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Raw Cheesecake

Not just any raw cheesecake, either.

Raw Banana Split Cheesecake with a hot chocolate crust!

raw vegan cheesecake

Vegan raw cheesecake

Don’t let the long name fool you; this “cheesecake” could not be easier–or quicker–to make!

Raw Banana Split Cheesecake

(If you want a traditional-sized cake, double the recipe)

  • 1 cup raw cashews (120g)
  • 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 a medium banana
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • scant 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp water
  • Sugar of choice to taste OR 15-20 vanilla stevia drops
  • Optional: you can add cocoa powder for a chocolate cheesecake!! Or, take a cue from reader, Valerie, and replace the lemon juice with lime for raw key lime pie!

Soak the cashews in water overnight, then drain completely. Pat dry. Blend everything very, very well in a Vita-mix or comparable high-speed blender (20 seconds to a minute, or even more if you want a super-creamy cheesecake). You can eat it now, or you can put it in the freezer for later.  Frozen, it’ll keep for weeks, and it thaws perfectly.

cheeze_thumb1

Edit: Check out my other raw cheesecake: Secret Veggie Cheesecake.

As the title suggests, it packs in a veggie serving… but I swear you can’t taste it! 😉

Published on March 5, 2010

Meet Katie

Chocolate Covered Katie is one of the top 25 food websites in America, and Katie has been featured on The Today Show, CNN, Fox, The Huffington Post, and ABC's 5 O'clock News. Her favorite food is chocolate, and she believes in eating dessert every single day.

Learn more about Katie

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189 Comments

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  1. Lindsay says

    I want to “rawify” turtle bars! That gooey caramel in between cookie dough and chocolate chips and pecans….oh man, I’m drooling.

  2. Shelby says

    This looks amazing but sadly my son has a cashew allergy which is making the vegan life with an interest in raw foods even more challenging, do you think another nut like macadamia nuts or brazil nuts might stand in for it?

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Yes, definitely! I’ve not personally tried it with another nut, but one blogger used soaked almonds and loved the result. Macadamia cheesecake sounds amazing. I might just have to try it now, after your idea. If you try it first, please let me know how it goes!! 🙂

  3. carolyn says

    woah. i just made this tonight and it was AMAZING. i put the batter into dark chocolate cups, cheesecake cups!!!!!??? the delicious factor was ridiculous.

  4. Healthy Hippie Girl says

    Hi Katie,
    I have a recipe request for you! I found this recipe on food.com for cookie dough dip that sounds SO incredible. But the problem is it’s not healthy or even vegan. If anyone can “healthify” chocolate chip cookie dough dip, I know it’s you!
    Here’s the original recipe, from food.com:

    Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip
    ½ cup butter
    1/3 cup brown sugar
    1 tsp vanilla extract
    ½ cup confectioners sugar
    1 (8oz) package cream cheese
    ¾ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

    In a small saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla. Beat the cream cheese and confectioners sugar for a minute. Slowly beat in cooled butter mixture and beat again for another minute. Stir in chips. Put in a serving bowl and refrigerate.

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Thanks for the challenge; I had a lot of fun with it and will post a healthier version tomorrow. For now, though, here’s a veganized version of your recipe:

      Naughty Vegan Cookie Dough Dip
      1/2 cup Earth Balance (or other vegan margarine)
      1/3 cup brown sugar
      1 tsp vanilla extract
      1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar
      1 (8oz) tub Tofutti Better than Cream Cheese
      3/4 cup vegan chocolate chips

      In a small saucepan, melt the margarine and brown sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla. Beat the Tofutti cream cheese and confectioner’s sugar for a minute. Slowly beat in cooled margarine mixture and beat again for another minute. Stir in chips. Put in a serving bowl and refrigerate. 🙂

  5. Kaitlyn says

    Katie, while I spend about 70% of my time reading food blogs, I’ve never commented on one before, but I felt like I HAD to write to you and thank you for your amazing creations! I’m on a really strict elimination diet (okay, i’m SUPPOSED to be on a really strict elimation diet), but with a few changes, so many of your recipes are perfect and help me keep my sanity. THANK YOU! You’re the cutest.

  6. Erin Eloise says

    I can’t wait to make the chocolate version of this tonight! So far all of your recipes have left me drooling and have made my boyfriend become a believer.

    I hope this enters me in the contest for the Jocalat Larabar because I’m kind of obsessed… Much love and I’ll see you on twitter!

  7. RAE says

    Hi Katie! I discovered your blog yesterday and can’t tear myself away! You are VERY talented and inspirational. I have a question for you… regarding blending cashews. I want to make this cheesecake recipe but have tried making cashew sourcream three times and each time it does not blend smooth like the recipe says. It blends into a grainy consistency… no matter how long I blend it. Do you have any tips for me? Maybe I need a better food processor. I havn’t tried a regular blender yet.

      • RAE says

        WOW! You’re so prompt to answer. Thank-you! Yes, I soak them for several hours. So dissapointing. On the plus side though, I made the sourcream today (sooo delish, it’s a real crowd pleaser) in my blender and it turned into a beautiful smooth consistency! Just sad it doesn’t work in my food processor.

  8. Danni (Healthy Kitschy Vegan) says

    Quick question…what size pan did you use to make this in? Something like a pie pan or smaller?

  9. Kassie says

    Hi Katie,
    This looked so good to me, I tried to make it tonight in my small food processor. I used almonds instead of cashews and doubled the recipe. After soaking the almonds for 7 hours, I drained them and tried to blend everything. It didn’t work! Should I use a regular blender to get it creamy. Also, do you measure 2 cups of almonds AFTER draining, too? I didn’t do this.
    Thanks Katie–I LOVE your blog!!!

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