This Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake Might Be the Perfect Holiday Dessert
This tofu-based cheesecake gets all the flavors of the season in one sweet-but-not-heavy slice
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Kathryn Hostettler received honorable mention in VT’s 2009 Reader Recipe Contest for this vegan pumpkin cheesecake recipe. It’s become a go-to tofu cheesecake for the fall and winter and makes a perfect centerpiece for any holiday dessert spread. Amid the indulgence of the holiday season, the lightness of this vegan pumpkin cheesecake is a welcome way to end a rich meal.
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Ingredients
Candied cranberries
- 2 cups fresh cranberries, rinsed and drained
- 2 cups Wholesome Sweeteners Fair Trade Certified Organic Sugar, plus more for coating cranberries
Crust
- 1 small pkg. vegan graham crackers (10 sheets of crackers)
- 1/8 tsp. salt
- 2 oz. nonhydrogenated vegan margarine, such as Earth Balance, melted
Cheesecake filling
- 12 oz. Nasoya Silken Tofu, drained
- 8 oz. vegan cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cup canned pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Blue Agave nectar
- 1/4 cup Wholesome Sweeteners Fair Trade Certified Organic Dark Brown Sugar
- 2 Tbs. Bob's Red Mill Cornstarch
- 1 Tbs. lemon juice
- 1 tsp. Simply Organic Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 tsp. Simply Organic Cinnamon Powder
- 1/4tsp. Simply Organic Ginger
- 1/4 tsp. grated fresh nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp. sea salt
Preparation
1. To make Candied Cranberries: Prick each berry several times with needle. Bring sugar and 2 cups water to a boil in saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook 7 to 10 minutes, or until sugar reaches 230°F on candy thermometer. Add cranberries, and cook 10 minutes, or until syrup jells when dropped from tip of spoon. Remove berries with slotted spoon, and cool. Roll cranberries in sugar to coat. Set aside, or store up to 4 days.
2. To make Crust: Preheat oven to 350°F. Process graham crackers and salt into fine crumbs in food processor. Add margarine, and pulse to combine. Press mixture into bottom and halfway up sides of 9-inch springform pan.
3. To make Cheesecake Filling: Purée all ingredients in food processor 3 to 5 minutes, or until very smooth. Pour into Crust, and bake 50 to 60 minutes, or until Cheesecake Filling is set. Cool on wire rack, then chill completely in refrigerator, at least 3 hours or overnight. Slice and garnish each serving with Candied Cranberries.
Nutrition Information
- Calories 270
- Carbohydrate Content 50 g
- Cholesterol Content 0 mg
- Fat Content 7 g
- Fiber Content 2 g
- Protein Content 3 g
- Saturated Fat Content 2 g
- Sodium Content 188 mg
- Sugar Content 40 g