Have you ever tried a 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?
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 Recipe
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
More Healthy Dessert Recipes
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!
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
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
I cannot say enough good things about this recipe. If you are thinking about making it, stop thinking and just do it. I make it for friends’ birthdays with CCK’s graham cracker crust recipe using Biscoff or Kinnikinnick crackers depending on whether I need it to be gluten free, and I’ve only received extremely positive reviews from vegans and dairy eaters alike. I always omit the water and the coconut oil and instead add 1/3 – 1/2 cup coconut cream; I sometimes replace the salt with 2-3 tsp miso; and I change up the fruit topping depending on who I make it for (strawberry is my personal fave). All in all, people LOVE this cheesecake and it’s a huge crowd pleaser. Thank you CCK for making me the most popular person at every party I bring this to!!