4 hours or overnight.

When ready to serve, remove the cake from the freezer and let it thaw for at least 20 minutes. Using the sides of the parchment paper, carefully lift the cheesecake out of the pan. Use a sharp chef’s knife to slice it into 8 to 10 slices. Let the individual slices thaw for an additional 15 to 20 minutes, until fully thawed so that the middle layer is creamy and the raspberry layer is less icy. Re-freeze any remaining slices.