Raw Cashew Cheesecake
Vegetarian Times Issue: July 1, 2008 p.65
This rich, dairy-free, no-bake cheesecake is flavored with agave nectar, a raw sweetener derived from the agave plant. Agave nectar is sweeter than honey with a milder, more floral taste—ideal for desserts or drinks.
Directions
- Place macadamia nuts in large bowl, and cover with cold water. Place cashews in separate bowl, and cover with cold water. Soak nuts 4 hours, then rinse, drain, and set aside.
- Pulse macadamia nuts and dates in food processor to a sticky crumb-like consistency. Sprinkle dried coconut on bottom of 8-inch pie pan. Press macadamia nut mixture onto coconut to make crust.
- Place cashews, coconut oil, lime juice, agave nectar, and 6 Tbs. water in bowl of food processor. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into food processor bowl, and purée until smooth. Pour mixture onto crust, and freeze 1 to 2 hours, or until firm. Remove from freezer, slice while frozen, and transfer to serving platter. Defrost in fridge 1 hour, or on countertop 30 minutes; top with berries; and serve.
ingredient list
Serves 12
- 2 cups macadamia nuts
- 1 1/2 cups cashews
- 1/2 cup pitted Medjool dates
- 1/4 cup dried coconut
- 6 Tbs. coconut oil, melted (gently warmed)
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 1/4 cup raw agave nectar
- 1/2 sun-dried vanilla bean
- 3 cups mixed berries, such as blueberries and raspberries
Nutritional Information
Per SERVING:
| Calories |
359 |
| Protein |
5g |
| Total Fat |
28.5g |
| Saturated Fat |
9.5g |
| Carbs |
24g |
| Cholesterol |
0mg |
| Sodium |
7mg |
| Fiber |
4g |
| Sugar |
14g |
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This dessert is now one of my favorites. It's delicious!
I made this for a party with mostly non-veggie people and it went over better than a regular cheesecake. Oh so good!
Vegan, yes .. but healthy, no! 28.5g of fat per serving if cut in twelve slices.
This sounds amazing but how/where do you get the sun-dried vanilla bean? Do you have to buy the beans and let them dry in the sun or something??
I have to agree with Susan, I realize that vegetarian does not necessarily mean healthy but the ingredients in this dessert are over the top in terms of fat and the tiny serving size would double or triple the fat with an actual serving. I am disappointed in the Vegetarian Times.
Looks good! Will have to try it. Also, Susan, I, too, used to simply look at the overall fat content and dismiss something because I'd think, 'Egads! That dish is too fattening,' however, when I examine where the fat comes from, it's a bit less frightening; in this case, the fat comes primarily from macadamia and cashew nuts of which 75% and 50% of their fat, respectively, is monounsaturated (good fat). Additionally, both these nuts are high in protein, fiber and magnesium. I wouldn't eat this cheesecake every day, but I wouldn't say it's unhealthy, either. Cheers!
They're not saturated fats, but unsaturated and tons of super-healthy and important omega 3.
Um, if you're worried about fat, why would you be eating a dessert in the first place. If there's a yummy Vegan dessert out there, that actually tastes good, I'm eating it!
Hi Jessica,
I get the sun-dried vanilla beans from the raw section of my health food co-op. If your local health food store doesn't carry them currently, you may be able to get them to order some for you. Just be warned - they're a bit pricey! I think I pay about $9 for a package of three beans. However, if your goal is to keep the recipe completely raw, it's worth the expenditure. :)
what can i sub the vanilla bean 4 if the raw content is not 2 important 2 me?
Omg, this was so good. It actually kind of tastes like cheesecake. I wasnt expecting it to be that good due to the fact that i tried a raw vanill dessert pie purchased from whole foods and it was just alright but this was really good. And you really dont have to worry about the fat when you are eating raw because all the fat is coming from a good source. I will definately make this again. My only complaint was that the recipe made too much crust and too little filling. I will adjust next time to a half cup less macadamia nuts and a 1/2 cup more cashews w/ a little extra agave.
Omg, this was so good. It actually kind of tastes like cheesecake. I wasnt expecting it to be that good due to the fact that i tried a raw vanill dessert pie purchased from whole foods and it was just alright but this was really good. And you really dont have to worry about the fat when you are eating raw because all the fat is coming from a good source. I will definately make this again. My only complaint was that the recipe made too much crust and too little filling. I will adjust next time to a half cup less macadamia nuts and a 1/2 cup more cashews w/ a little extra agave.
Is this a vegan recipe? Yes. Is it high in fat? Yes. Is it still healthy? Yes! Fortunately it's chock full of nutrients that you don't always get in cooked food; because it's cooked. Obviously there is a lot of fat in the nuts, but these are good, healthy fats. Indulge in something that isn't void of nutrients because it's cooked!
I really want to make this but cannot find coconut oil (I live overseas). Does anyone have a suggestion for a substitute?
I had this at a raw food carry in and it is really good ellen
fat is good for you!
This is a good dessert. Very unique. Just little too heavy. Our guests ate very small portions and there was quite a bit of left over. Will only make it if there is a large crowd.
Yes, this recipe does seem as though it is high in fat, but all fat are not equal - just as all cholesterol's are not equal. There are good and bad on both sides. The fat here is from the nuts and the coconut oil.. but as you see there is zero cholesterol. As with everything, enjoy in moderation.
About finding ingredients overseas-Melanie, I live in Italy and when I want to make a dish that is not Italian (imagine that!) and calls for unusual/hard-to-find ingredients, I go to Asian import stores. Surprisingly, most of the time there's imports from all over the world.
About the agave nectar though-this one has been tricky. I've just substituted creamed honey. I have a list of ingredients to stock up on the next time I visit family in the U.S. and can get these things!
This recipe is good and the fat content is still better than a real cheesecake, which has none of the healthful benefits!
The comment about the fat content really shows how much education we still have to accomplish! People are still confused and for good reason. There are just too many reports out there that are misleading or just plain wrong. Ps-sorry about any typos as I am using a phone...
So, we are talking RAW mac nuts and cashews, I presume? I live in Hawaii and not aware where to buy raw mac nuts. At the processing plant? Where do you buy them on the Mainland? I also have a hard time finding LIGHT agave syrup. I have loads of the darker stuff. Are these things generally available elsewhere?
Yes, NeeterLou - we have these in our local natural market. call them -
This recipe is better fat than the processed fat you would find in a typical dessert.