Vegan No Bake Blueberry Maple Cashew Cheezecake
by Amanda • August 7, 2012 • Desserts & Treats, Plant-based (Vegan) • 77 Comments
It’s Tasty Tuesday, what does “hope” mean to you?
I’ve been passed a blogging relay baton by my sweet friend Kristy at Keepin’ it Kind. Hope is something I struggle with at times, you can hope to be healthier, hope to be stronger and hope to be a better person but those things can’t happen unless you act. So for me hope is a seed that grows until it leads to action.
Here are things that have given me hope to act lately:
The Olympics! I know, cliche, but isn’t it amazing to see what people overcome to get there? I like cheering for the underdogs, like double amputee Oscar Pistorius. I’ve resumed my running routine this week, because even though a break is good now and again, I have two able legs and should use them. Plus I have the bestest running buddy in the world to help give me hope and motivate me. Irresistible right?!?
My blogging family here online that gives me so much support and hope for the future of a healthier generation. I act as part of that group, hopefully sharing something that can help another even if its simply to EAT MORE PLANTS.
Those of my religion give me hope for humanity as I watch them give selfless acts of service to others on a daily basis. Witnessing these acts and trying to give of myself in a similar way helps me to be more at peace with myself.
Lastly, choosing (an act) a plant-based diet gives me hope that I will live to a ripe old age without succumbing to heart disease, cancer, diabetes or a myriad of other ailments. In the meantime, I will enjoy a small slice of this simply amazing vegan, gluten-free cheezecake.
Blueberry Maple Cashew Cheezecake
For the crust:
1 C. dates
1 C. almonds
For the filling:
2 C. raw cashews, ground
1/2 – 1 C. pure maple syrup (depending on your sweet-o-meter)
1 t. sea salt
1/3 C. fresh lemon juice + zest from one lemon
2.5 C. water, divided
1/2 package Pamona’s Pectin, method below (do not use another brand of pectin or your cheezecake won’t set)
1 T. vanilla
6 oz fresh blueberries
Method: First make the crust by combining almonds and dates in food processor until fine. If dates are too dry and the mixture is crumbly, add a tablespoon or two of water and pulse until mixture starts to form a ball. Press crust into a lightly oiled 12 inch springform pan. Next make the cheezecake filling: Grind 2 C. cashews until fine in a power blender. Add 2 C. Boiling water, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt and pure maple syrup, I used half a cup of the pure maple syrup and thought it was plenty, but my husband said the recipe could have been improved by more sweetness, hence the pick your own sweetness above. Blend until smooth and creamy. Mix all of the small calcium packet from pectin box with the remaining 1/2 C. Water. Add half of the large pectin packet (about 4.5 teaspoons) and 1/4 C. of the calcium water to the blender and pulse until all thoroughly combined. Store remaining calcium water in the fridge and keep the pectin packet in your pantry and use for jam making or another cheezecake. Stir in blueberries by hand, being careful not to break any. Pour cashew cheezecake batter into the springform pan. Refrigerate uncovered for 5-6 hours or overnight before slicing and serving. Makes 16 servings.
Time to pass the baton to these very worthy bloggers and give you the reasons they inspire hope in me:
The Vegan’s Husband for awesomest new vegan on the blogging scene
Lucy at Lucy’s Friendly Foods for her incredible plant based culinary delights
Thom at Don’t Switch off the Light for his big vegan heart and compassion towards all living creatures, including spiders.
Big or Little Sis at My Sister’s Pantry for helping me to constantly and frugally reinvent myself in the kitchen, Even helping me to be more creative with my leftovers.
Heidi at Lightly Crunchy for helping me to be more, well, crunchy! Love her!
TTFN!
Update: For an insane Chocolate Version of this recipe, please visit this post
Photo Courtesy of Annie at An Unrefined Vegan
I’ve just recently been experimenting with vegan dishes, mainly cooking for friends who are vegan. I’m amazed at the versatility of cashews. What a great discovery! I’ve made vegan enchiladas with a cilantro-lime cashew crema and vegan chipotle brownies with a cinnamon-vanilla cashew frosting. I can’t wait to try this cashew cheesecake recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Oh-my-word. Those enchiladas and brownies sound divine.
For Reals
Wow, that’s so great that you are branching out to feed the vegheads in your life!
Have your tried our cashew cheez yet? It will make them swoon….
http://goodcleanfood.wordpress.com/2012/07/10/vegan-pepper-jack-cashew-cheez-and-pamonas-pectin-giveaway/
http://goodcleanfood.wordpress.com/2012/07/21/vegan-margherita-pizza-and-blissful-bites-book-giveaway/
http://goodcleanfood.wordpress.com/2012/06/02/thin-crust-sriracha-bbq-tofu-and-moxerella-pizza/
http://goodcleanfood.wordpress.com/2012/08/03/my-favorite-zucchini-casserole-and-other-things-to-do-with-all-this-squash/
http://goodcleanfood.wordpress.com/2012/06/01/ode-to-cheese/
Yay Somer! A run and a dreamy dessert, pure bliss. Any leftovers for my breakfast. Will work for food.
TONS of leftovers. I had 16 slices yesterday…. only 4 are gone. We are going to be here all day…
That would almost be enough to get me running.
The cheezecake or the thoughts on hope?
This is so going down in the kitchen this weekend!!!
That’s what I’m talking about!!! Bonus that it’s ridiculously easy!
That dessert right there could very well win over my meat-eating heart. I came over to take a look at how on earth you could possibly make cheesecake vegan, and found myself with a baton (if you’ve ever seen me run, that would almost be funny). I run like Elaine from Seinfeld dances. Anyway, amazing looking cheesecake and I will be thinking of something to post about Hope soon.
It was pretty divine!
I really REALLY would love to see you run now! If it makes you feel any better I got analyzed at a local running company and the OWNER of the company said I’m the worst pronator he has EVER seen and wanted to put me in some sort of stability shoes designed for really overweight people. My left leg goes back and forth like it ought to, but my right leg swings around in circles. Not very biomechanically efficient, but hey, it doesn’t stop me!
Oh and sorry about the hope relay baton, please don’t put too much into it, it’s kind of a strange thing asking other bloggers to do something on their blog. I’m not always all for it, but thought you might give this one “the right touch”
I’m looking forward to it, actually. I’ve got a little something in the works already. Sounds like we both run the way my cat (Lurch) walks.
That’s what I like to hear!
You, me and Lurch need to hang out…
So impressive – I can’t quite believe that its vegan! Fantastic! I adore a good cheesecake…
Thanks Nick! I was pleasantly surprised by how much it tasted like a real cheesecake! Wish I could send you a slice. It really looks like the real deal too!
That would probably get a little messy…
and stinky…..
Oh Somer! It looks fantabulous! Copying and printing RIGHT friggin’ now!
Annie it tastes so much like the real deal that it nearly made me cry! Let me know if you make it with less sugar. I’m fine with stevia in some things but others I just have to go with flavor over calories/nutrition. I make treats so infrequently that it’s okay….. Sorta
It’s okay
. Life needs a little sugar now and again. I can’t wait to make this! Kel arrives tonight (yay!) and I’ll make this for our weekend treat. Oooh, no springform pan, though! Maybe a pie pan would work?
Dang. Wrote a reply and it disappeared. Trying again…
Oh you must be so excited! And yes, a pie pan will work fabulously, the cheesecake will just be taller and make less servings, which isn’t a bad thing….
Not a bad thing at all, my friend!
Oh, and I would have used more blueberries if I had them, even double would be nice. I used what I had on hand….
I can do that
!
Atta girl
Okay, you all need to just cut it out! First there’s this recipe, then Gabby posted her key lime/chocolate pie and then Shira went and made a coconut/chocolate deal! Stop! Just stop!
I’m done…. It’s salads, soups and smoothies from here on out….. (Really, Abe is coming and we are going to Snowbird and doing the Green Smoothie Challenge)!
Um Gabbby’s mail won’t open in my inbox. WHY am I having so many technical difficulties :/
Oh, fun! You’re gonna do a lot of running w/ Abe, too, right
? Sorry about the techie problems. Tres annoying.
yes, if I can get little ratbag to stay in the jogging stroller….. That is the dilemma. My parents are getting too old to keep up with him
Found it. Um, it’s your fault. You DID issue her a challenge…..
Yeah, but all of you posting this kind of stuff on the SAME day?! C’mon! I’m only human.
I just ate a veggie chop salad w/ oil-free dressing. Getting my penance done ahead of time…
See, it’s all going to be okay. One slice….. I did it, you can too!
Hehe! Can’t wait!
This is truly exciting. I bought some Pomona’s before we went out of town to make the melty cashew cheese and now I have an even better reason to get it out of the box. This sounds and looks so incredible. And to get the recipe from such a hopeful and helpful person? An extra blessing. Thanks Somer!
Yay! And it’s gluten free to boot so you can serve it with reckless abandon to your hubby!
Thanks!
Oh and a word about the cashew cheez, the longer you leave it uncovered in your fridge, the firmer it will get, which is a good thing, especially if you want to grate it. Overnight is really best….
OMG this looks FANTASTIC. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thanks! It was quite fantastic if I do say so myself!
Oh YUM Somer! I love the addition of the whole blueberries into the cake! I’ve never seen that before- so creative!
Lovely post too- I agree that eating plant-based gives me great hope for the future! For myself, my loved ones and animals. The more I see veganism/plant-based eating grow, the more I believe in the kindness of the human spirit.
P.S. I was reading yours and Annie’s little convo there and it made me giggle- I’m totally aboard the salad train- need to get back in line lol
Thanks so much Gabby! Your keylime amazingness today was pretty awesome too!
I think Annie and I are going to elope, that’s the real reason she’s in Utah
Teehee.
This looks so wonderful- it has been far too long since I’ve had cheesecake!
And I love your thoughts on hope- you are so right. Hope is nothing until you take action. Such a great reminder.
P.S. I’m glad to hear that you’re feeling up to running again. Yay!
It was a natural evolution with cashew cheez, it had to happen!
Thanks for passing the baton, It’s good to get all reflective once in a while.
Running again in the a.m. WOOT!
Wow. Just wow! It looks so delicious. I’m going to pinterest this bad boy right now so I don’t forget to make it soon.
That’s the way! It was truly delicious! Let me know how it turns out if you get around to it!
looks very delicious as always. Bookmark this one and make it on the weekend if I can find some pectin. Thanks for the post
and keeping on blogging please…
Thanks Thom! Will do!
Your cashew cheezecake looks tremendously tasty! I only used soaked & drained cashews in my vegan cheesecakes ! I am so going to try it soon! Looks awesome!
Thanks! Adding water and pectin significantly cuts down the calorie count
So let’s discuss you’re awesomeness:
1. You know you have the 2nd most comments on my blog? (After me, naturally)
2. You keep giving me more ideas to write about than I can keep up with.
3. You were my 2nd follower, and my 1st follower to comment.
4. You’re sending me free soap!
5. You called me awesome. Awwww. . .
My wife and I are trying to incorporate more raw food, mostly in the form of desserts admittedly, and I think the conversion from maple-blueberry to maple-chocolate will be an easy one.
You=superstar.
*your
Ugh, i hate proofreading after submission. . .
Didn’t notice. It’s the teacher in you. If you prefer, I can go in and edit…..
Accepted: now time to counter
1- You are also on the top commenter list on this blog as in #6, but that includes all the ladies on this blog. Only the refined vegan chick beats you, which is okay since she and I are kinda like besties.
2- You can totally manage it, um until school starts….
3- Radical
4- You won the contest fair and square.
5- It’s pretty much true
ADD
6- We were talking about converting blueberry to chocolate cheezecake last night. I think it has to be swirled. I won’t be offended if you post it first!
You=RADICAL.
p.s. put me on your dang blogroll!
What a great post Somer! I love your definitions of hope:) I agree, I find that the stories of these olympic athletes really pull at my heartstrings:) and ok, can we just talk about your cheezecake?!?! oh my gosh, girl! that is AMAZING!!!! i am totally going to have to try and make this. it looks absolutely superb! Have a great day!
Thanks Caralyn!
Oh, please let me know if you make the cheezecake! I would love to see what twist you put on it!
Thanks for this! I’ve been looking for a vegan (non-tofu) cheesecake recipe for ages! Aloka (vegan & raw food place in Brighton, UK) do one and I have been waiting to try and replicate it. Will be cooking this at the weekend.
Mark
http://herbifit.wordpress.com
Let me know how it turns out for you! I was pleasantly blown away!
Will do. I am drooling already. Going to head to Aloka tomorrow just to get a fix.
Do it!
Hope you can find the pectin. You can purchase it through the Pamona Pectin website http://www.pomonapectin.com/order/uk/ukorder.html
Search around! It only works with that pectin!
I loved reading your post. I totally agree, hope is the seed that grows till it leads to action
and the list of things that make you hopeful is really inspiring
Thanks! Glad I could pass it on!
I am SO going to make this…thank you for sharing!!
AWESOME!
You are so welcome!
I’ve nominated you for a Very Inspiring Blog Award! You can see it here and follow the steps on it! I really enjoy your blog!
http://thehealthyflavor.com/2012/08/05/overwhelmed-as-a-newbie/
Next steps if you want to participate:
1. Link back to the nominator
2. List 7 facts bout yourself
3. List 15 nominations if you can
4. Display award logo on your blog
Oh wow, I missed this! Thank you so much!!!
A fabulous running buddy is THE best!!! I would not know what I would do without my buddy joining me at 6 in the morning for a run
You are so right, these healthy legs are made for running – we have to use them and be grateful we can!
Yum, your cake looks so delicious – I want to make it NOW!
Thanks Anne!
Erika and I live a bit apart so we don’t run together as often as we’d like :/
I do have a trusty canine companion that keeps me company and pulls me up the hills when I get tired
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Your welcome!! Thanks so much for sharing your blog!
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