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Raw Cheesecake Recipe

5 from 12 votes

Have you ever tried a raw cheesecake recipe?

Recipe here: https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2014/06/26/raw-cheesecake-recipe/

If you’ve never tried making one, today’s recipe is great for beginners – It only calls for 6 ingredients, and there’s no need for an oven. This raw cheesecake may look super fancy, but it could not be easier to make!

So how does it taste?

With raw cheesecake, it’s almost like you are biting into a slice of cheesecake- flavored fudge. The texture is rich and velvety, and the cheesecake is meant to be savored slowly. Even a small slice is extremely satisfying and will give you a comfortable feeling of fullness without weighing you down.

The best part is that, once you know the basic recipe, customization options are wide open to you! Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake? Mango Vanilla Cheesecake? Raw Cinnamon Swirl Cheesecake?

cashew cheesecake

You can mix and match flavors to find your own ultimate raw cheesecake recipe.

When eating a raw cheesecake, it’s best to not expect the cheesecake to taste exactly like your favorite non-raw cheesecake. Instead, enjoy this cheesecake in its own right.

It is absolutely fantastic, and I hope you will love it as much as I do!

Side note: If you’d prefer a baked cheesecake, be sure to try my Healthy Cheesecake Recipe.

Raw Cheesecake Crust

Feel free to use your favorite crust or make a crustless cheesecake.

This is the crust recipe I used: Line a round 9 inch springform pan with parchment paper, and set this pan aside.

Combine 1 cup pitted dates, 2 cups raw almonds, 1/16 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract in a food processor until fine crumbles form. If the mixture is too dry, add up to 1 tbsp water. (I recommend a food processor because I found that using a blender instead yielded a very sticky crust.)

Press the crust mixture into the prepared pan, then cover and freeze until ready to use.

Raw Cheesecake

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Raw Cheesecake Recipe

This 6 ingredient vegan raw cheesecake recipe is so easy to make!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Yield 1 cheesecake
5 from 12 votes

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups raw cashews or macadamia nuts (for nut free, try this Vegan Cheesecake)
  • 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste or 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup raw agave or honey (pure maple syrup also works)
  • 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp melted virgin coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup water, plus more for soaking cashews
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • optional: Blend strawberries with a little sweetener of choice for a sauce
  • optional crust of choice (the crust recipe I used is above)

Instructions

  • Raw Cheesecake Recipe: In a cereal bowl, cover the cashews with water and let soak 8 hours or overnight. (If using the raw crust recipe listed earlier in this post, you can make that while you wait.) Drain nuts and pat completely dry. Combine all ingredients (including the 1/4 cup water) in a high-quality food processor or Vitamix and process for 6-7 minutes or until completely smooth, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides. Pour into a prepared crust—either a graham cracker crust or the crust listed earlier. Or keep it crustless if you prefer. Store the raw cheesecake in the freezer for up to 2 weeks, and thaw 15-20 minutes before serving.
    View Full Nutrition Facts

Notes

Readers also love these Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies.
 

Have you made this recipe?

Tag @chocolatecoveredkatie on Instagram

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Published on June 26, 2014

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Chocolate Covered Katie is one of the top 25 food websites in America, and Katie has been 
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ABC's 5 O’Clock News. Her favorite food is chocolate, and she believes in eating dessert every single day.

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107 Comments

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  1. Ceara @ Ceara's Kitchen says

    Katie! What a simple and wonderful vegan cheesecake recipe! I’ve made something quite similar in the past!! I love freezing it into chocolate molds and sticking into banana soft serve for a treat (vegan cheesecake icream? yummmy!) Pinned!

    • Maria G. says

      How about trying blanched almonds? They have a neutral flavor, even though they are hard to blend out completely for a smooth sauce. You could also try walnuts; they are easy to blend out, but they have a slightly bitter taste.

      • Chef Bug says

        I think Maria’s Suggestion for blanched almonds is a great substitute! You can also soak them overnight, and in a vitamin blender, they will blend smooth as well! I use blanched almonds for the base of a dip that I am in love with and it is very creamy in texture.

        • Joan says

          This is our go-to Cheesecake recipe since I made it for our daughter’s birthday 3 years ago. I was asked to share the recipe many times over since then. It’s easy and absolutely delicious. We top this with fresh strawberries, blueberries and blackberries with ribbons of homemade blueberry coulis on top.

          Chef Bug, could we hear more about your dip?

  2. Claire Elizabeth says

    I like the sound of oatmeal week! Just got an huge 2kg bag of oats delivered! Single serving, oil-free, sugar-free? That’d be so so so awesome! Can’t wait to see what oatmeal creations you’ll make! 😀

  3. Mia (Mia in Germany) says

    I’ve tried raw vegan cheesecake with cashews, would love to try a macadamia version, too. Macadamias – raw, unsalted macadamias – are ridiculously expensive here, though 🙁
    Your pictures are awesome as usual, such a stunning strawberry red 😀
    I’d like oatmeal recipes, too. Never can be wrong with oatmeal!

  4. Abby says

    This looks awesome, Katie! I wish I could eat nuts. Maybe I’ll substitute it with tofu??? I’ll have to try it! Oh, and I absolutely love the idea for oatmeal week! 🙂
    I also just want to thank you for the wonderful recipes you bless the world with. My mom has a huge sweet tooth and she would be eating junk all the time if I didn’t make your recipes frequently. Thank you so much!! 😀

  5. Lydia says

    Theme weeks sound like a great idea! Oatmeal, ice cream, breads… *daydreaming about food* I’ve never had cheesecake before and this looks like a perfect, easy recipe to try 🙂

  6. susi says

    Although this and a lot of your or raw/vegan recipes are considered to be healthy, i find that they contain too much ( of course healthy) fat. I mean healthy fats are also unhealthy if you have too much. i hate to use tons of nuts and cocnut oil stuff. there should be alternative healthy/semi healthy recipes out there

    • Tasha says

      I guess the idea is that, although these are healthy desserts, people should still treat them like desserts and eat them in moderation as part of a balanced diet. The fat content then becomes less of an issue.

      I, for one, am thriving on a diet full of “good” fats. I’ve cut down my carbohydrate intake substantially, and protein and fat form most of my meals. My breakfast smoothies get dollops of nut butter added to them, lunch can easily involve half an avocado a day, and all my baking contains coconut oil. I am losing weight, gaining energy and my skin and hair is in great condition!

  7. Kate @Almond Butter Binge says

    Yum, yum, yum! This looks like the perfect base for some holiday-appropriate berries 😀 Thanks for sharing such an easy recipe.

  8. Kathryn says

    Katie, this looks amazing! I think theme weeks would be great, too! I love themes, especially oatmeal, chocolate, and delicious themes! 🙂

  9. Jules @ WolfItDown says

    This looks great Katie! Such a lovely Summer dessert that isn’t too heavy, and with all that healthy fat from the nuts, you’ve got a reason to have a slice of this if anything 😀 x

  10. Anthony says

    Theme Weeks sounds like a great idea. I am looking forward to Oatmeal Week. Thanks Katie for the awesome recipes you post.

  11. laura says

    This looks great, I love your emphasis on real foods (cashews, coconut oil etc) instead of trying to replace with fake, chemical-laden, fat-free ingredients! I will definitely be making this with the date nut crust in the future.

  12. Kathleen L says

    I would be interested in literally anything you post (for example, this cheesecake) so if theme week is what you’re feeling, theme week is what I encourage!

  13. Reagan says

    I was so excited to see this post until I saw it needed nuts. Is there any sort of substitute for those of us with peanut/tree nut allergies?

    I’d love a good cheesecake 🙂

  14. Karen says

    Yum! And just in time for my birthday! Katie, you are a culinary GENIUS! And “theme weeks” sounds like a good idea.

  15. Alpine Pedestrian says

    Is there any way to avoid using coconut oil in your recipes? This one probably needs it to help with the texture. But any mention of coconut sends me running to the rails. Would vegetable oil work?

    • Anna says

      Coconut oil solidifies when it’s cold, so I don’t think vegetable oil would have the same effect/texture

      • Sophie says

        cocoa butter would most likely work. it solidifies when cold as well (it’s a bit harder than coconut oil tho). it’s a little less moderate in flavour than coconut oil so your cheesecake might taste kinda cocoa buttery but tbh….is that really a bad thing?

  16. EVA says

    YES YES YES I LOVE the theme weeks! Although I look forward to the surprise of what the next recipe may be, it’s even better themed because then I can meal plan for the rest of the week. I’m a big practicer of breakfast for every meal, so breakfast month was awesome!

    BRING IT ON

  17. Sarah says

    Strawberry Cheesecake is my favorite dessert (for reals) – totally pinning this and giving it a try! I like the idea of theme weeks; especially an “Oatmeal Week” seeing that I have oatmeal at least 5 days a week for breakfast! =P

  18. Melissa @ Nourish By Melissa says

    This is perfect. I always want to try more raw baking but some overly complicated recipes with mile long ingredient lists are intimidating….thanks katie! 🙂

  19. AnnaBananaBelle says

    This looks delicious! I’ve never had raw cheesecake before but I would definitely like to try it sometime. Oh btw, did i miss the giveaway winner announcement or does only the winner find out?

  20. Antonia says

    I actually can not express in words the joy this cheesecake has brought to my life. Is that weird? Getting so much joy and happiness from a cheesecake that I can eat guilt-free (to an extent – I just woke up and ate some of this for breakfast haha oh dear), that is dairy-free, that doesn’t make my skin break out but actually does wonders for my health??
    If it’s wrong to be this excited about cake, I don’t want to be right. Thank you. Changed my life lol

  21. Maria G. says

    I want to take a bite right now!!! The pictures are so appetizing. I was wondering whether you could substitute some of the nuts with cooked rice? I make delicious vegan dressings with cooked white rice and cashews, and the rice thickens when it sits just like the cashews do. That way you could make a lower-fat version that is less rich.

    Regarding your theme-based recipes, I think I like the variety that you offer as it is now. 🙂

  22. Nathalie says

    Hello katie, im making this cheesecake for the family reunion today, they’ve been asking for a cheesecake and what better than a healthy raw one? Anyway, i’m facing a slight problem, i do not have coconut oil, nor vegetable oil, the only two kinds i have are olive oil and sunflower oil 🙁 do u have anything i can substitue it with? Please answer asap, the reunion is tonight

  23. kaytee says

    Made this yesterday and it turned out pretty well, even though I struggle with US cup measurements (I’m in the UK). My base wasn’t really enough for a 9 inch tin but that may be my measurements… I love the base though, so simple. I used ground almonds (almond meal) which made it very quick and easy. I realised I haven’t seen a lot of ground almonds used in American recipes, although it’s a common baking ingredient over here, do you not see them in US supermarkets?

    I didn’t have quite enough cashews on hand so tried to adjust the other ingredients but it ended up a bit too lemony. It’s all good experience for next time I make it though.

    And yes I did have a piece for breakfast this morning! So lovely and filling 🙂

  24. Con Burke says

    I made it and it was FANTASTIC! I added 1/4 cup of blueberries to the already creamy filling, let the vitamix chop away for 20 seconds so the berries were chunky. PERFECTO. I knew I could rely on you to find the best raw cheesecake recipe. Thank you!

  25. Lora Marie says

    Hi, Katie

    I’m Lora and I work for Eluxe, which is a French-London based online magazine that is all about luxury, sustainable eco-friendly fashion, natural beauty and skincare products. We’re bringing more attention to our food articles, and with an editor that is firmly Vegan, its important to us to bring attention to a healthier way of eating, and promoting people in the industry that help.

    We’ve just published a ’20 Raw Vegan Dessert Recipes’ article, and we included your Strawberry Cheesecake recipe. We absolutely love this recipe, and know our readers will as well. Please do check out the feature, and good luck with future recipes!

    http://eluxemagazine.com/magazine/have-your-cake-eat-it-15-raw-vegan-dessert-recipes/

    Kind regards,
    Lora Marie

  26. dasha18 says

    Thank you for the raw cheesecake recipe. I made it for our Jewish Holiday, Shavuos which usually includes lots of unhealthy dairy meals and cheesecakes. It was a success (I did serve it frozen which was refreshing). My goal is to prepare healthy nutritiously dense foods for desserts and I find them all on your website. It’s like have a healthy sister cooking with me, instead of me preparing empty calorie junk food.

  27. carla says

    Hi Katie,

    I have a question. Do you freeze the crust with the cheese cake or you freeze them separately? I’m a bit confused about it.

  28. Maya says

    I just wanted to say thank you for this easy recipe! I used 2/3 cashews, and 1/3 almonds for the filling, and it turned out beautiful. Going to top it with sour cherry compote made with with local cherries, tapioca starch, and honey from our bees. Yum! We are not vegan, but my daughter has a dairy allergy. So excited to serve this for dessert tonight 🙂

  29. Avi Strauss says

    5 stars
    Katie,

    I run a vegan cheesecake company. It’s not raw. But I just wanted to say I loved the food photography. The whiteness of the cake and the red ofthe strawberries really pop. Great job!

  30. Cathrine Wadler says

    I’m so going to try this for some gluten/dairy free friends.

    Question about the crust, can I use it in other recipes, like baked cheesecake recipes or is it best left for the raw ones?

  31. Mary Ann says

    I tried this last night for a friend’s birthday. Everyone loved it, even those who would normally turn their noses up at the word vegan! Easy and Forgiving recipe. I only had 2cups of cashews, so I left out adding water in the blender step & reduced Lemon juice a little and it still turned out perfect!

  32. Natalie says

    This by no means is a recipe for a 9inch pan (re crust, about to do the “cheese” – once I redo the crust for another half!

  33. Soraya says

    Hello Katie,
    Let me start by saying that I love your recipes, and you are incredible.
    I made this recipe for Mother’s day as a gesture for my mom and she loved it.
    It was delicious and looked so pretty. I made it into a 3 layer cheesecake: 1st layer is the crust, 2nd layer is the vanilla layer and finally last layer is the strawberry layer, with heart-shaped strawberries on top.
    Picture of final cake below.

  34. Magda says

    Great cheesecake recipe! This was my first time making a vegan cheesecake and it was incredible! I used a date/pecan crust because those were the ingredients I had on hand. The only think I would tweak for next time would be adding a little less honey as it was a bit sweet, but overall really delicious!

  35. Kristin says

    Can the crust from this recipe be used with the healthy cheesecake of your dreams recipe? Or should it not be baked? Will the dates get gummy??? Let me know. thanks! ?

  36. Cass says

    What food processor did you use for the crust!?
    My tiny little kitchen aid had a real rough time, so thinking it may be time to upgrade.
    Thanks!

    • Jason Sanford says

      Sounds like a fun experiment. Olive oil doesn’t firm up when chilled like coconut oil does, but it might work anyway. Be sure to report back if you try!
      Jason

  37. Sally says

    How do you get that white color? I bought raw cashews and soaked them although not overnight and with the cashews and maple syrup, My mixture is beige ( the color or cashews)not white.

    • Jason Sanford says

      If you use light agave, that’s lighter than maple syrup. It also does look a little beige in her photos, not pure white!

  38. Beverley Dalgleish says

    Do you think that the raw cheesecake base can be made using dried (ready to eat) apricots instead of the dates?

  39. Theron says

    I’ve had this recipe forever and just now got around to making it. Best raw cheesecake ever! I’m not really a fan of the raw crusts so I used the crust from the New York style cheesecake from your cookbook. Amazing with just a little puree of fresh strawberries!

  40. Monet says

    Hi, this looks great, but I only have hazelnuts. Would those work? Maybe if I roasted them in the oven, rubbed off the skins and then soaked them? Cashews are just so dang expensive! I have a vegan friend coming tomorrow and would love to make this for us to enjoy together:) Thanks

  41. Mary says

    Hi, I want to make your recipe but am afraid that it will not remain firm in the fridge (my freezer is tiny). Will it work just fine if kept in the fridge only? Thanks so much

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